The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-06-27
6NNMIlI

y&E$$SSAS- ga shoulders, her
SSSS$@SSszgSN eyes fixed upon
- NS$S(9F2'EW' mound of
yellow subsoil
up beyond the rickcty line fence. The
sun Using lazily over Long mountain,
shone directly into the invalid's face
and she was obliged to shade her ewes
to see across the weed grown door
yard. The miasma rising from the
surrounding swampy bottoms" had
leftits indelible mark upon Mrs. Dyer's
face and form. She shivered now in
the doorway, as though from an in
cipent chill.
The old house, tine outbuildings.
indeed, all the poor woman's sur
roundings, seemed as well as herself
to have chronic ague. The line fence
bordering the struggling road and
running between the untidy yard and
land OF the next-door neighbor were
forlorn enough. The shed and corn
crib were ramshackle; the wellhouse
was dilapidated; the implanted
shingles upon the side of the old
house were warped and moss grown.
The little plot of ground which was in
cluded i'll the Dyer premises was but
poorly cultivated and the vegetation.
like the house and its occupants, had
gone to seed"
Beyond the line-fence where the
mound of yellow soil lay, everything
was different. Near the mound stood
neatly painted modern cottage A
neat gravel walk led down TO the gate
In the picket fence. There was n bit
OF lawn in front, in the middle of
which was set a post with a model of
the cottage for n birdhouse on the
top, Thrift and good fortune were as
indie IDLY impressed upon the cottage
and It's surroundings as misfortunate
and stiffness were upon the Dyer
premises.
ats somebody's business to tell
him, repeated Mrs. Dyer, querulous.
ly, still shading her eyes from the red
glare OF the sun
well, faint mine" growloI her
husband, who sat beside the stove in
the kitchen behind her. He was n
quaint, unshaven man, whose bowed
shoulders and knotted hands were
evidence OF years of toll. He was fit
ting an aXc-helve to the iron now. but
he worked in dull, purposeless way.
HIS mRnner-even lis attitude-be-
spoke hopeIessness and the utter lack
OF ambition. He spoke with a short
drawl, too.
81 dunno said Mrs. Dyer. with
continued peevishncss. Hell never
dig cistarn where that OF well
useter be, III this Twin age, Seems
like you'd oughter warn him. 81.
Seems like ! won't then reioined
the man at the stove, with emphasis.
81 ain'tno call to advise job Briggs
bout nothim'- not rs / know of"
But that hole he's diggin' will
cave in sure.
Then he'll find it out" snapped
Silas, rising with the axe
But spose it caves in on him?"
Twill sarye him right then, " was
her husbands reply, us he went ont
to the woodpilc. faint my bust
ness.
"WeIl, it's somebody's business"
repeated Mrs. Dyer, but she went in
doors with n sigh anil sat down blythe
big basket of mending under the
north window. There was little she
could do besides the family repairing.
and there was enough OF that, to be
sure. a man and four Starving"
boys, besides the two girls and the
baby, kept the family mcuding basket
full TO repletiou.
Casey, tho oldest girl. was clearing
the breakfast table, and her sister.
Minnie, carcely twelve was prepar-
ing to wash the dishes The Dycrs
began the day early, as had been
their wont when fine Over farm ,yas