The Wingham Times, 1895-02-22, Page 2leefecrtirtrr.'see-eeteakee"
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1,1
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The /RA Or Ongiii911,
It laret the thing you do, dear,
It the thing you leave undone
Which game yeti n tat ot heartache
At the setting or the sun;
The tender word forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
• The flower you alight bave eent, dear,
Age yonr haunting ghosts to -night.
' The stone you might have lifted
taut ot the brother's way,
The bit of heartsorne counsel
You were hurried too muck to say,
The loving touch of the hand, deer,
The gentle and winsome tone
. That you had no time nor thought for,
mrith troubles enough of your owe.
-TheseltLtleads of kindaess,
So easily out ot mind,
Theee chat -tees to be ngels
Weieh even mortals tind—
They come he night and silence
Each. valid reproachful wraith,
When, hope is taint and flagging.
And a blight hes drhpped on faith.
For life is all too short, dear,
Ad sorrow is ail too great,
To suffer aur $.104. compassion
That tarries until too late.
And Ws not the thiug you do, dear,
It's the thing you leave undone,
• Whiob gives you the bitter heartache,
At the setting of the eun.
DUROAUST E. Seweeree.
. •
,• THE TAN' IN OF OLD MIS'
• UNE
;wen, I guess I might's well string
them beaus for dinner before I clean
up," said Mrs. Bridges.
She took a large milkpan fall of
beans from the table, and eat down
. . by the window.
• "Isaphene," she said, presently,
"what do you say to en organ an' a
borse an' buggy—a horse with some
style about him, that you could ride
or drive, an' that 'ti'd; always be up
when you. wanted te go to town ?"
"What do I say?" ..Isaphene WAS
making a cake, and, beating the
mixture with a long -handled tin
• spoon< She had reddish -brown hair,
that swept away from her brow and
-• , temples in waves so deep you could.
have lost your linger in any one of
them; and good, honest gray eyes,
and a mouth that was worth kissing.
. She wore a blue cotton gown that
looked as if it had just left the iron-
ing table. Her sleeve were rolled
- to her elbows. She turned and
looked at her mother as if she feared
' one of them had lost her senses ; then
she returned turned to the cake-beat-
THE IV ll'SGIIANI 'MIES, FEBRUARY 2,2, 189%
Hamm'e thiegs. : sty I ain't It warm, •lor's-buttone ar' pumgranates„ an' there ain't somebody 'n the neighbor- &dare- my eetteeeienee wonigeet let determined tone. There' no place
welkin'?" mournin' widowe an' all kande. hood that hied take her In. She- merest no weer, • to put her exceptin` the spare room,
qt is so.- The visitor gave her .Ouess you didn't know she set out 'ain't much expense, but a good deal A. dull reageow spread slowly over an' we, can't get along without that,
bonnet to Isaphene, dropping her that pink (!abbage rose, at the north he trouble. She% sick, in an' out o' 'elm Bridges'. faee, • no elem.
black mitts into- it after rolling them end 0' the front porch, did you An' .bed, high out( all the time. My Well, I ghees von needuft keep No-. said Isaphenes in a nen-corn-
earefully together./ "But et always that hop -vine that you ye got trained „opinion is slues been soared by all Milian' for me to alke her, she stela, mittaelone,
nice and. cool in 'eteur kitchen." Her over yOur parlor whlow—set that :her troubles ; an' that, if somebody sheet:Av. Mee Bridees stopped stropping
eyes wandered about with a look of out, too. An" that row of young Wel only takeher an' be Rend to r oe! Mess Hanna, utter*el the and Weed thoughtfalltr out the
unabashed curiosity that took in alders between hero an' the barn-- her, her teMperhaent 'u'd improve word in a tone that was an unintea. &ore
everything. "I brought my crochet she set them all out with her own wonderful. She's always mighty demi insult.; in fact, Mrs.. Bridges Tliere's this room, °mareout o'
with me: hands, dug the boles herself. It's. grateful for every little chore you. do Wilhelm(' afterward that her look of the kftehen, she stied, stow/y, It's
"I'm glad you did. You'll have fanny she never told you she lived her. It just makes my heart ache astonishment, and, for that/ matter, nice an' big an' swany, It 'n'd be
to excuse the looks o' things. Any. here. • to think o' her goin' tel the poor- her whole air of dazed inerethility, handy 'n winter, tete belie' right off
news 2" • Yes, it is, said Mrs. Bridges, slow- farm. were insuaing, I never once the leitchen. But et ain't fernished.
