The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-08-28

young wife leaning, as she saw Abe
win every heart and become the cen.
ter Of the community.
"Why the sisters all think the sun
rises an sets in him." Angy would
whisper to herself sometimes. awcd
by the glorious wonder OF It all,
The sisters fairly Wed with one an.
other to see how much each could do
for the one man among them. Their
own preferences and preiudices were
magnanimously thrust aside. In u
body they bcsought their guest to
smoke as freely in the house as out
OF doors. Miss Abigail even traded
some Of her garden produce for to-
bacco. while Miss Ellie made the old
gentleman tobacco pouch Of red fan
mel SO generous in its proportions that
on a pinch 1t could be used as n chest
protector
Then Ruby Lee, not to be outdono
by anybody produced, from no one
ever discovered where, a motherof
pearl manicure Sc: for the delight and
mystincation Of the hero; and even
Lazy Daisy went so far as to cut some
red and yellow tissue paper into
squares under the delusion that some
time. somehow, she would find the
energy to roll these into spills for the
lighting Of Abc's pipe. And each and
every sister from time to time contrib
uted some gift or suggestion to her
brothers" comfort
1t plagued" the others, however, to
see that none OF them could get ahead
OF Blossy in their noble endeavors to
make Abraham feel himself light and
welcome burden. She II was who dis
covered that Abe's contentment could
not BE- absolute without griddlecakes
five times a year; she It was who first
baked him little saucer cakes and pies
because he was partial to edges; and
Blossy Il was who made out a list OF
"Donts" for the sisters to follow in
their treatment OF this grown.up
young old boy.
Don't scold him when he leaves
the doors open Don't tell him to wipe
his feet Don't ever mention gold
minos or shiftlcss husbands" etc, etc.
All these triumphs Of Ilossy's in.
tuition served naturally to spur the
others on 10 do even more for Brother
Abe than they had already done until
the old man began to worry for fear
that ne should git split When he
lay down for his afternoon nap and
the house was dun and quiet without
his waking presence the ladies would
gather IN groups outside his door as If
in a kngo anteChamber, waiting for
him to awaken, saying to one another
ever and again, Ssh, sh." He pro-
iesscd to soon at the attentions he
received would grunt and growl
"Humbug'' yet nevertheless he
thriyod in this latterday sunlight. His
old bones took on flesh His aged
kindly face, all scanned with care as
1t had been. filled out. the wrinkles
turning into wrinkles. Abraham had
grown young again. With the return
y
to the Old Ladies' home, Verify, yer.
fly. as Blossy had avowed from the
first, they had been in sore need Of
the masculine presence. The ancient
coat and hat which had hung in the
hall so long had perhaps served its
purpose in keeping the burglars away
but this lifclcss substitute had not
prevented the grabbed Enomcs Of lone.
illness and discomfort from stealing in,
Spinster. wife and widow. they had
every one been warped by the testy
jest.so.ncss OF the old maid
Now, instead Of frctful discussions
of health and food, denominations and
wranglnR. there came to be laughter
and goodhumorcd chatter all the day
long. each sister striving with all her
strength to preserve the ncw-found
harmony OF the home. There were
| musical evenings, when Miss Abigail
opened the mcludeon and played odd
! Hundred" and Abraham was cncOur
| aged to pick out with one stiff forq
finger "My Grandlathrr's Clock. ~
Hymn tunes" were sung in chorus,
and then, In answer to Abe's appeal
III something liNelier, there came
, ume.tried ditties and old old love
| songs. And ut last, one night, after
| leaving the instrument silent, mute in
| the corner or the parlor for many
years, Aunt Nancy Smith dragged ou'
her harp, and, seating herself, reached
| out her knotted, trembling hands and
| brought forth what seemed the very
echo so faint and faltcring 1t was, OF
Douglas. Douglas, Tender aud True
There was long silence after she
had finished, her head bowed on hCl
chest, her hands dropped to her sides
Abraham spoke first, clearing hi!
throat before he could make the words
come.
Il wish | could git n husband fei
every one of yer" said he.
And no one was angry, and no ont
laughed; for they all knew that HI
was only seeking to express the mes
sage conveyed by Nancy's playing
the message of love, love triumphant
| which cannot age which over tn