The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-11-08
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t GOING HOME. !
\ Blu Mrs. Minnie N. P. KNOTS. :
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THE soft, hazy October sunshine
fell on a West Virginia poorhouse,
changing its white painted sides into
a subdued pearly tone. In one OF the
east rooms, opening off the hall and
inmates sltting-room, lay Aunt Emily
on a low, black, wooden bed. She had
lain in this room since one April day
when he right side felt numb and
stiff and refused to obey her viii.
After that stroke of paralysis she was
never able to sit up longer than an
hour or two. During all this time
Mary Sharpe another inmate, had
acted as nurse under the instructions
of Mrs. Winters the stewardess.
This morning Aunt Emily's pale
face looked more sallow than usual
in the subdued light coming through
an old yellow paper curtain. Her thin
gray hair was parted in the middle
and drawn tightly back from the
forehead; the gaunt hands were fold
ed on the faded calico comfort, the
palsied right one underneath. She
had her large brown eyes turned to-
ward the window where the beauty
of the autumn CLEANED.
October frosts had made the hill
sides. that stretch away for miles. a
bright landscape reminding one of
Joseph's coat, so many were the col
ors. Half of the trees had changed
their green foliage for red or yellow,
but some still chung to the old color
as if loath to put on the brighter
shapes of a step nearer death. The
corn fields were bare except for the
golden brown shocks that rose here
and there like wigwams. In the pas
lures, yet green, the sheep wandered
about or rested from their rambIeS
under the tall oak trees. Far away
in the distance, the blush gray tops
# the Allegheny mountains looked
Town like sentinels on the quiet coun-
try, and the thin. fleecy clouds clung
ovingly to their SUBMITS.
Aunt Emily turned her head away
from the window as the door creaked
on its hinges and Mary Sharp en-
5ered. Mary was middle-aged wom-
an with a lot of copper-colored hair
that was freshly combed, and kind
face that shone as from a recent wash
ng with kitchen soap. Although She
made a visible effort to walk lightly
her heavy shoes squeaked noiseIcssly
en- the bare floor. She went over by
The bed and sat down in the SCARED
wooden rocking chair and began
,waying back and FORTH a loose rock
She smoothed down her checked ging.
lam apron and said:
How are you feeling to-day Aunt
,mily?"
about the same. I've just beer
linking low much all thing in this
,orld are alike. Every day the leave.
If those trees over on the hills arc
carer death and decay. They'll sooI
be scattered all over the ground"
Mary did not answer for a minut,
r two, but finally said;
"Well--tne trees will all be greer
gain next spring"
Yes. Last spring, Mary, the tree
were green and full of life just as
was when / married Andy Dover am
.ettled down on our 90 acres. For
while everything was bright. We love,
our little Annie with her long go der
clrls and watched her grow into won
anhood and marry CliGtoa Mayc>
Then buried AnGv. Eut Annie com
o~ted me and 10 x me to live witt
her. She ami Clinton were good t,
ne: and the chil I'm, der litth
,lines. were 50 nue. .urany."
aunt Emily ian ell and wiped he
eTes with one conner of the un
bleached sheet. Nary stil sua {,
back and forth, ard the eek, clucl
Of the loose cker was .ha only no s.
hat broke til silence eNce9t the 'cN
hum of voices and the oecas ora
chucEle Of foo is5 Be-" from til
.t} er end Of the hal.
But Clinton WA III much to liam
for not wanting TO Keep ne any long
a." Aunt Emily went on, as S
cared her { r3at Annie was sick
y and the doctors bill had to be paid
u i.bHHN l. { mint r.. .d4tH were GU
down q cents Q day. My money wa
AT gone, and | wasn't able to wor
much Annie must b. sicker now. fo
she has not written to ne for NOR
than a year and like the trees ! an
t cri1g. % i ov there." Aun
emily pointed with her able hand +
the rauper's buTying ground acros
he road where the soft sunshine
coming through the trees touched IL
olai boards that marked each mound
Mary, I'll s-ol he ther y
Mary gave loud cough, wiped he
face with piece of unhemmed mus
lin ( at She took from her apron belt
and replied:
"Oh! | reckon not! Annie wi
come for you some day and take yo
home TO get well. Let me prop yo
up in bed before / 60 TO help get din
ner."
Mary soon had the invalid sitting II
with the two cotton batting pillow
and a ragged edged comfort at he
back. "I'll go now IL YOU are restin