The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-03
Timothy Howell.


Timothy Howell stood alone in til
gray, fire lighted kitchen that had ono
echoed to the tread of so many youn
feet. The youngest Of large famil.
and the only boy, he had been petted ant
INDUCED until he grew unconscicusl.
selfish, oycrbearins and at last so miser
ly that one after another his sisters CAV
up their happy pride in him and, will
wondering sorrow, left him to himself
and Timothy was left alone ip the OLE
house, with the wide, green acres of th'
best farm in Seahil stretching abou
him.
He only hired men in the busy season
A deaf old woman who never asked fol
wages kept his house and grumbled Al
the short allowance Of everything dolet
out for food.
The old servant had gone out, and he
had to get his supper off a slice Of han
that hung up in the shed.
In a cottage down under the hill, where
the lights winked and blinked through
the dead branches, woman sat sewing
busily, and three bright faced girls nes
tied close about the fire, talking in low
| tones.
''lt's shame for little mother to stay
in the house so much,' said Clara, the
eldest, delicate girl of 16.
| 'Ics, and you, too," said Nellie, the
baby of the family, r,lddy girl of 10.
"Tbc fact is" said Hattie, II am tired
of sitting here and trying to be a doll
| baby and wait to grow up. I intend to
60 up to Farmer Howell's and borrow
| his horse and sleigh for tomorrow"
bnh ,r;, uiplp Il h,, ,n,1avp "a
| Clara softly.
"But | am going" insisted Hattie res
olutely, ''and l only tell you that you be
quiet here and not let mamma make
herself uneasy about me. I do not know
where to find the old ogre all day, but
at night there is faint CLEAN of candle
light from his den, and l am going for
him there"
She walked very fast up the long hill,
and the color came fresh and bright into
her checks, but she was little timid for
all that and wished her visit was well
over.
She knew it would be useless to go to
the front door, 50 she went around to the
bacl; porch and knocked family, but re-
ccived no answer.
A louder knock had the same result,
and then, listening doubtfully and Won
dcring what she should do next, she
heard a low groan from the shed. Again
low groan echoed on the night, and
Hattie went straight to the shed, trying
to think she was not afraid.
"Hclp, help" called the heavy voice Of
man.
"Who is thcre?' asked Hattie.
"Oh, for heavens sake bring me a
light here whoever You are, and help me
ont. | have fallen and hurt my knee and
cannot walk"
The girl hurried to the kitchen, took
the candle and went back to the shed,
holding one hand up to keep the fierce
wind from blowing out the flame that
bent and rose and sent the candle sway
ing in very threatening way.
There lay Farmer Howell huddled in
a helpless heap on the floor of the she'd
which the blood was dripping. lie was
indeed a frightful looking object. But
Hattie was not easily dismayed.
She tried with all her sturdy young
strength to lift the great man to his feet
but failed again and again. An old
sleigh stood close by. into which he man
aged to drag himself with difficulty.
''Sit very still, please" said Hattie,
with sort of desperate resolve, and
then she took up the sleigh shafts in her
plump hands and pulled with all her
strength.
"Oh, OH" groaned Farmer Howell.
Condemnation! What do you mean to
do 10 me, girl?'
1t did not take many such pulls to
bring the sleigh out upon the smoothly
trodden snow, and then it slipped easier.
The man groaned heavily with every
BREATH but Hatte's mind was made up,
and she trudgcd on down the gradual
descent Of the long hill toward the vii.
lage.
She hestatcd for moment, wondering
If she had better take him home to her
mother and then, remembering that il
his injuries were really dangerous he
ought to see physician as soon as pos.
sblc, she marched straight to their old
family doctor, dragging her queer bur
den. She did not know that the two mon
had been enemies for years.
Her brisk rap at the door brought the
doctor himself out into the frosty night,
and, pointing to the sleigh, she said:
an important one. I rucss Won viii think
he is. by the noise he makes"
By the aid of tho doctors arm Mr..
Howell bobblcd into thr house and whiIe
his wounds wore beinp dresse6 be told
how bc hoa cI;,nhad un +o cut a clioo ofr
"tbot pcskv ham, and. his foot slinn;ng
on thn dosbcr or the sIriyh down he
comc. cuttinp bis knee with the hio
butcher knife snroininp his ankle and
hurting his hnc,,
ha lono With Won ,o,;nht L,,a -
room for YOU here. and Won are NOT fit to