The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-03-18

life is string O. troubles, the bes
you can make Of It,
Mother grumbles as much as ovei
she did whispered Tom to his elder
brother.
Come, children, get ready for
church, said Mrs. Spencer still il
the Same mournfnl, minor key, 'pl
have dinner on tho table by the time
you get back but mind you remem.
Der the text aud all that the minis
ter said"
But, mother said Susan, softly
before 60 to church want to tell
you something that
4 know what 'tis, groaned the
widow, with uplifted hands aud de-
spairing eyes. Father Wyllis is GO.
ing to discharge ye, and you'll be al
home doin' nothln all winter. It..
Spencer luck, exactly No need to
tell me-"
Susan stood abashed, but she did
not venture upon q reply.
Il had a piece of news for you,
too, mother, said Charley, but as
you snub Sue so uuceromoniously,
Ill keep it until after dinner
Mrs. Spencer shook her head.
Il have all my life been poor, un
fortunate creetur, children, that i'll.
luck chased from pillar to post
Hero l be, poor misable> widow,
with my three children all away
from me, and rheumatic sottlin' in
the left shoulder, and the roof leakin'
like all vexstion."
There amt nobody so bad as l be ;
and somehow l don't see my way
clear to bein' thankful to day more u
any other day, let the minister say
what he will
Aud the widow subsided into tears
and a silk pocket handkerchief
Now, mother, that's nonsense,
said cheerful Charley; because
%, yes, nonsense that's nice, re-
spectlul talk TO your poor old moth.
err sobbed Mrs. Spencer /; it's all l
ought to expect, though; it's just
like all the rest. | almost wish
was dead and buried
Susan began to cry. Charley look.
ed unhappy and discounted. Tom
seized the opportunity to abstract
the biggest red apple from the plate
on the mantcl, and deposit in his
pocket, with an mir Of the utmost un-
consciousness, where it bulged out
Ike an enormous tumor.
Sue, you're a fool, said Tom short.
ly, get on your things aud let's go 10
he added in an
qudacious undcrtone, the parsons
pressing is better than mothers grum
bling. Don't you mind tits only
her way,'
So, tho three children arrayed
in their simple best, and
set out to walk the two miles and a
half of frosty country roads that lay
between them and the village church
"a peaceful stretch of sylvan soli-
tude, with pine woods skirting the
way, aud squirrels darting in bright
eyed haste over the .mossy logs of the
worn woyside fence.
20, Charley said Susan, wistfully,
rs she stopped to gather late purple
lster, that g!owed like a jewel by the
roadside, If we could only persuade
mother to take a bright view Of life.
Il think she grows worse and worse
every day, said Charley, thoughtful
y. 'She is almost morbid. wish
We could hear of any way to cheer
ler up little
Il know q plan, said Tommy,
planting his white teeth in the Grim
son side Of his apple.
what is it2'
'Why, when | first went to Squire
Parker's store l had an all-fred han.
iering aiter-
Thomas, said Susan, gravely,
what language !
After raisins, and lemon balls and
sugar, and such so one day the
Squire just made sit down and eat
way at EN- from morning till night,
food Jacob ? l never wanted to set
,yes on 'em again.
"A very interesting piece Of per-
onal history, said Charles, seriously,
but l don't see what it has to do with
he subject in hand
Don't you see? If mother had.
rouble enough aud to spare, just for
,nce, she would be glad enough to
yive it wide berth afterwards.
Tom said Charley, stopping short
n the middle Of the road. YOU are
,ertainly a little ne'r.do-well, but
here may be something in this plan
If yours after ALL
The turkey was smoking on the ia
Die, brown, cracking aud odorous,
when the three children returned |
rom ohurch-the tarts were perfect
md the tumblers of pink apple-jelly, |
ringed with tissue paper, would have
made city confeetioner mad with
ealousy. Moreover, the widow had
opened bottle of nine-year-old eur,
-ant wine TO celebrate the close OF
he banquet, to say nothing of the
stone pitcher Of crystal clear cider
hat sparkled beside it.
"There, set up, children" said the
widow, as she arrapged the last
pumpkin pie in its allotted corner -
| haven't no appetite to eat any
him"
Tom dropped his knife aud fork
md Susan looked up dismayed.
Mother, cried Charley, we can't
,at mouthful unless you sit down
% the table with US
III sit down then-but 1 couldn't