Timothy Crump's Ward: A Story of American Life

p of one who brings good tidings, but slowly and deliberately, with a quiet gravity of demeanor

he delicacy to forbear intruding upon him questions to

Aunt

n tryin'. The times is awful dull, and, mark my words, they'll be wuss before they're better. We mayn't live to

tarving till the time comes. Anyhow," glancing at the table on which was spread a good plai

me flour," rep

?" asked t

r a few pounds," said Mrs. Crump,

o was puzzled, as his wife anticipated. "I

arned it himself, holding

er, cheerfully, "We ain't so bad o

her head with the

eturned, and the fami

husband's cheerfulness in a measure restored, "what

hy. "He isn't at all sure how soon it will be b

" commented Rachel, wi

could not hel

you haven't formed

me. I must try to get

for ins

it's only sawing wood. We shall have to get along as eco

e can live very plain," said Mrs. Crump, aff

sooner," was the comfor

umoredly. "Perhaps we might have lived a leetle more e

father," said Jack, hopefully.

said Mrs. Cr

tly fearing that the family might become too cheerful, when,

o discourage people," sa

stant umbrage

hing to be cheerful about when you're on the verge of starvation, I hope you'll enjoy you

hness," said Uncle Tim. "You do

If it hadn't been for me, I know you'd have been able to lay up money, and have something to carry you t

great help to me in many ways. That pair of stockings now you're knittin

ose the use of 'em soon, and be as useless as old Mrs. Sprague, who for the last ten years of her life had to sit with her hands folded in her lap. But I wouldn't stay

sed this storm, winced under the word

don't you try to look pleasant and cheerful?

en their house is a burnin' down before their eyes, and I've heard of one young man that laughed at his aunt's funeral," di

's a time to laugh, a

d Aunt Rachel; "but human nature ain't to be forced. I can't

o attempt a confutation of t

to knit in grim silence, while Jack seated himself on a three-legged stool near his aunt, and began to whit

his nose. He then took down from the mantel-piece one of the few books belonging to his library,-"Captain Cook's

of peaceful tranquillity, but it proved

n the world. That, I think, no one can doubt who has any practical acquaintance with them. Jack was working quite vigorously, the block from which the boat was to be fashioned being held firmly between his knees. His knife having got wedged in the wood, he made an unusual effort

ifting her foot, clung to it convulsively, whil

g "Captain Cook" fall to the floor, started up in great dismay-Mrs.

long to see ho

, Rachel?" in

ly, "you careless, wicked, ungrateful boy, that I've been wearin' myself out knittin' for. I'm almost sure you did it a purpose. You won't be satisfied

nt, who was rocking to and fro in her chair. "Besides, I hurt myself

said his aunt, sti

ou to put on it?" asked Mrs. C

s, (sic) indicating a great amount of anguish, limped out