Year: 1860

I why, granny, how did you get over here!
| they ell exclaimed as S crooked, withered old
woman hobbled into tho kitchen. She carried
pipe in her mouth, and staff in her hand,
she wore an old brown silk bonnet, and blue
gown of linsey-woolsey.


Yes, it amt often get down here, children,
but was so Illustrated eoudnt sleep till
| telled yOu,' painted old Mrs. WOOlcOOt, as she
sank down into the armchair which her son
vacated for her use.


1--WE are in a peek Of trouble, granny" inN
terposed Joseph, who was very fond of fdeliyer-
ing news, whether good OF bad.


"What's the matter, Isaac Massey, seems
to me you all do look mighty struck down


You tell granny, mother And Mr.. Wool
cOot turned to his wife.


The old woman leaned back in her chair, and
listened to her daughter-in.laW's sad story,
while an occasional wreath Of smoke curled up
slowly from her pipe, and the tears ran over her
Withered cheeks.


When Mrs. Woolcoot ceased, her mother
took her pipe out of her mouth, laid it carefully
in her lap, and, clasping her Wrinkled hands
together sat STILL evidently lost in deep thought
She shook her head frequently, and at last e.
bowed it as though she had settled some Pur-
pose in her own mind, and then she turned TO
her son.


I'm sorry for you, Isaac, for know it'll
come like death on you to give up the old
homestead, and I'm sorrier for Massey, for
woman's heart clings tighter than mans to
the spot where she's lived ever since her
husband brough ht her, young, inexperienced
gal, to his home, I'm sorry for you all, children,
but I've nothing to offer you but the little red
house your grandfather built on the land the
town given him when he fought the Injuns SO
bravely at Neck Bridge. If wust comes to
wust, you can take that, with the two strips of
medder land and the pasture lot
Il guess we'll have to turn in there a little
while mother answered her son, 'least.wise
till the Lord shows US where to turn about, for
Seth Rogers will hustle me out without honor
or marsy, now he's got the law on his side.
You know be amt got no more heart than a
stsne'


Don't say that, Isaac, of any man. Your
poor dead father used to tell me he'd seen a
good deal Of the rough side of human nature in
his life, but he'd never found a mans heart so
hard that there waFnt tender spot hidden
somewhere away down in it. Massy, he used
to say to me, it may seem just as bleak and
hard as the rock of old did to the Israelites,
! but, depend ont there is e well of water down
deep in it somewhere, If only the right Moses
was at hand to smite it.
well, mother, in most cases father was in
the right Of it, and it don't become his son to
contradict his words, now he is dead and gone
specially when he was slch God fearing
man; but can't think there is any Moses on
airth that could bring wafer out of sich rock
as Seth Rogers's heart


Don't be too sartin, Isaae God never put
the well there for nothing, and I kinder reckon
l see his hand here. Anyhow, I'll try to-mor>
row.


Try what, granny q exclaimed Mr.. and Mrs.
| Woolcoot


Try to find the we'll in the rock Of Seth
Rogers heart answered the old woman, put.
ting her pipe in her mouth and getting up.


why, granny, amt you mad struckl' queried
her amazed son, while his family stood looking
at the old woman in dumb amazement.


Not bit, Isaac; know ell what I'm about
though l shall keep my own counsel, and not
tell you one word of what brought me over to.
night. Only don't any on you give up; onlv
Jest trust in the Lord, and cast all your care on
Him


20, granny, do stay and have 3 cup of tea
We've got some real fresh.


Not to night, Massey shaking her head and
hobbling across the room; I've got to be al
alone, to hold counsel with myself; only don't
forget what / said about casting your care OIL
the Lord


[COneiHded tOBlOrrOHl.