"None particular." Mrs. Hanna ly and thoughtfully. , Mrs. Bridges shut ber Hips tightly thought 0' you, she saide with an No saki Isaphene, it ain't.
began to crochet, holding the work It's a wonder she wirer broke i tog -ether ; all the softnese and irreso- earnestness; that could not he doubt- A'n' I know your paw wouldn't
close to lir face. "Ain't it too bad down an' eried when she was visit. lution went out of her Mee. 'ed. Why not o' me? demanded furnish it.
about poor old Mis' lehne?" ing here. She can't mention the Well, I'M sorry her her, she said, !Mrs. Bridges, showing something of Isaphene laughed:. No, I guess
"What about her ?" Mrs. Bridges place without cryin', 'with an air of dismiss ng a disagree- her resentment. Witat you been net,. she said,
snapped a bean into three pieces, and A dull red came into Mrs. Bridges' able subeeet ; but tit world's full 'o) talkin` about her all 'day for, 1 you Well, there's no use a-thinkin'
looked at her visitor .; with a kind face-
of pleased. expectancy, as if almost She never visited lipre.
any news, however dreadful, would Never visited here ! Mrs. Hamm
be welcome as a relief . to the mon- laid her crochet and her hands in her
otonv of existence. "Is she dead ?" lap, and stared. Why, she visited
"No, she. ain't dead; but the poor everywhere. That's the way she
managed to keep out o' the poor -
old creature 'd better be. She's got
to go to the poor-farmtafter all" house so knee. Everybody was real
There was silence in the kitchen considerate about ineeten' her. nue -e an organ.
save for the click of the crochet'. 1 metier she dian't like to come here Isapbene's been wantin' one, an' I
needle and the snapping of the beans. because she thought ;.so much of the don't believe her paw'll ever get
troubles, an' if you eled over all or
them you'd be cryin' lel' the time.
Isaphene, you go out an' blow thea
dinner -horn. I see the men -folks ev
got the horses about foddered.
I'm thinkin' about ebuyin' a horse
an' buggy, she an anneal, with
sternly -repressed trio ph, when the
girl had gone out.
A soft wind came in the window and
Isaphene ltiolted over her shoulder
drummed with the lightest of touches
at her mother, but the look was not
on Mrs. Bridges' temple. It brought
returned. The beans were all the sweets of the old-fashioned
sputter -
worked up to the pitoh o' getan' it
for her. But I've got some money
Iaid by. I'll like to 'Ise() • bis eyes
when he comes home;. an' finds a
wasn't beetin for me to talo ber in ? about it, Isaphene; we lust can't
I never thought o'. such a thing, take her. Better get them potatoes
repeated the visitorsail looking on; I see the men -folks coniine up to
rather helplessly deed. I talked the barn.
about it because it eves on in. mind, The next -morning after breakfast
neav3r, too; an', I glees, because 1 'Isaphene said suddenly, as she stood
wanted to talk my conscience down< washing dishes, Maw, I guess you,
Mrs. Bridges cooled off a little, and better take the Organ money an'
her rough fingers. I i Mrs. Bridges turned so sharply she
;furnish up that room.
began to drum on the bedpost with
Well, if you wasn't hintin` she 1 dropped the turkey-wiug• with which
said in a conciliatory tone,
right. Youshewas polishing off the stove.
it's all
kep' harpin' on the YOU don't never mean it, she
-same string till 1 thought you was ;
an' it riles me awful to be hinted at,
ingnervous e m o ie pan.
flower garden with it—the mingled bran new buggy wit+ top an' all, Pll take anything right out to my
Ain't you got about enough maw? an'
breaths of mignonetie, stock, sweet, . a horse that he caret hitch to a , face, so's I can answer it, but I won't .
peas., and clove pinks. The whole she said.'That pan seems to be plow, no matter how bad he wants .he hinted at. But why—having rid!
cum hefty,
kitchen was filled with the fragrance.
