TAKING CARE OF THEM HERSELF.
"YES'M, she's pretty well, mother is," said the old man, pausing with his foot on the wagon-wheel to answer an inquiry concerning his wife; "pretty well, if only 'twan't for worryin' about the children. 'Lizabeth's up to Conway this season, and mother's all the time afraid she'll be took sick away from home. Samuel's got a good place at Tanfield, and he's doin' well, too; but his boardin' place is across the river. Sometimes he goes by ferryboat, and sometimes he goes by skiff, and mother she can't get over the feelin' that he's likely to be drowned. The two younger ones is home yet, but she says she's anxious about the time John'll be wantin' to strike out for himself, and she's always been afraid we'd never raise Car'line. "No'm, there's nothin' special the matter with any of 'em now, and the truck garden has done fine this year. Mother hain't had a touch of her rheumatism all summer, and she'd be pretty well off, if 'twan't for worryin'." "Christian?—Bless you, yes, this forty year! She ain't afraid but what the Lord will take care of her and all the rest of the world; but seems like she ain't got faith yet to b'lieve He's to be trusted with the children."—Wellspring.