Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-05-26

''(N- VG8-On. 1S6. Gt<tGStl. JuEL0T.
painless, dilapidated, but inexpressl"
bly, precious as port in storm. 1t was
Mamie's by right of inheritance from
an almost forgotten grandmother.
When the professor had reached
home, in company with Governor
Strong, he had emphatically pronounced
himself altogether superfuous in a
changed world, but Immediately began
casting about him for fresh anchorage. ;
1t was Mamie who first remembered her
despised inheritance:
"There is that hut in town, papa.
We can take shelter in it. If you were
still college professor on fair salary,
dear one, and was anything but useS
less girl, we might scorn such meari
quarters. But we can't stay on here
eating the bread of charity'-waving
her hands comprehensively over the
Strong mansion-"and the sooner we
get to work the better"
And they had got to work-the old
man, with one of his trousers legs
pinned up and empty, and the girl with
only her endowment Of indomitable
spirit, ignorance and heroism.
There were few weeks Of bewjldered
speculation as to what manner Of worR
they should "get to-" pathetic show
Ing Of their combined disabilities;
humbling Of himself before the new Or
der Of things, confession of confusion.
II think my Hebrew and Greek have
no market value at present, my dear.
Shingleton college will scarcely resume
operations for some years, and when 1t
does younger and less tired brains than
mine will be in demand. l am afraid
no one would intrust his mercantile
interests with me. l am too ignorant,
and my crutches would interfere with
my activity. What would you suggest,
my dear?'
And Mamie, laughing and crying In
one BREATH had suggested the scroll saw
as pleasant sedentary work, and "every-
body wanted brackets and wall things
these days.
And SO, ON this hot July forenoon,
with the steam arising from the rain
washed earth, with the great white
winged butterflies fitting about the
diamond crowned roses, with the mar
guerites and the phloXes righting them
selves bravely under the suns warm
caressing, the professor bent patiently
over his workable, steering the jagged
blade of his scroll saw laboriously
through thin slab of black walnut
wood. His fine head, with its sparse
fringe of waving white hair, was just
visible above the window ledge, made
gay with pots of brilliant fish geranium
and the flame of many nasturtiums.
BY the rear window, where was the,
fowerless ledge and the palmer outlook
over the chicken coops ana the lye hop
per planted against the kitchen CHM
ney, Mamie turned the wheel Of her
noisy sewing machine swiftly. Piled
On one side of her chair was lot OF un-
made lowell sacks, on the other the fin
ished ones. The soft drone of bees was
In the air; the scent of the honeysuokle
mingled with the perfume of thousand
roses. A mocking bird perched boldly
on the hand rail of the front portico and
whistled taunting refrain at the bent
gray head behind the flaming nastur-
tiums. The mocking bird clearly had
the best of the professor and was so ex-
pressing himself The professor straight
ened his back by physical effort and
leaning his head against the silken pill
low Mamie had tied to the tall back OF
his chair folded his worn hands weari-
ly across his breast. Work was an espe-
cial burden when the warm, sweet earth
was enticing him through all his senses,
and he was not aware that the world
was quivering with impatience for the
clumsy products of his unskilled hands.
He quite agreed with the hooking bird.
Just beyond the garden fence was the
principal street Of Sessumsport. At its
terminus the small wooden church
stood, which, twice in every month,
was opened and busted for use by bor-
rowed clergyman, who came across the
river in skiff, rowing himself for