'' Yes I gtiess She -got brush- to ! I ain't sine but I'll get a phae-• herself of the grievance she at once
And what a big, cheerful kitchen it I - . 'up, tog. swung around to the insult—why
ing the strings off her apron, and set .
didn't you think o' me?
was! Mrs. Bridges contrasted it,They ain't as stroeg, but they're • '
unconsciously, with ihe poor -farm the pan on the table. 111 watch th ;
i bandy to get in an' outof—'specially Mrs. Hanna cleared her throat and
put the
cake, now., Isaphenel You e
I for old, Volubly knees!,
kitchen, and almoet shivered, warm ,
though the day was. beaus on in the pot I to boil. Put
, . , I I ain't so old that Poi trembly. began to unroll her lifts.
Well, I don't just iknow why, she
drew the mitts
well up over
't know why.
Hanna, enth a cobtemptuous air_ • I'd thought o' most everybody 'n
. to the poor -farm an''' take poor old
"What does her chilaren arnouut to, ! Then the pleasant preparations for .Mis' Lane for a ride. It ain't more'n town—but you never come into my
I'd like to know !" '4 .diniter went on. The beans soon I gee miles, is it ? She ust to have a head onet. I was .es innocent o'
. horse an' buggy o' her own. Some_ hintin"s a baby unbkre
"Her son's got a good comf'terble began to boil, and an appetizing
house an' farm." • odor floated through the kiteben..
, how, I Can't get I . offo'
. . lel 0 my min
• d Mrs. Bridges drew a long breath
Well, what if be bas? He got it Then the potatoes were pared—big, I at all. to -day: I just. heard about noiselessly.
with his wife, didn't he? An' missy. : white fellows, smooth. and long : her 's I was stet -tin' for your house. Well, she said aipsentanindedly,
won't let his poor old mother set foot with a sharp, tin knife, round and .
/ The men came eo the house, paus. come again, Mis' galena. An' be
inside the house. I aon't say as she round and round, each without a ing on the back porch to clean their sure you always feteli your work an'
is a pleasant body tb have about— break until the wholes parig bad , boots on the scraper, and wash their .stay the afternoon. . .
she's cross an' sick most all the time, curled itself about Isaphene's pretty 1 hands and faces with, water dipped Well, I will. But it's your turn
an' childish. But that ain't sayin' : arm to the elbow. The cabbage , from the rain-barrele Their faces to come now. Wheye's Is'phene ?
her children oughtn't to put up with was chopped finely for,the cold -slaw,
her disagrecablenesse' . and the vinegar and butter set on . •
, schaternneeilnil.ee brown m4ble when they. . "I guess she's. milkin` a flre 'n the
cook -stove to get supper.
"She's got a married daughter, ,
.the stove in a saucian to heat. , Well, tell her to come over an'
It wes fl, 'el when ei .
"What's her chiletren about?" she P , .
. Oh, my -e -no, said ;I Mrs. Hanna, said, helplessly. Sh
asked, sharply. • Better get 'em on right away, It's
I with •a little start. I teas just think- on, smoothing them
her thin wrists. I d
Pt near eleeen Ain't this oven •
"Oh, her children !" said. Mrs. - • mebbe sometimes ?you'd go out
t bot .11 tl• d 1
.• stay all night with IIJulia some night.
.
•
ing with an air of good-natured clis- ain't shoe ; Then Mrs. Bridges besean to set the
"Yes, she's got a purled dnugh- I ttthle, •covering it first with a red .
. Hanna, with a sig i, ebegan rolling
•Mrs. Bridges weit into the kitchen
i e dain. n
the lace she had ertechoted round -
as ....... "Oh, you can smile, an' turn your ter." Mrs. Hanna "-closed her lips „cloth having a white border and and sat down, rag* heavily in a
, bead on one side, but you'll whistle togethee, and looked as if she might frine. In the middle of the table the spool, prepalutory to taking her
chair. Her face -wore a puzzled ex -
another tune before long, or Pll miss
my guess. lsaphene, rye been say -
•in, up chicken and butter money
ever since we come to Puget Sound ;
then I've always got the money for
t the strawberry crop, 'an' for the
geese an' turkeys, an'. the e.alves,
• an' so on." Mrs. Bridges stopped,
• and, lowering her voice to a myster-
say sometbing, if .she chose, that she placed an uncommon large, six- , 1` • pr
bottled castor. Well,
I she said, Imust go. - I had Isaphene, did you hear what we
would create a sensetion. •.
no idy it was so late. How the time
"Well, ain't she got a good enough I guess you'll excuse a red table- 1 - was a-sayin' in the bedroom?
