The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-05-25

S - porch, one so
D neatly kept, was
now tracked with muddy footprints;
that the rose-bushes on each side were
unpruned, and that his two children,
playing bareheaded in the garden, had
q neglected and forlorn appearance.
He wiped his feet carefully, and cross
ing the entry, opened the door Of a
room, where sat Mrs. Perrot, wrapped
in a shawl, and mixing something in
q tea-cup.
"Well, Martha" said he, as he hung
up his hat, chow do you feel this
EVENING""
''No better than usual" responded
Mrs. Perrot, with a sigh, as she tasted
her mixture, and added few drops
from vial.
maybe you'd feel better if you'd
move about little?" suggested her
husband, mildly.
81 haven't the strength. 1 seem to
be growing weaker and weaker every
day. It's doubtful whether I'll ever
step foot out of this house again. The
roses and lilies of spring will bloom
above my grave" said Mrs. Perrot,
resignedly.
Nonsense, Marthyl Roses and
lilies don't bloom in spring any more
than you are laid out to die in spring. u
Mrs. Perrot assumed a martyr like
air.
"This is all the sympathy 1 gel
from my own husband" she murmured
"a poor, weak, suffering woman like
mer'
eff you're as bad as all that" said
her husband, "why don't you let me
send for doctor?"
because / don't believe in doc.
tors, nor in doctors stuff Mrs. Mas.
sey is the only one who does me any
good"
Mrs. Massey be botheredl wish
you'd never have set eyes on thai
meddlesome woman"
"She's q very clever woman, and
very kind to me. She comes over to
see me every day, and sometimes twice
day."
''She does, does she? Well, l think
she would do q great deal better tc
stay at home, and attend to her own
affairs" said Perrot, ungratefully.
'She always brings me something
that will do me good-vegetabls pills,
and tonics-"
'Poisons" muttered Perrot.
''The same that she gave her own
husband and child" asserted Mrs.
Perrot, Indignantly.
''No wonder they died."
Samuel" said his wife, solemnly,
"you will repent of this when 1 am
dead and gone. If you have no sym
pathy for my sufferings, you might al
least have respect enough for my feel
ings not to abuse my best friends. s"
And here Mrs. Perrot felt in hei
pocket for her handkerchief.
Perrot rose softly, and, with sub,
dued and detected look, went into
another room.
Here was rosy, comely young
woman, busted in preparing tea
This was his niece, just arrived on {
visit.
"Well, Lavinia," said the master oi
the house, as he took his seat OF table
and stirred his tea--"what do yor
think of her?" '
Lavinia expressively shrugged hel
plump shoulders.
'She's just as you wrote me she ava:
weak and complaining, and taking
physic all the time.
"And what do you think ails her?'
inquired Perrot, anxionsly.
Imagination" replied Lavinia
promptly-''i Imagination and dyspep
sia.
Nothing else?"
Nothing in the world, unless it'i
Mrs. Massey's medicines.
Perrot nodded his head, emphati
cally, about dozen times.
"Can you think of any way to cur,
her, Vinnie?" he inquired, leaning for
ward and speaking in low tone.
Lavinia's face Immediately assumed
peculiar expression.
"Well, Uncle Samuel, 1 have beer
thinking about it, and I'm of opinion
that there's only one thing will do hel
any good. I'll warrant it for a sur,
cure"
"What is it, Vinnie?"
''Eat your supper now, uncle, sn(
when you've done, and the children
gone to bed, and Aunt Martha's drink
ing Mrs. Massey's sassafras-tea fo
purifying the blood, I'll tell you abou
my medicine"
'Laviniap called feeble voice from
the adjoining room. Haven't yol
got a window raised there? Thi
draught is killing mep
And there followed n cough.
"That." said Mr.. Perrot. with