River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-09-20

: GOING HOME.
By Mrs. Minnie II. P. Knots
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7 By Mrs. Minnie n. P. KNOTS. !
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IT HE soft, hazy October sunshine
fell on a West Virginia poorhouse,
changing it's white painted sides into
subdued pearly tone In one of the
east rooms, opening off the hall and
inmates s tting lay Aunt Emily
on low, black, wooden bed She had
lain in this room since enc April day
when he right side felt numb and
stiff and refused to obey her will.
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 Emilys 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 coll
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 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, vet green. the sheep wandered
about or rested from their rambles
under the tail oak trees, Far away
in the distance, the b,uish gray tops
of the Allegheny mountains looked
down like sentinels on the quiet coun-
try and the thin, heccy clouds chung
lovingly to their SUBMITS.
Aunt Emily turned her head away
from the window as the door creaked
on its hinges aud Mary Sharp en-
tered. Mary was a middle-aCed wom-
an with lot of copper-colored hair
that was freshly combed, and a kind
face that shone as from recent wash
ing with kitchen soap. Although she
made visible effort to walk lightly,
her heavy shoes squeakcd noiselessly
on the bare floor. She went over by
the bed and sat down in the Scared
wooden rocking chair and began
swaying tach and forth, a loose rock
er 90 click, cluck at every motion.
She smoothed down her checked ging-
ham apron and said:
"How are you feeling to-day, Aunt
Emily?"
about the same. I've just been
thinking low much al things in this
world are alike. Every day the leaves
of those trees over on the hills are
nearer death and decay. They'll soon
be scattered all over the ground"
Mary did not answer fer minute
or two, but FREELY said:
''Well--tle trees will all be green
again next spring"
res. Last spring, Mary, the trees
were green and full of life just as I
was when L married Andy Dover and
settled down on our 20 acres. For a
while everything was bright. We loved
our little Annie with her long go den
curls and watched her grow into wom-
anhood and marry Clinton Mayes.
Then buried Andy. But Annie com
forted me and took me to live with
her. She and Clinton were good to
me; and the children. dear little
things, were so much company"
Aunt Emily paused and wiped her
eyes with one corner OF the I'M
bleached sheet Mary still swayed
back and forth. and the click, cIucl5
of the loose rocker was he only no Sc
that broke the silence except the low
hum of voices and the occas'o ual
chuckle Of foolish Ben" from the
other end of the hall.
But Clinton wasn't much to blame
for not wanting to keep me any long
cr." Aunt Emily went on, as she
cleared her throat. Annie was sick
", end the doctors bill had to be paid.
although the miners wages were cut
down - cents day. Ny mo0ey was
all gone, and | wasn't able 10 work
much Annie must BE- sicker now. for
she has not written TO me for more
than a year. aud like the trees 1 am
whitening. look over there" Aunt
Emily pointed with her able hand to
the pauper's burying ground across
the road where the soft sunshine.
coming through the trees, touched the
4 i 4,
MARY, III soon be there
Mary gave 'oud cough, wiped her
face with piece of unhemmed mus
lin that she took from her apron belt,
and replied;
ooh! reckon not, Annie will
come for YOU some day and take You
home to get we'll Let me- Prop you
up in bed before I go to help get din
ner."
Mary soon had the iAvalid sitting up
with the two cotton-battiug pillows
and ragged edged comfort at her
back. an go now if YOU are resting
all right" and the heavy shoes
soueaked across the floor.
Aunt Emily's only answer was: I'm
afraid Annie will never come" As the
sound of squeaking shoes died away
she shook her trembling head and
said slowly: she will never come.
In the kitchen the women were help
ING Mrs. Winters get dinner. The
steam was rising from a couple OF
large iron kettles on the range in
pne corner of the room, and the odor
Of boiling coffee filled the az, Mira