; does go, talkine Jut see bow well
home to keep her mother in ?" cloth, efts' -Hanna? tl'he men -folks Yes—most of iteI guess.
"Yes, she has. But she got her get their shirt-siceve0 so dirty out 'n :I.'ve done — .crooheted full a yard Well, what do You s'pose was the
home along with her husband, au' the fields that you can't keep a white . reason she never tliought o' me takin'
since dinner -time . lily ! how pretty
he won't ye the old soul any more one clean no time. ! I that hop -vine looks. "r makes Nils' Lane in? li
'n ti'lissy would." • I use red ones m self most the lawful nice shade, too. I guess when Why, you never -!thought o' takin'
There was another silence. Isa- time, replied Mrs. Ha' ina, erocheting Mis'!
Lane planted 't she thought her in yourself, did you ? said Isa-
ems whisper, "Soixtebody's comine" phene had. put the !,,eake in the oven. industriously. "It'save,s washine l , she'd be settine uneer it herself to. phene, turning doefn the damper of
she exclaimed.i day—sbe took such pleasure in it. .
She knelt on the flew and opened 'guess poor old Ails' Lane '11 have to the stove with a clatter. I don't see
"Who is it ?" Isaphene stood up the door very softly now and then, see the old place after all these 1 The ladies were sitting -on the how ' anybody e14e 'ud think of it
i
straight, with that little quick beat- tomethat it was not browning too years ; they'll tale her right past . front porch. It wascool and fra- when you didn't yirurself.
.<. •
ing, of mingled pleasure and dismay, fast The heat from the oven had bore to the poor -farm ', grant out there. The shadow of the Well, don't you think it was awful
-that the cry of "Company" brings to crimsoned her face and arms. -
4
• Mrs. Bridges set on the table a
of g
; house reached almest to the gate impudent of her to say that, any -
;country hearts. . "Guess you'd best put a, piece o' white plate holding big square . now. The bees le"d been drinkinhow?
"I can't see, I don't want to be paper on top o' that cake," said her yellow butter, and stood looking too many sweets -
caught peepinh I can see its a wo- mother. "It smells kind o' burny- through the door, down the path, . and. were lying in
man, though ; she's just passin' the like." with its tall hollyhocets and scarlet :droning stupidly.
row of chrysyanthums. Can't you "It's all right, maw." poppies on either side: Between the blowing from P
.. stoop down an' peep? She won't see Mrs. Bridges looked out the win- house and the barn some wild. ' turning over the el
you 'way over there by the table." dow. . mustard had grown, fhick and tail, : jug here a billow o
Isaphene stooped, and peeped "Ain't my floWers doin' well and was now drifting like a golden there one of light gt
reedy fellows ! No, I don't. Slie told the truth.
the red poppies, Why ought they to think o' every -
A soft wind was body takin' her exceptin` me, I'd
et Sound and like to know?
ver leaves, mak- Because everybody else, I s'pose,
dark green and have thought of it ,theirselves. The
'en; it was sett- neighbors have all 'been chipping in
cautiously through the wild mourn- though, Mis' Hanna ?" cloud, against the pale blue sky. !leg loose the perhim oethe blossoms, to help her for years. You never
ber -vines that climlied over the "They are that. • When I come up Butterflies were threbbing through 1 too, and sifting silken thistle -needles done nothin' for het, did you ? You
- kitchen window.the air. Along the fence never invited hoto 'visit hero, did t
the walk I couldn't help thinkin' of , the air, and grasthoppers were through 1
"Oh, it's ells' 'Lanni!" poor old lits' Lane." cracking everywhere. It was ell I was a hedge, eight feet high, of the you ? 4
"My goodnessAte the way this 1Vhat's that gin to do with her ? very pleasant and peaceful ; '
< while beautiful ferns that grow luxuriantly No, I never. &t that ain't no
ske he ',8 quick 's
ey ain't none of
fast, be they?
