The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-12-11

She was old now,
but still fair with beauty of the
spirit blossomed out on the pale face
whose smile was sweet as ever Her
husband, tall and thin and brown,
glanced at her now and then as if he
still saw the loneliness she wore when
he brought her home, his wife. And
as she looked up at him he was still
the stalwart youth. the touch of whose
strong hand once made her heart beat
so madly. Their children were all
gone; some to the further life, some
returning for holiday.
ITO think" she said, that the day
you fetched me here l could sit in the
door and see the river loopin' along
all blue an silver, and the low hills
beyond, with their black pine woods
an the sunshine falling through, and
all the wide mash an the haystacks,
an the colors changin' on 'em. 1t
seemed to mel do mo- what it
seemed to me! Oh, heaven can't be no
more beautiful than that was, lookin'
down this side the knoll. There's a
big bunch most beyond your hand,
jes' drippin' 18th juice"
And one day you cut down the
big elms at the back there"
Hated to. a tree allus seems to
me to have a life of it's own, most
as much as man has. 1 don't feel no
assurance l amt settin' sperrit free.
But there, who knows. Anyway it
cleared slightly spot for you on
t'other side"
Il don't care. I wisht that swamp
could be struck by lightnin' fust!"
''Lightnin' never struck hull ten
acre lot at onst."
1T might set fire to it."
"An' burn up somebody's wood lot!
Why, Hubby, I'm 'shamed on YET"
"You orter be, I'm 'shamed on my
self. But l feel jes' so. We amt got
many years to live, as you say; and
I'd like to see that likeness Of the
promised land an hev Laury see it.
do no. as Asa'd care so much. Laury
likes it open all about her. Shed stay
here more. Shed hev her colored
chalks out in no time. Them paintin'
people down in PEBBLES pastur d may
be give her some hints. An you
know the minister said Laury he'd a
real gift for drorin'. But there, she
won't be here tell Christmas time.
Sakes alive, father, what Christmas
it'd be 18th that swamp burned up"
well, well, wife, as long as we've
got each other, an the children, here
and in heaven, and enough to keep the
wolf from the door"
Il know. And I'm silly. An the
dear Lord knows l amt maxim no
fuss I'm jes' sayin what I'd like
did useter love that sight-an' the
Lord made it. My, l guess he loved
beautiful thin's, tew. set by it. I'm
happy as thin's are; but I'd be happier
eff that was throwed in
Like a chrome down to the store
wen you're tradin' your butter. Wal,
it's time give Brindle her supper, an
she give me mine. I hope the day'll
be long O. comm wen 1 can't milk my
cow an take her sweet breath all
made o. clover blows. THERE guess
the birds may have all I've left.
There's bunch on top for luck. Yes.
there they be, comm after it now.
You can't make jell 18th them grapes.
they're too ripe, little mother.
They'll make sweetmeat, all right"
San thes nothin' nicer'n your grape
sweetmeat 18th my meat. But, Lor'
sakes, guess you'd cook sawdust sot
would be tasty. I'm glad we've got
suthin' to cook with-not like them
city folks, dependin' on coal an none
to depend on. That's noble wood
pile we've got There's nothin' like
bein' forehanded. Come, it's gittin'
dampish, an you'd better be thinkin'
o. your rheumatics. Eff they'd dreen
that swamp you wouldn't be havin'