Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-09-25

gener'ly fixes EN-" And she gave
q harsh little laugh in which was Il
trace of exultation. You all can tote
the eggs reckon III go tishin' down
the creek"
1t was late in the afternoon when
I.ooizy returned from the creek. AS
she approached the cabin she saw Il
strange team move away, and one OF
the two men who occupied the wagon
she recognized as the settlement doe
tor. Hurrying forward, she almost
stumbled over Betty, who was lying
ON the floor sobblng bitterly. But
LOBBY scarcely noticed her. She was
looking at the motionless figure on the
bed
What is it," she asked in a sharp
whisper.
"Pap's done smasht awful walled
Betty. What shall we do? What
shall we do?"
| The figure on the bed turned slight
ly and tried to raise itself. but sank
back, with Il groan. In an instant she
was by his side.
What is 1t. daddy" she asked soft
ly as she smoothed the gray hair back
from his face. Can | help to raise
you or-or anything"
You mustn't be scared, honey he
easped 1T amt nothin' 'cept for the
pain an for losin' the crop"
But what is the matter. daddy ?
How's you hurt?"
ITS just one foot" he said, with n
grimace. "only one. but the doctor
lows it's plumb bad an that I'm to
truckle right here on this bed for the
Lord knows how long"
"Pap was agra bbin for--for a Dicka
ninny that was crawlin' IN the road.
said Betty between her sobs, "an-an
the runaway horses stompt him. Mig
gers shouldn't be lowed to have young
uns in the road"
WAS the pickaninny saved?" asked
LOBBY eagerly.
Her father nodded.
"The child want to blame" he said
"an' couldn't help a-grabbin'. An
surely the young un's worth more'n til
cost Inc. l amt a-mutterin' agin thu
hurt. but l do most p'intedly hate t.
lose the crop an not have money fol
the land. If only could have the hur
an be able to work just the same"
"Never mind. daddy; it'll come roun
all right" she said quietly. Just yol
rest easy an don't worry. We all cal
look after things"
"An'-an' you don't feel hard on mi
for gettin' hurt? | was studyin' how
to make things more pleasant-like. an
here I've done made 'em worse. tn b,
more work, LOBBY, honey, but | reck
on you'll have to help Betty now an
ag'ln. There'll be the hens an pigs t
look after an the housework an tn
tendin'. Well have to be clost, but
reckon the hens III bout give us liv
In"
) 81 done told you not to fret, daddy,
she said softly. Just you rest easy an
pend on we all to look out for things
As for your hurt" a slight flush creep
ing into her face. "Im glad Of 1t. That
worth all the land an the crops in tn
world"
As the night came on his foot grew
more painful, and at times he was de
llrious. LOBBY remained with hin
, until after midnight, when. as he grew
, more quiet. she called Betty to tax
her place. Soon after the old maj
. sank into quiet sleep.
; 1t was late In the forenoon when h
e awoke Betty was working about tn
: room, and he could hear the voice o
! little Molly outside calling the chick
: ems.
where's LooizyT' he asked.
y 81 don't know. She done took som
8 pone an bacon an left fore sunuI
! She lowed maybe she'd be back for
8 night an mebbe she wouldn't. | aske
r her to help me first, but she lowe
0 Molly an me could look after tn
q chores an housework."
;. The old man sighed. He had bee
. hoping for better things from LOBBY.
t Meanwhile LOBBY was tolling slowl
: back and forth across the tObacc
I field. The rows were long and tn
t work hard and laborious, and the gi
made little apparent progress. BIZ
t gradually as the hours went by her pc
sition shifted from one side of til
- field to the other All through tn
b long, hot day she worked, not pausin
9 to eat or rest and only stopping whe
o the shadows made 1t hard to distil
t guish the ground between the row
). Then she looked back at her work.