id Isaphne, fac.
house lookse You'll - have to bring There was resentment bristling in the comfortable house' and barns, the in western Washington. The pasture , sayin` I wouldn't t
across the lane was:4 tangle of royal ' the reet of 'ern. T
her out here in the kitehen too. I Mrs. Bridges' tonesand glance. .1 wide fields stretching away. to the
sitioseshe's come to span' the'day— Mrs. Hanna stopped crocheting, forest, and the cattle ,feeding on the color, being MOSSO in with golden- 'em takin' her vers
she's got her bag, ain't she?" ; rod . ink -weed yarrow, purple No, they ain't, s
., "Yes. What'll we. have for din- air, and looked over them in surprise Mrs. Bridges wondered how she
; but held her hands stationary in the hillside gave a look of prosperity.
1 this'tles,pand tield'd esies ; the cotton- ing her mother and looking at her
* ner? I ain't goin' to cut this cake for at her questioner.would feel --after having loved the . woods that lined 4 the creek at the steadily; they ain
.
her. I want this for Sunday." side of the hous ' were snowing. got their hands fell
Why, she list to live here, you ' place—riding by the poor -farm.
"Why, we've got corte beef to know. i Then she pulled herself together and There was a wild . yringa near the an' lots o' childer
boil, an' a head o' cabbage, an' these She did ! In this house? !said sharply : gate, throwing out epray upon spray folks to take care o .
herebeans, an' watermelon perserves. Why, yes, Didn't you know that? ; I'm afraid you. feel a draught,Aiis' of white, delieately .seented, gold- Minh ! said Alt. Bridges. She
A
n' you can make a Bustard pie: 1 Oh, they ust to be right eiell off' ei ; Hanna, settite se close to the door. hearted flrrn owers. ' hechopping s ine cold boiled
guess that's a good, emingh dinner for her husband's time. I visited here i Oh, my, no ; 1 like et. I like lots Mrs. Brid,ges ar 0, and followed beebf for hash.
her. There ! She's knockin' ! Open the consid'rable. My ! the good things o' fresh air. If 1 diiin't have six her guest into the 4are bedroom. . I. don't believe I'll sleep to -night
.• door, can't yeti? Well, 'f I ever 1 she always had to eat! It makes my : children and my ownrinother to keep When they goin' o take her to the 'for thinkin' about it, she said, after
Look at that grease spot on the mouth water to think of theme I I'd take her myself. :, poor-farin ? she ask d, abruptly. 'a while.
goer !" Minh! I'm sorry I can't give you i Take who? Mrs.::: Bridges' voice Day after to -m rrow. Ain't it I yvon't neither, maw. ,I wish she
"1,1reli, I didn't spill it." as good as she did, saki Mrs. Bridges, 'rasped as she asked the question. awful? It just akes Ine siek to wasn't gain' right by here. •
tee "Who did, then, missy ?" stiffly. iIsaphene paused o4 her way to the think about it, I couldn't 'a' eat a So do I.
.'.; "Well, I never." Well, as if you didn't I You. set a! pantry, and looked At Mrs. Hanna bite o' dinner'f I'd stayed at home, After a long silence Mrs. Bridges
Isaphene went to the front door, beautiful table, Mis' Bridges, an', I with deeply thoughtful eyes, just for thinkin' abdut it. They say said, 1 don't s'pose year paw 'd hear
returning presently, followed by a what's more, that's your reputation 1 Why, Mis' Lanc---who else 2—be- the poor old Are, ure ain't done toour takml her in ? let me see the old place—once more,
WI, thin lady. alt over. Everybody says that about Ifore I'd let her go 'to the poor -farm, nothin' but cry an' moan sone° she , I guess he'd hear to 't if we would, The Lord bless you—for it ! Bat pm
'Here's Mis' ILI., maw," she you. , 1 Well, I think hat children ought know'd she'd got to go. said Isaphene, dryly. 'most sorry I stopped—seems now 's
Odd, with the air ,if' having made a Airs. Bridges smiled d.eprecatingly, i to be made to take Care of her ! Mrs, news your hag,said. Airs, I3ridges. Well, we can't do %that's all there if I—jilet eouldn't gt) on now.
