Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-01-16
A GOOD. INVESTMENT.


river, murmuring softly over its peb-
bly, bottom, flashed up like a sheet of
silver, and the purple fields of clover
nodding ready for the scythe, filled
the warm air with sweet, slumberous
scents.
Zine weather for the hayin'," said
Eliaklm Fairhaven. To his material
nature Gods sunshine and the grand
glitter of the earth and sky were but
the instruments to fill his pockets
with sordid gain-mere accessories to
"a good crop" Alas is not this world
full Of Eliakim Fairhavens in one
shape OF another?
Miss Comfort Fairhaven sat beside
him knitting and watching the cum
ber,ome frolics Of a pair of twin lambs,
deserted by their heartless mother,
whom she was bringing up by hand.
& eyes" she said with mechanical
glance in the direction of the beamy
West. who's that coming up the
path, I wonder ?"
zone of the new hands, | calculate, "
said Eliakim, screwing up his eyes. 81
don't gree to give EN- their supper
and board into the bargain, night
afore the job begins-and I'm blessed
if there amt little gal along with
him !"
"Tain't no hayin' hand" said Miss
Comfort, rising and going down the
steps to meet slender child Of nine
years old, leading pale, bowed-down
man, who walked with difficulty, lean
ing on crutch.
Heart alive, child" said Miss Com
fort, whose kindly nature involuntar-
lily sympathized with all who were
suffering or in distress; "what ails
you, and what do you want here?"
please, ma'am," began the child,
eagerly, "if you could give us night's 8
lodging-poor papa is so sick and
tired, and"
mo, 1 can't" abruptly broke in
Eliakim Fairhaven. "This amt no
almshouse, nor yet charity place.
If you can pay your way, well and
good if ye can't, the sooner you go
about your business the betterl'
ave have no money" timidly be-
gan the child, while the man, as if
stunned and bewildered by the heart
less fuency of the old farmers speech,
leaned up against the fence, pressing
his hand on his forehead, "but-"
Then clear out and be done with
it !" said Eliakim, resuming his seat
with dogged composure.
Miss Comfort looked appealingly at
her brother.
"If I could just get EN- a bowl of
milk, Eliakim, and"
"Stuff and nonsense" sonorously
calculated the farmer; 81 amt goln
to give in to this sort of thing. Once
begin, and you'll never leave off, you
soft-headed womenfolk !"
Slowly and YEARLY the two poor
travellers turned and plodded their way
on down the broad, dusty road, the
languid footsteps Of the invalid scarce
keeping up with the tripping pace of
the child.
"oh, papa, papa" sobbed the little
girl, turning her blue, wistful eyes to
the white, worn face, chow cruel peo-
pie are !"
He placed his hand upon her curly
uncovered head.
Never mind, Essie," he said, with
a mournful, tender pathos in his voice:
at will soon end. 1t cannot 60 for
long, as far as l am concerned, poor
child. But for you" He stopped,
his voice husky with emotion.
They had walked what seemed to
little Esther Bell a weary way, when
there was a rustic among the wild
rose bushes that overhung the stone
wall at their side, and voice called
hurriedly to them to stop"
"It'sme," said Miss Comfort Fair
haven, reckless of her grammar.
"Eliakim-that's my brother-he's s
gone over to the class meetin at Squire
Dundss, and I cut down through the
lots to overtake you. l tell you l
can't somehow get your fathers face
out o my mind. You're sick, ain t
you mister?"
II shall soon be quite well, he an
swered calmly, and Comfort Fairha-
vens more experienced eye detected
the hidden meaning which the little
girl never orce suspected. Yes, he
would soon be well, but it would be