Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1915-04-16
CHAPTER vI-contlnued.

1t plagued" the others, however, to
Q that none of them could get ahead
OF Blossy in their noble endeavors to
make Abraham feel himself a light and
welcome burden. She 1t was who dis
mot be absolute without g~riddlecakes
for breakfast three hundred and sixty
i've times a year; she 1t was who first
baked him little saucer cakes and pies
because he was partial to edges; and
Blossy 1t was who made out a list of
"Don'ts' 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 aver mention gold
mines or shiftless husbands" ETC., etc.
All these triumphs of Blossy's In
tuition served naturally to spur the
Abe than they had already done, until
the old man began to worry for fear
that he should git split" When he
lay down for his afternoon nap and
the house was dull and quiet without
his waking presence, the ladies would
gather in groups outside his door as If
IN a kings antechamber, waiting for
him to awaken. saying to one another
ever and again, "Sh, sh!" He pro-
tossed to scoff at the attentions he
received, would grunt and growl
"Humbug!" yet nevertheless he
thrived in this latter-day sunlight. His
old bones took on flesh. His aged
kindly face. all scanned with care as
Il had been, filled out, the wrinkles
turning into wrinkles. Abraham had
grown young again. With the return
Of his youth came the spirit of youth
to the Old Ladies' home. Verify, ver
lily, as Blossy had avowed from the
nrst, they had been In sore need of
the masculine presence. The ancient
coat and hat, which had hung in the
hall 80 long, had perhaps served its
purpose in keeping the burglars away,
but this lifeless substitute had not
prevented the Grabbed gnomes of lone
liness and discomfort from stealing in.
Epinster, wife and widow, they had
every n been warped by the testy
3est-so-ness Of the old maid.
Now, instead of fretful discussions
Of health and food, recriminations and
wrangling, there came to be laughter
and good-humored chatter all the day
long. each sister striving with all hei
strength to preserve the new-found
harmony of the home. There were
musical evenings, when Miss Abigail
opened the melodeon and played "Old
Hundred" and Abraham was encour
aged to pick out with one stiff fore
finger my Grandfather's Clock
Hymn tunes" we're sung In chorus
and then. In answer to Abe's appea
for something livelier, there cam
ume-trted ditties and old, old love
songs. And at last, one night, aftel
leaving the instrument silent, mute IL
the corner or the parlor for man,
years, Aunt Nancy Smith dragged on
her harp, and, seating herself, reached
out her knotted. trembling hands an
brought forth what seemed the yer.
echo, SO faint and faltering 1t was, O
Douglas, Douglas, Tender and True.
There was a long silence after sh'
had finished, her head bowed on he
chest, her hands dropped to her sides
Abraham spoke first, clearing hi
throat before he could make the word
ZONE.
II wish / could git a husband fe
every of YER" said he.
And no n was angry, and no on
laughed; for they all knew that h
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
years and W death itself Away
hath the victory.