The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-11-21

Now let me put the case to you. I'm
only a servant in your kitchen, Miss
Cuiyert but if I've got hold of string
that pulls a truth You don't see, I'm
lust as much to blame if i don't show
| il TO you as you would be, the mis-
tress. not to make it clear to me, the
servant.
Precisely" said Mrs. Culvert, with
emphasis, the hard look gradually fad
ing from her face as she realized Sukes
earnestness and awkward delicacy.
=" Now tell me, Susan, all you think,
and your reasons" she continued.
"Who knows but you may be the
means of bringing me more peace
of mind than / have felt for many a
day."
"'Tain't no ways likely that can do
much, Miss Culvert but here tbs in a
nutshell Stephen walked out of this
house with his own free-will and accord,
didn't he ?"
Why, of course, Susan"
"What L mean to say is, he want
treated with any unkindness by any
body, or told to get out, as a good many
young men are who amt doing much
for themselves in the way of earning
their own Gvings."
Mrs. Culvert WINGED perceptibly at
this last home thrust, but replied,
pleasantly,
Certainly not, Susan"
"Wa'al," continued Suke, che was
well and in possession of his seven
senses when he concluded to quit"
"As far as l know. L hadn't any
reason for suspecting any thing amiss. ]"
CAL right, then. Your son goes
away sound in mind and body--goes
because he wants to. 1t may be that
the reason you amt heard any thing
from him is because he amt writ (;
but it don't seem exactly that way to
me.
"Then you think he's alive, Susan ?"
interrupted Mrs. Culvert.
Law, yes / think he's alive. And
] think good many other things, Miss
Culvert /; among the rest, this-that you
have got your husband and three chill
dren, besides Stephen, who not only
need your care (of course you look out
for every thing 1 amt finding no fault
about that, but there's a considerable
difference between doing a thing be-
cause your heart is in it, and because
it's your duty) You have no right to
make your home miserable on account
of something You can't help, something
you had no hand in, about boy, or
rather young man grown-twenty-two
amt he, Miss Culvert ?-who is big
enough and smart enough, if he's a
mind to be, to take care of himself
You don't act reasonable, Miss Culvert,
and you don't act like Christian,
neither L found out quite piece ago
that 'twasn't best to meddle too much
with the Almighty's business. When
your boy took himself out from under
your care and influence you see, you
was nothing but one of the Lords depu-
ties), and twas impossible for your
mother-love to shield him and make al
lowance for him, and follow him round
and tuck him up, don't you suppose
that your Heavenly Father understood
how the land lay, and Will be good
enough to give him the right kind of
love, the right kind of tucking up and
cuddling, to make the right kind of man
of him ? | hain't the least idea, Miss
Culvert, that he has been fed on the
pap you used to give him-by no
means. It's my opinion he ought to a
been weaned from such stuff a good
while ago; anyhow, your best way is to
give that boy entirely into the Lord 8
care, once and for all, and then let him
alone, and attend to things that the
Lord has clearly expected you to see to
day by day."
You would pray for him, Susan, of
course ?" inquired Mrs. Culvert, very
gently.
"Wa'al, yes" replied Suke, "after q
fashion. Ii L was to sea in storm ]
shouldn't keep running TO the cap'n and
telling him that thought if he would
put down this sail and knock away that
mast, and steer for t'other place, that
we might all be saved. l should make
up my mind that the cap'n had as much
interest in getting that ship safe to port
as had, and knew plaguy sight more
about it and while l trusted him ]
shouldn't keep asking him nonsensical
questions. The thing for you to ask foI
and for all the rest of us, as to that
matter-is to be kept from interfering
in the Almighty business, to keep from
getting our feet tangled up in the ma.
chinery. He fixes for the folks who
| Htcu H. IHtIt uuu Ouht uI6W IL long
breath, and surveyed the table covered
with every imaginable cooking materia,
and utensil, as if she bad just awakened
from a long sleep. "That's my first
lectur', Miss Culvert," she continued
her face as red M the scarlet geraniun
blossom in the window; "and if I've
said anything that's hurt your feelings,
I'm sorry"
You have given me your hsnes
thought, nay friend, for which am very
thankful. And now what shall L dc
first % the mistress of the house re
piled, with more of the old-fashioneC
look of content on her face than Snkt
had seen there for months.
eff you'll Just help me about then
raisins, said her companion, briskly, 81
can manage the rest myself--that is, il
you and the girls will see that every
thing is all right up stairs and in the
front part of the house. You see, Miss
Culvert, I'm just in my element now
as the lady ruefully surveyed the exten
sive culinary preparations-"and 70
ten thousand times rather do the heft oil
it myself than have folks muddline
round IN my kitchen"
So Mrs Culyert picked over and stoned