Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-01-21

1
But don't have any account at the
store" uttered the old man, fearfully.-
+sThey won't trust me-"
.'Never mind. / have the money. Just
you see to the FIRE, and mind that the tea
kettle boils.
And thus speaking, Kate ran out. In
about. fifteen minutes she returned, and in
her arms she bore quite a little heap
of packages. A little bundle of -four, a
package of tea, some sugar, a small new
tin pail full Of milk, and so on.
Her next movement was to hunt up the
bread. She found loaf of bakers bread,
and having cut Etinto slices, she placed
ii near the fire to-ieast. Thea she moved
out the old table, and after the leaves were
raised she inqsired for the table cloth, but
the old man had none. But she was pre-
pared for this and for more too. In her
trunk she not only found the cloth, but also
cream pitcher, sugar-bowl, and few
other arti cles of like description, which she
kept as remembrances of her mother The
white cloth was spread, the dishes pu. on.
and then Kate hunted up the stew-pan.-
| This she cleaned. and having fixed it on the
fire, she proceeded 10 prepare dip for the
toast, which she made of butter, milk and
water, thickened with little -four. She
found AbsaIom's dishes hidden away in va
rious places, as though stuck away from
the sight of tax gatherers. But they were
more of them than she had imagined, though
they had all to undergo a sort of washing
process, before they were put on the table.
Finally the toast was done, the tea mBde,
and then Uncle Absalom was informed IL at
supper was ready.
SO intent had he been upon watching
the light noiseless movements of the fairy,
that he did not notice the first call, and it
was not until he had been spoken to the
second lime that he fairly understood. He
sat up to The table and softer shade rested
upon his features as he cast his eyes over
the board. The snowy cloth, the clean
dishes, the steamlng tea pot, the light,
rich looking toast. and, above all, the love-
ly presence that presided over the scene,
were new things in the heretofore cheer
less home. Kate helped him 10 plate of
toast, and to cup of tea. and the shade
upon his face grew softer, as he tasted The
well prepared food,
"Don't you remember this cream pitcher,
aud this sugar bowl, Uncle Absa!om!' Kate
asked, as she he, ped him to a second plate
of tosst.
He looked at them, and after while
said
"They DO look familiar, Kate"
sAy. uncle. you have seen them often be-
fore. You kind od mother always used
III m while she lived, and when she died
she gave them TO my mother. lJve ;hesa
Hos, Tor they are d"Dby dear to me. bring
ing back my mind one of The best q;
grandmothers, and one OF the most true an
faithful m"ihers'' -
Absalom Burr gazed upon the nomentoes,
and L moisture gathered in his eye, but
twas not quite enough TO form a tear
New uncle," spoke Kate, as they were
about to rise rem the table, isn't this b.
ter than cold water!
YES, yes, it tastes little better, but il
costs more, Kate"
"Oh no, uncle, it doesn't cost so much.
1t may take'a little more money, but look
the comfort and satisfaction which it affords
and which would be lost without 1t. VINO
SO poor as he who has no comforts and
joys! But know what you mean. You
would be prudent and saving--and so wei
will be; and yet we wiz have some COM
fort, too"
The table was soon cleared away, and
then Kate proceeded to wash Der dishes.-
After this she sat down AMI conversed with
her uncle, and for two hours she entertain
ed him with accounts of her own and her
parents experience. When bedtime came
she found her cut ready for her, and though
she saw how she could better it, yet she
said nothing. She put her arms about her
uncle's neck, and having kissed him, she
said:
''Good night, uncle. God bless and keep
you"
And then she took her candle and went
away to bed, leaving the old man to find
his way by the light of the FIRE.
How these words hung in the old mans
mini! How strange and sweet they werel
how many long years had passed since he
had heard such words before! His thoughts
went back to the time when his mother
used to kiss him at bedtime, and for while
he had forgot the long, dark years that had
passed away since those boyhood days!
The old man went to his bed and dream.
ed. He dreamed that he was boy once
more, and that his mother was with him, to
care for and to love him.
| In the mUruing he was aroused BY the
notes of blithe, sweet song. He started
up an! listened, and he heard the same
beautiful song which his mother used to
sing in her happiest moments. He arose
and dressed himself, and shortly afterwards
Kate came IN. She had built fire in the
old fireplace out in the porch, and the coffee
was already made. She greeted the ,od
man with happy smile and mother kiss.
Her cheeks were all ag'ow, and her face
presented the very picture OF health and
happiness.
A breakfast OF dry toast and butter, cof-
fee, and a lew warm biscuit, was soon on
the table, and as the old man sat down that
shuuC uPOh mo ioSC grew sOllci S-l'l. hitci
breakfast, Kate arose and put her arms
around his neck, and said:
"Now, uncle, that Won have female in
the house, you ought to sleek up little
enough for comfort, at any rate In the
first place, we want just seven panes OF
glass set. Now go to the glazier and have
this done at once, for you know your own
health and comfort will be enhanced there
by"
"Yes-well-I have been thinking OF
some time, Kate, but it costs too much. "
I Never mind that, Uncle Absalom. Let
I first have those things which are abso-
utely necessary to our health and comfort
and then we will examine our funds, and il
we are likely to run short, we can econ,
omize in something else"
$50 we can" said the old man, and thus