The Van Buren press., 1859-07-06


all alone, to hear the wind blow, and tn,
han thump and rattle against the windows
And shall feel better, too, than l shoulc
II 1 was away among strangers
= But you've got to go among stranger.
sometime. You can't expect that YOU are
going to find a home here always"
"oh, no. dear uncle but while | dc
stay will Try and make you happy
And in like tones did she address the
miser under all circuIn nstances Ere long
she asked her uncle where she 0uld find
the materials for supper. She confessed
that she was hungry.
- eat some bread and cheese when
am hungry he told her
g But haven't you any tea. or any flour,
or any butter -
! . There may be a little BUTTER said the
old man, reluctantly . but / don't think
there's any faaG, and tea is something ]
! don't use"
/ g But You love it. uncle ~
9 Why, yes--hut it costs too much"
=" And sugar-havc you any OF that pa
= No. | set along very well without
it."
Then YOU wait few minutes, and I'll
run out and get some. ! saw store as /
came by, only few hnls from here"
/ And as she spoke, she put Oh her bonnet
and shawl
/ % But don't have any account at the
store" uttered the old man, tcarfully.
- They won't trust me-
80. Never mind, have the money just
, you see to the GTc, and mind that the tea
kettle boils.''
/ And thus speaking, hate ran out. In
about fteen minutes she returned, and in
+ her arms she bore quite a little heap OF
packages y little bundle of flour, a
package of tea, some sugar, small new
tin pail full OF milk, and so on.
Her next movement was TO hunt up the
bread, and having cut il up into slices, she
placed ii near the fire to toast Then she
moved out the old table. and after the leaves
Were raised She inquired for the table clo.h,
but the old man had none. But she was
prepared for this and more too Ia her
. trunk she not only found ne cloth, bet also
cream pitcher, sugar bowl, and a few
other articles of like description, which she
kept as lemeinbrances of her mother. The
white cloth was spread, the dishes pet on
and then Kate l.unSed up the stew pam. This
she cleaned. and having fixed 1t or the fire,
she proceeded topFepare dip for the tc asst,
which she nade OF butter, milk and water,
| thickene.j with little flour. She found
AbSalom's dishes hidden away in various
places, rs though stuck away from the sigh,
of tax gatherers. Bat there wers more of
them than she had insginel, though they
had all to undergo a sert= of w3=ilnS proc
css before t1,ey War~ Vut - the. table
Finally tho -;@ss was doae, the tea siade
- Ia { ncia \ bsuioIn was informed that
supper was ready.
So intent bad he been upon watching tbe
light, sso:<eless Tuc sei.t,ts "a t;le i,iTy that
he DIX, nos notice the first call S.4d 1t was
not until he had been spoken to the second
time that he fairly understood. Hc sat up
TO the table, and softer shade rested on
his features as nc east his eyes over the
board. The snowy cloth, the clean dishes,
the steaming teapot, the light, rich-looking
toast, and above all the lovely presence thar
presided over the scene, were new .hiBgs in
the heretofore cheerleSs home. Kate helpe.l
him to plate Of toast, and TO cup OF tea,
and the shade upon his face grew softer, as
he tasted the well-prepaTcl food.
g Don't YOU remeIn Der this cream pitcher.
and this sugar-bowl, Uncle AUsaon -
Kate asked, she helped HIM to second
plate of toast.
He looked al them, and after while he
said
.'They DO look familiar, Kate.
'sAh, uncle, you have seen them often
before Your kind old mother used them
while she lived, and when she died she
gave them to nay mother. | love them now,
for they are doubly dear To me, bringing
back to my mind one of the best of grand!
mothers, and one of the most true and
faithful Mothers
Absalom Burr gazed upon the rnementos,
and moisture gathered in his eye, but
twas not quite enough to form a tear.
? Now, uncle" spoke Kate, as they were
about to rise from the table, - isn't this
better than cold water %
:" Yes, YES. it tastes Il little better, but it
costs more, Kate,
g On, no, uncle, ii don't cost so much.
1t may take little. more money, but look
at the comfort and satisfaction which it al
forls, and which would be lost without it I?
Who so poor as he who has no comforts
and joys F? But know what you mean.
Y Gu would be prudent and saving, and 50
We will be, and yet we viii have some COM
fort, too
The table was soon cleared away, and
then Kate proceeded TO wash het dishes.
After this She sat down and conyersed with
her uncle, and fog t.go hours she entertain
ed him with accounts OF her own and her
parents experience. Whea beltime came
she found her cot ready for her. and though
she was thinking how she could better it,
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 tool, the candle and went
away to bed. leaving the old man to find
his way by the light OF the fire.
How the words iring in the old man. 5
mind. How strange and sweet they were,
and how many long years had passed since
he had heard Sich words before His
thoughts went bacs. to the time when his
mother used to kiss slim At bedtime, and foi
the while he had forgot the long dark wears
that had passed away since those boyhood
] days.
t The old man went 10 has bed and dreamed
He dreamed that he was a boy once more
and that his mother was with him to eart