pleasant discoeseryh Mrs. Bridges with a faint blush of pleasure. I 13ridges went on setting the table Do you want I should tie your veil P is about le announced Mrs. 13ridges, Well, you, ain't gqin' on, said, Mrs,
got uptvery inuch' surprised to find They do, Ails' 13ridges. I just told with brisk, angry mo, ements. That's No. thanks; t guess I won't put it , 'with a great air Of having made up Bridges. while Isaphene 'went ea the
Who her visitor Was and shook you about Ins, Lane bemuse you'd 1 what I think a,bon it. - The law on, If I didn't have such a big her mind, Isaphene did not reply, door and stood looking toward the
lauds With exaggerateil delight, never think it now of the poor erea- ought to take hold e.: it. fetingy, an' my own mother to keep, She was slicing potatoes to fry, and hill with drowned ey6. This is our
gtWeli, I'll deelarifi it's really you, ture. An' adz flowers she est te Well, you, see, thei law luti took Vd take her myself bcfore I'd see her She seemed to agree silently with little joke--Isapheeete au, mine,
Is ny Weil, sit right down un take] have on both sides that walk! Lark- : holt of ft, said Mrs. °Hanna, with a go to the poor -house. If 1 had a, her mother's decision. Presently, This'll be your 110114 'King. 's it's
a your things. hipline, take Mis' ' spurs an' sweetvilliains an' bnelin- win' smile. It see g a sheltie that small faintly an' plenty o' room, 1 however, Mrs. Bridges said, in a, less I communno os nun li.m.
,i
il
one of 'ern but's
--no spare room,
of their own
gasped.
Yes, I do. I know we'd both feel
better to take her in than to take in
en organ—they both laughed rather
foolishly at the poor joke. You can
furnish the room real comfter'bte
with what it 'tut take to buy an or-
gan; an' we can get the horse an'
buggy, too.
Oh, Isaphene, I've never meant
but what yon should -have an organ!
No, I won't never spen' that money
for nothin' hut an organ --so you can
just shct up about it.
I want a horse an' buggy worse,
maw. We can get a horse that I
can ride, too. An' we'll get a
phaeton, so's we can take Mis' Lane
to church an' around, Then she
added, witn a. regular masterpiece of
diplomacy, 'We'll show the neighbors
that when we do take people in, we
take 'em in all over.
Oh, Isaphene, said her mother,
weakly, wouldn't itjust astonish 'em?
It was ten o'clock of the following
morning when Isaphene ran in and
announced that she heard wheels
coming up the lane. Mrs Bridges
paled a little, and breathed quickly,
as she got her bonnet and went out
to the. gate. A red spring wagon
was coining. slowly toward her,
drawn . by a single horse. The
driver was Half asleep, on the front
seat. Behind, in a low chair, sat old
Mrs. Lane ; she was stooping over,
her elbows on her knees, her gray
head bowed.
Mrs. Bridges held up her hand,
and the driver pulled in the not
reluctant horse.
Row d'you do, Mis' Lane ? I want
you should come in an' visit me a
while.
' The old creature lifted her trembl-
ing head and looked at Mrs. Bridges;
then she saw the dd. house, half -
hidden by vines and flowers and her
dim eyes filled with bitter tears.
We ain't got time to stop, ma'am,
said the driver, politely. I'm a-takin'
her to the county, lte added, in a
lower tone, but not iso low that the
old woman did not hear.
You'll have to make time, said
Mrs. Bridges, bluntly. You get
down an' help her cat. You don't
have to wait. When i!I'm ready for
her to go to the 00liniV I'll take her
myself.
Not understanding in the least,
but realizing, as he said afterwards,
that elle meant business, and wasn't
the kind to be fooled. with, the man
obeyed with alacrity. •
Now, you lean all . your heft on
me, said Airs. Bridges kindly. She
put her arm around the old woman
and led her up the ollyhock path,
and through the house into the
pleasant kitehen.
Isaphene, you pull that big chair
over here .weere it's cool, Now, ells'
Lane, you set right down an' rest.
Mrs, Lane wipe( the tears froM
fast. At last she . eid, in aecholted
i
her face with an ol . cotton handker-
chief, She tried t speak, but the
sobs had to bo swilowed odown to
voice: It's awful good In you—to