The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-01-31


"Aunt Malinda, please give me pin, /" sal
hright-looking but shabbily dresscd lad, ouer
ing the door Of Mrs Lanes kitchen.
"Just see here" he added, pointing to
large rent on the knee Of his trowsers. "N
and VIII Brown were playing tag, and fel
down and tore this" =
"Why don't you run home to your mothe
and get It mended. Johnny p said Mrs Lane
: az she did her best to bring together the sew
cred paris -.
ooh, cause mother aint to home. She;
: Children" s a7 -
destitute - Children - calculated Mrs. Lane
a. she surveyed her Nephew from head 70
foot. "If you don't come under that head
then never child did Why, my dear, you
are all rags and tatters" .|I -
II know it, aunt responded the boy, mood.
ny, 'but it amt my fault Mother says she
mas no time to mend my clothes, and if she
did they would be just as bad the next day, 30
what's the use 7 Father said, last night, that
l looked like heather, and he almost wished
l was, for mother would think was wo rty
looking after'' "t a' I100
Have you had any supper. Johnny, you
NO." said the boy, casting longing look
ata generous piece Of pumpkin pie that his
aunt was cutting. "Mother LEFT some cold
victnals on the table for father and me, but -
WELL interrupted the good woman, plac.
ing the pie on plate, and adding to it nice
slice of cheese, "you just take this, and mind
you don't leave a bit Of it" 80 :.
| johnny lost no time in obeying his aunt's
peremptory but by no means unpleasant inunc-
ton, and the contents of the plate rapidly dis
appeared before the energetic assault
| II wish mother stayed at home Just as YOU
90, aunt" he said, as he opened the door, cast.
ing longing look back upon the cheerful, CO.
| sy-looking kitchen -
II declare - said Mrs Lane. a.. t,kin, ~,
the rolling pin, she resumed her labors ..if
1t isa't shame for Nancy to neglect him:
am actually ashamed of him, and his mother
an active member of half dozen societies.
AS for brother John, he's clean discoura red.
and don't wonder at it.. l don't believe he
comes home to warm supper once a week
It's my belief it's a woman's business to look
hrst after the comfort Of her family, then, If
she has time to do for others, we'll and good.
Charity ought to begin at hone, il she dons
stay there"
"There's aunt Nancy, now, ilst coming into
the gate" said her daughter Betsey, as, look.
ing up from the apples she was pairing, sh.
chanced to glance out Of the window. -.
Indignant as she was, it was not in GOOD M.
turea Mrs. Lane to refuse her sister.in.iaw who
was evidently too full of her own concerns to
notice any lack Of cordiaity, had there been
any. -.
GLOW do you do, sister Lane how do vc,,
oo' betseyP she said, seating herself in the
nrst chair she came to, as ii quite exhausted.
though her keen hlaok oyns laolai-A. .l...-,
as ever.
"Always cooking, do declare! Ali. how il
makes my heart ache to see you spending SO
body" r. o
"Folks can't live without eating" replied .
Mrs Lane little sharply, as this remark calf
ed to mind what she considered her sisters re.
mlssness in the care of her family . -i.H
"Leastways, havn't found out the other
way of living" -
"You always did make nice doughnuts, Ma. -
linda" said Mrs. Shaw, very composedly helm
ing herself to one.
They're az light as hone ycomb, ,"she adde,,
as she broke it open and proceeded to dispose,
OF 1t with evident satisfaction. 81 don't know
when I've made any kind OF pastry. Profess.
or Spare, who lectured here last winter, said
shey were very unhealthy, entirely destroying
what ne called the digestive apparatus.
"Yes, know" drily returned Mrs. Lame
Husband invited him home one day to tea.
and couldn't perceive he had any particular
objection to my cakes and pies. Indeed, re.
member thinking if it was his ordinary way OF
eating. shouldn't like to be the one to cook
tor him. And let folks think what they may.
never will believe that plain, light pastry.
eaten moderately, will ever hurt ANYBODY. |
always let my children have it, and they re as
hearty and robust a set of boys and girls az
you can hnd anywhere; as l am sure they
wouldn't be il they were fed on cold. half.cooE.
cd victuais, given to them any way and just 40
it happened"
cit isn't always the rosiest and freshest
children that are the healthest," said Mrs.
Shaw helping herself to another doughAut.
Snow l think Of it, am certain can see
/ pimple on Betsey nose-a sure proef of oy
sr eating. And John Thomas is not so strong
IS my johnny, who is not more than year or
10 the Oldest. But guess I'll do my erran.
ina be going, called to tell you that we are
going to have fair for the benefit of the IN.
pressed Poles. Pm or the committee of ar.
angements, and really hope, sister Lane, that
'ouil take right hold and do all you can to.
ward this noble and praisewerthy movement.
mo, thank you," returned her sister.iu-
aw, 81 think can find objects of charity rear.
.r than Poand.' -
"But there is a society of which you are
member, that think should like to jein,"
he resumed after momeRt's thought; 9Th.
,hildren.'
That's what we expect and desire every
member NJ to do, when she has an opportunity
we have a number of little Jackets and pants
VI hand, and there will be some among them
hat will ht Our meeting is just a week from
o-day, remember, at Squire Mayos."
There was merry twinkle in Mrs. Lanes
ye that night as she superintendcd prepara.
ions for supper, which ever and anon deepened
ato smile. But though the children wanted
know "what mother was smiling about" she
ept her own counsel
tIla navt
aore OF ladies were seated in Squire Mayos
arlor with busy fingers and still more busy
Ongues.
mere Is Mrs Lane coming up the walk"
Reclaimed Mrs. Mayo, who was seated at the
'ihoow. Just see what wretched looking
oy she is leading by the hand. 1t can't be one
her boys, for know they are all models of
eatness''
Mrs Shaw was too busy distributing work to
ven look out Of the window.
81 forgot to tell you, la dies. )" che said, chat
ly sister-in law Joins our society this after
Don. The boy with her is doubtless the one
ne spoke to me about as fit object for our
harity. take considerable credit to myself,"
ne added, complacently, "for persuading her
} this step. Sister Lane is such home body;
wrapped up in herself and family"
Mrs Lane is kind hearted woman" 70.
lied an old lady who was knitting in one cor
er of the room, "aRd does great deal Of
ood in her quiet way"
By this time Mrs. Lane was in the room.
GOOD afternoon, ladies'" glancing around
nth pleasant smile. "You see, sister Shaw.
nat kept my word, and did not come alone"
he added, as that individual fixed her eyes in
ndisguised astonishment upon the boy whose
euctant hand she held.
II found this poor lad" she continued, "in
II alleyway, playing marbles with a number OF
rofane and vicious boys, who were utterin:
ords that shudder to think of. The black
ys he got in fight with one of them. and it
ppears he got the worst Of it. He is very dir.
and ragged, as you see. But offer no apol.
gy for bringing him here in this condition, as
our society WAS formed for the hann6t of su<.l,