The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-09
Ellen Ada Smith in Longmans Maya

Snaried and rheumatic finger old Joe
Ihorne followed the precious words, try
ing to repeat them in a quavering voice
so as to give himself all their comfort
But he had to stop, for his voice was
not steady enough to serve him. and
his eyes were too blind to see the big
print even with the aid of large round
6pectacles with heavy steel frames.
But he had only been so dim of vision
since last beard day, when it had been
decided by those in authority that he
was too old and feeble to look after him
self any longer. and that he must part
with his i tile home and his .Scanty be-
aongings and end his days in the house
knowing his poverty and helplessness, he
had patiently and meekly acquiesced in
the decision Of his betters, and his near
est neighbors, half a mile off, and the
relieving officer had painted to him in
glowing colors how much better off ne
would be in the house
why, you won't know yourself, joe
said brisk, Liza Legg. who had an eye
10 her neighbours old cak bureau which
might come her way very cAeaply if
things went well; you won't know your
self with bread and comfort the whole
winter through no gettin' starved with
cold like We pore folk outside
Old Joe looked dazedly round, as one
who hardly knew himself already, and
as one who might soon be lost alto
gether
It es true, Liza" he answered sad
"; Il be gettin' up a good hard age"
That's the sensible way to look at it -
remarked the relieving officer. who was
as kind-hearted as his ofTlcialfty allowed
him to be; why. if you stayed here we
might find you dead in your bed one fine
morning.
''Ess, and how about the stiffcate and
putin Of ee under groun'?"
had made up her mind days ago that
the rickety old fourposter was only 1T
for firewoOd. but that the feather bed
might really be got at bargain It's
owner looked wistfully at the antiquated
piece of furniture.
1T med be- he admitted ''but I'm
Willin' to go when the Lord do call
me-
They were both pleased to find MIN so
resigned to what was right and fitting.
and, We'll content, they left him to him
self to think it over. The place which
had sheltered him and his for so many
years that his memory could only dimlv
grope about the earlier ones was no snug
and powered cottage, like the model ones
In the village. but was an isolated Ish-
mael Of dwelling, standing apart from
the haunts of men, with it's thatch roof
standing out from the hillside like a
fTown or furrow; it was lopsided and
Adllti luAuDleuOWE MQefe 1t QId not face
the public eye, but to Joe ThOrne it was
home. and sanctifed to him by ties of
warm affection. His wife had come there
bride; his children had all been born
there: and the place which the villagers
stiSmatiZed as so lonely and way back
from everywhere" was to him the most
peoplod spot in the universe From its
nomely shelter his children had gone
forth one by one to earn their daily
bread afar or near-Some had married
some had died; and from that rickety
fourposter so despised of Liza Legg. his
old wife had turned a face of caImest
trust toward the dark and silent grave.
Now that his wife was dead and his
children drifted out into the, world-and
beyond it. with none of his own kith and
kin remaining in the parish-this little
tumbledOwn house was his world the
only place whore he did not feel lost
and lonely; to rim the spirit of departed
blessings rested upon it like the dew of
the morning But it was to be his no
longer; the decree had gone forth that
he must lose his home and mis- individual
ity, to become just one more pauper add
ed to the responsibilities of the parish.
The idea was so sad and strange that
he could not get used to it; and even as
ne strOVe to meet the inevitable with no
rebcllious spirit the evil day came upon
him That morning his scanty belong
among the parishioners, and the little
money they fetched was to so toward his
maintenance in the Union.
Liza Legg had fastened u1on the
feather bed, and was to be ousted by no
more generous bidder; but she could not
appropriate the old oak bureau. for the
vicar knew fine piece Of antique FUR
niture when he saw it. and he gave
Thorne an honest price for it.
Now the place was bare, save for the
inirm, lettering old settle, which was
supposed to be a fixture. upon which Joe
sat to try to read his Bible; few red
sparks fingered in the depressed looking
fireplace, with a brick in its lower jaw
and ashes upon its head. The cottage had
been let over his head and the new ten
ants were coming in that day. Joe Thorne
was waiting for their arrival before tax
ing himself off as in duty boun TO the
Union ere the sun set. For he had still
piece of property TO dispose OF which
troubled him more than all the rest: he
had offered this last treasure to Liza
Legg. who had fiouted it. and he was ter
ribIy afraid that the worst would have
to come to the worst.
I'm my fathers house are many man
sicnS--manN mansions His ouavering
voice broke suddenly with sob. and
neat little gray cat stirred upon his knee
and began gently rubbing against him to
know what the matter was She had
been Uneasy herself for week or niger
and the removal of the furniture had dis
turbed her still more. What could she
and her master do when bedt m came
with no fourposter-for She was accus-
toned to sleep on one corner Of the
shabby patchwork quilt. and rouse him
in the morning with a cold little r" Sc
against his face and a burst Of rapturous
purring.
What a lonely awakening for him the
next morning without his little faithful
friend and companion! For it had come
to pass that the little gray cat and the
old man were ali in all to each other.
She had come 70 them years ago. tiny
stray kitten. on their last daughters
wedding day, and because Mrs. Thorne
had been picking the first violet of the
year when the small "come by chance
announced herself as 4 claimant for the
lost daughters vacant place they had
named her Vi'Iet and taken to her very
kindly. All this had happened lonG,
long time ago; but, although Vi'let was
like her master. well Stricken in years,
she was q dainty, pretty little cat STILL
with a feminine vanity that ms s-ed upon
a -eTfectly licked and glossy coat. with
q special face washing after every meal
The old man loved her dearly. for she
was far more than a cat to him; she
was the last living hit Of home left, and
he had to part with her because MS
home was broken up and done away
with She was soft and warm and gen.
tie, with most loving ways; and now
all these things had to pass out or ms
life for pure cfficiaiism would take pos
session of I'm. and not let go until par
ish boards inclosed his dumb head and
earth received her own
1t broke his heart that he could not
explain matters to her, and so soften the
,,ajD Of parting eff I could heV told