The Washington herald., 1907-06-09

child.
a crippled child. That was Jest what
/ pore Harvey was; but I knew II wasn't
/ right for Mary to take all the blame OF,
herself. and SAYS ]
Mary. if Harvey could keep other
people from KNOWN what he was.
couldn't he have kept you from KNOWN
it, too? If he was free-handed to other
people what was to hinder him from
bein' the same way to you? Says I, If
there's any blame in this matter it be-
| longs as much to Harvey as it does to
you When you look at that old cabin
says I, you can't have any hard feelin's
toward pore Harvey. You've forgiven
him. and now says l. there's jest one
more person you've got 10 forgive. and
that's yourself, says l. It's jest as
wrong 10 be too hard on yourself as it
is 10 be too hard on other folks
Il never had thought o. that before
child, but I've thought of it many a time
since, and I know it's true. 1t amt Of
ten you find a human ben' that's too
hard on himself Most Of MS is jest the
other way. But Mary was one Of that
kind I could see a change come over
her face while l was talkin', and I've al
ways believed them words was put in my
mouth to give Mary the comfort and help
she needed.
she grabbed hold O. my hand, and
says She:
Do you reckon I've got a right TO
forgive myself?' Saws she I know I'm
not a mean woman by nature. but Har-
veys ways wasn't my ways He made
me do things l didn't want TO do and
say things l didn't want 10 say, and I
q ID.
him. But God knows I woGidn't a been
so hard on him If ia only known saws
she. God may forgive me- but even il
lie does. it don't seem 10 me that I've
got q right 20 forgive myself
"And says I, Mary. If YOU don't for
give yourself YOU won't be able 10 keer
for the children. and YOU haven't got any
right TO wrong the livin by worryin
over the dead. And now says I. you
.lie down on this bed and shut your eyes
and say 10 yourself. Harvey forgiven
me: and Gods forgiven me and ! FOR
give myself Don't Jet another thought
come into your head jest say 10 over
and over till you 90 60 sleep, and while
you're sleepin', I'll look after the chill
dTen'
4 didn't have much faith in my own
remedy, but she minded me Ike a child
mindin' its mother. and, sure enough,
when I tipt0ed upstairs an hour or so
after that. I found her f1s, asleep. Her
mother and her sister Sally come while
she was still sleepin', and I left for home,
feeIiu that she was in good hands.
That night about half rast Q o'clock
Went outdoors and set down on the
porch steps iu the dark. as 7 always DO
jest before bedtime. That's been one o.
my ways ever since I was child Abram
used % say he had known me 10 forgit
my prayers many a night. but he never
knew me 70 f0rgit 60 so outdoors and
look up a the sky. IT there was moon.
or if the stars was shInin', Ia stay out
and wander around in the gysrden tlll
ned come ont after me; and II it was
cloudy. Ia set there and feel safe in the
dark sss as in tho light 7 always have
thought. honey, that we lose a heap by
sleepiH an night. Well 7 was sittn
here loOkin up AZ the stars. and an az
once I saw a bright light over in the
direction Of Harvey Andrews place Our
house was built on risin' ground and We
could see for a good ways around the
country. 7 called AbIam and asked him
If he hadn't better saddle old Mol and
ride over and see If he couldn't help
whoever was in trouble. But he said it
was most likely some o. the neighb0rs f.
burnin' brush. and whatever it was e I
would be- out before he could git Co &c. So T.
We set there watehln' Il and speculatiu'
about it TIN il died down. and thea We .
went 70 bed.
"The next mornin I was ont in the .
yard weedlu' out a bed o. Glove pinks
and Sam Amos come Tidin by ON mis- big
bay mare. I h0Ilered o. him aud asked .
him II he knew where the fire was the
mis- gbt before. And SAYS he. Yes. Aunt
Jane. fl was that old cabin on Harvey
Andrews place He said that Amos
Matthews happened 10 he guir by at the
time and took down the fCnCe-rails % f
keep 1t from spreadn'. but that was all
be could do. sam said Amos told him
here was somethin mysterious about Lat
7re He said it must "a been startel /
from the inside for The flames d.dn
burst through the windows and roof TIT
after he got there. and the whole inside
was abl8ze But. when he tried % open
he door. it was locked fast 9rI light lie
aid Mary and her Uu-hrr and sister was
an ont I'm the yard, and Mary was
;taniin with her hands folded In fr1lt
# her, l0olin' az the burnin houea jest
rs calm as If It was her own fireplace
Amos asked her for the k-- 90 the cabin
l00r. and she went 10 the back porch and
ook one off "a nail. but If wouldn't nj the
oCk, and before she could get another 10
ry, the roof was On FIRE and Gavin in
Amos told SaIa the cabin appeared tc b.
ull of old plunder " alI sorts. ana you
ould smell burnt rags for a mile around.
"Of course, there was a good deal o.
ak about the fire, and everybody said
lcW Gun ious il was that ID could catch
N Tie inside when the der WIS locked
mover said q word not even TO Abrln.,
lut l knew well enough WHO set the old
bin afre. and why the key Mary gave
Amos wouldn't fl the lock. UarvCys
lOthes was packed away under the 3lI
.arret; the old cabin was burned, and
he ashes and rubbish hauled away, and
here wasn't anything much left o. re- !
mind Mary OF .he things she was tryn' 10
orget. That's the best way 20 do When
thing done and YOU can't undo il, there
no use in frettin' and wOrryiu' your
elf Jest put il out o. your mind. and 60
n your way and git ready for the next
rial that's comm 10 you.
But Mary never seemed like herself ,
fter Harvey died, until little Harvey was
aiken with fever. That seemed 90 rouse
er and bring her senses back. and she {
ursed him night and day The little
hing went down to the very gates of
cath. and everybody give up hope except /
he old doctor. He'd fight death Off as :
ing as there was breath in the body. The c
light the tUrnin' point was to come l set @
p with Mary. The chiidd been mOanin
nd tossin', and his muscles was twitchin ,
nd the fever was jest as high as il V
ould be. But about o'clock he got f
uiet and about half past I leaned '
yer and counted his breaths He was a
reathin slow and regular. and I touched q
is forehead and found it was wet, and n
10 fever was goin' away. 7 went over a
, Mary. and SAYS I. You go in the other
,om and lie down, Mary, the fever's n
-oke, and Haryey's goin' 10 git we'll
he stared at me like she couldn't take in Il
hat I was sayin'. Then her face begun h
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