The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1922-10-11
FAITH OF MOTHERS
BY MARTHA NJ. BARTLETT

The cellar, with its cement floor,
was cool and inviting as Elizabeth en-
tered, bearing a rack of jelly. Two
closets occupied part of the southern !;
wall. In the larger she deposited 1S
tumblers; in the smaller, two. The
labels proclaimed that this days pre-
serving was crabapple.
Worthy of note were the rows of |
rhubarb and strawberry conserve and |
other fruit.
Elizabeth lovingly touched each |
glass. bright and colorful with the |
fruit. A footstep, a shadow. and she
hastily turned the key. Before she |
could Withdraw the Keeper Of her |
secret, Daniel her husband. had |
grasped IL.
"Why all this concealmentY' he de-
manded.
sit is a custom in my family" she |
replied AS far back as have any
knowledge, the women maintained two |
closets. The smaller contained a
tenth Of the year. preserving. 1t was
given 10 the sick O.. the neighbOrho0d, |
the church and the hospital. a certain
percentage was >u,'l and the proceeds !
used for the nee1y"
Very fine. very fine. elegant; but
why, why, did your foremothers take
this courseT'
Because they felt the truth Of the
proVerh. The liberal shall he made
TAT; and he that watereth snail be
N.atered also himself.'"
Daniel locked the door with deter
mination. After putting the key in his
pocket, he faced his wife
Il hope you do not think for one in
slant that you are going to give away
ny fruit To lazy people, too shftless
w. provide f"r TIE wintor. ! forbid yon
10 "a anything Of the kind; it all be-
longs to me"
But, Daniel, when YOU married me,
one year ago. you >did With all my
worldly goods | thee endOw, and this
is very small portion. You cannot,
you must not, you shall not deprive
me of this privilege"
Her husband jerkcd himself towards
the stairs angrily. elizabeth, I've
told you something and l mean It."
! lb'Ais "lAlNhA sASt'lhtl WIN. ii' EAApuC
away to attend al meeting of the Sc
lectmcn.
With "A screwdriver she pried off
the hinges Running to the barn, she
soon returned with a two-wheeled
pushcart.
She now worked with fierce energy,
wrapping every jar and tumbler in
newspaper and placing them in the
wagon.
4 glorious fun moon was rising as
Elizabeth commenced her pilgrimage
For mile she followed the rutted
path, used only for hauling wood.
Strange shapes and sounds frightened
her, but at last she halted beside the
disused hut of Old Jake, the hermit,
dead now for twenty years. The fur
nishings consisted of rude bunk, Il
table, one chair and IL rusty stove.
Who can say what agony of mind
she suffered during the next four
hours, At the end Of that time Dan
iel found his girl wife. having tracked
her by the wheel marks.
The Jars Ihad been unpacked and
We're in rows on the ancient table.
Elizabeth looked ny as he came in
with his iashllght. but her eyes held
for him no recognition.
ooh. how do You do?" Her face
was whit, and her lips quivered. Il
am 81 glad you came. cannot go
home TO my husband; he has his own
private opinions about certain mat
er-and-and-we have quarreled.
need Il friend. ! have been defending
my property; old Jake comes here
every few minutes-with knife. He
wants to steal my preserves. Some
how, he resembled my husband. "Oh"
she shrieked, "there he is again, with
his sharp dagger Don't, oh, don't let
him hurt me-"
With comforting words Daniel gath
cred her in his arms Using giant
strides and running most of the way,
he carried her home.
il was five days after. The doctor
came from the sickroom and grasped
Daniels hand. by GEORGE he ex-
claimed, shes really going TO live;
she is free from dclirium, and wants
TO see her husband"
Very softly Daniel tiptoed in and
knelt beside the bed, slipping his arm
beneath her shoulders. She seemed
blissmlly happy to be held in this
manner Suddenly she inquired.
"Where is my, tenth?'
Daniel rose and walked to bassi-
) net where Daniel Abbott, Jr. Gage four
days., was making funny faces at a
hue and white blanket. why, Eliza
beth" he replied, this is only your
first"
Then, sensing her meaning: "Oh.
down In the closet, which shall be
held sacred. And, dearest, as token
Of gratitude for restored wife,