The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-23

eyes, and have been spnding up some borders
in our bit Of garden, and planting them. Mother
and planted the potatoes and beans, and such
things week ago.
"How do wish we had garden-but, then,
there is no use in wishing, for we never can have
anything like other folks,o said Lefty, sadly.
"And why not, pray tell You have just such
bit Of garden as ours; you and Dick can easily
spade it up, and there are ashes plenty to put
on to it, piled up in the corner by the door.
could make famous garden in two days.
"You could7p said Lefty, looking up in her
face in o kind of establishment
Why, yes and so can you But you never
will do anything till you try. will lend you our
spade and give you some seeds, and, perhaps, help
you bit ; but there is mother calling and must
20 now" replied Abba; "but come and see my
rose, and we will see about the garden
The next day was Sunday, and widow Whites
room always looked more dreary, if possible, on
this day than any other, for their clothes had
been for long time too shabby to 90 to church,
and, as they had no books, the time hung drearly
upon their hands Lefty, in general good
tempered girl, was invariably cross and irritable
on Sunday. Perhaps the sight of the well-dressed
girls that passed the window had something to do
with this. Dick Was restless and mi,cbievous,
and Mrs. White moro than usually disposed to
who happened to be decently dressed.
To tell the truth it was great deal easier for
Mrs White to lounge in her old rocking chair,
and complain of bad fortune, than it was to set
about conquering that fortune by energetic and
well-directed efforts.
Abba Testers mother was tenant in the same
house, and though equally dependent upou her
own exertions, the contrast between the two
families was like that between night and dav.
Indeed, to 90 from Mrs Whites apartments into
Mrs Testers, was like coming out of dark,
foggy night into the clear light of morning-so
neat, so orderly, so cheerful, did everything seem.
Why, there was whole world Of cheerfulness in
the fat, round face md broad shoulders of Mrs.
Lester, as she bent over her wash board-in her
voice, as she trollod out Methodist hymns alter
nstely with scraps Of old songs she had learned
in her grlhood-in the pleasant smile and elastic
step of Abba, as she moved about, putting "things
to rights" about the room-in the rosy faces Of
Sarah and little Nathan, fresh from the thorou gh
additions bestowed by Abba's busy hands Then,
they were always clearly and comfortably clad
though both their clothing and household furni-
ture denoted the most rigid economy. II was evil
dent that there wss no Just drawing up things y
there, but that everything WIS well done, and at
the proper time
Mrs Lester pitied the condition of her neigh
bors, while, if the truth must be told, she felt
quite ashamed of their slovenly habits and was
frequently mortified and vexed when people mis-
took their door for hers. The good soul would
willingly have gone in and scrubbed a week, if so
long a time had been necessary, to have put heir
room in order, and she had several times been on
the point of offering her services, but her courage
failed.
Somehow, don't really dare to do it, Abba
she was accustomed to observe on such occasions,
for if anybody was TO come and offer TO clean
my house, should take il rs a downright insult
They were discussing this topic on the Sunday
evening Of which We have spoken, and trying 10
devise some plan to secure their object without
offence to their neighbor, when Abba after var-
Gus suggestions exclaimed;
81 have il, mother; we must talk to Lefty.
She ia different from her mother, and, if am not
mistaken, would like TO live like other folks and
have minded that she has her own way when
she chooses She is coming in tomorrow night to
see my rose, and we will see what we can do'
perhaps that is the best plan, after all y re-
turned the mother an tell you what, Abba
she continued, after moments pause, let us ask
them all in here 10 tea tomorrow. We never
have been very sociable with them, for | did not
care to have people think we were over intimate,
aud perhaps this was wrong At any rate, they
are in the world, and must have place some
where, and the hest way for us is to try to better
their condition II We can. So, We will have them
in here-and make our room as nice as possible,
as Kind Of hint Then, let's see-we will have
bread and butter, and some nice, fresh buns
Yes, that will do, and il will 70 hard five cannot
find some way to persuade them to live little
more like folka wouldn't mind giving them all
dish Of tea once a week, II they would only
clean up the rubbish about their door,
TO BIZ CONTINUED