Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-01-14

some sleep while me and the children
cook bite
He took the children into the shed
room and closed the door. A fire kin
died and supper placed on the stove,
he took down the milk pail and went
down to some matched stalls to milk
and feed the COW. the children follow
ing at his heels
DIR. Gaines and the village preacher
Fora PERTH. were engaged In CONVEX
sation when Fulton reached the doc
tors office that night. So it happened
that the Rev. PERTH learned of Fulton's
sick wife The next morning he drove
out. 1t was late in the day when he
reached the cabin. and Fulton had al
ready gone to the field.
The minister didn't remain long. Al
| ter speaking few words to the sick
woman and the children. he prayed
and took his departure. He saw at a
glance that other things than prayers
and words of sympathy were needed
He spent the morning visiting neigh
boring farms. When he returned home
late that evening. tired with the days
work. he felt that it had not been ir
vain.
At noon. when Fulton was told Of
the preachers visit. he said nothing
but a queer expression came on his
face. Whether of approval or resent
ment it was hard to tell.
The next morning he was clearing
away the breakfast dishes and trying
to quiet fretful child when ht
Glanced to glance out of the door. HI
was almost startled. A dozen men were
hoeing industriously in the cottor
patch. He stood for some minutes re
garding them. dazed. He was not 9
hard man, and. touched by the unex
pected show Of Kindness. tear came
into his eye; rolled down his cheek
splashed on the plate he was drying
In a moment he was ashamed Of the
weakness and quickly brushed al
traces of it from his eye. He hung w
the dishpan. washed the baby's face
and entered his wife's room.
molly. We'll have company for din
ner.' he said. rs he began to tidy the
loom. THE neighbors are hoeing il
the cotton"
There was little smothered cry OF
joy.
I'm 80 glad for you. Zeb.'
Fulton picked up his hoe and walked
toward the men. They saw him ap
proa ching. One of them stepped out tc
meet him.
We've treated you shabby. Mr.. Full
ton" he began. We didn't know JUS
how you were situated till the parsor
rode roun yesterday an tole u.s.
I'm shore 'preciate yore kindness.
returned Fulton. as he began to choK
into the weeds industriously.
Il low you needn't work today,
continued the man. Wed rather
you'd stay with yer wife. Well gi
over the patch gin night 'thout yort
help"
Fulton threw his hoe to the fence
corner and returned to the house The
wives of the men had arrived in his
absence. When he entered the cabir
it presented the appearance Of having
undergone general renovating. There
was snowy linen on the bed. and 1t wal
wheeled to where his wife. dressed II
a clean wrapper. could look through
the sunshine across the valley. A fain
color had crept into her cheeks ant
brightness into her eyes. The chill
dren. with clean dresses and faces
looked tidier than for many day. Tn,
baby sat on quilt on the floor layin.
with new rag doll.
Some of the women were in tn,
kitchen getting dinner that they ha,
brought. and behind the shed he coult
hear the sound of scrup-b boards as 9th
ers busily washed the soiled clothes
that had accumulated in the house 70
weeks.
Fulton glanced about him dubiously
not knowing Just how to adjust hiinse
To the situation.
Now. est sit down by yore wife an
rest to-day. said one of the women
stepping in from the kitchen. Were
shore ashamed for bein' so onneigh
borly. Guess you think we're a har,