Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-06-04


had been gone nearly . week, of course,
they would have, something good-cherry
pie, maybe. Wrapped in these pleasant re-
Elections he entered his dwelling. His
wife and daughter met him pleasantly,
though to tell The truth, Sally's eyes wore
a somewhat frightened look.
But no Widespread table met his longing
vision.
"Why, ism It upper ready, Mrs Hastle?"
he cried,
Before her mother could speak, Alice
said, with an fastonished look
'Supper? Why, we have eaten supper
an hour ago.
''Well, then, get me some as quick as
you can, for am half starved"
Poor Sally, at this, half rose from her
chair, but, glaacing at Alice she sat down
again, and repeated, much as if she were
saying lesson:
''The FIRE is all out. 1t would be sight
of trouble to build one.''
Meth eli his wife nor daughter stirred;
and Mr. Hastle grew frightened. +
''AreJyou sick, Sally?"
ssNo,,'' said Sally, meekly.
''T'aen, why don't you get me something
to s,t?'' i
"!3ecause the fire is OUT" said she in a
weak voice.
j Mr.. Hastle put his hand to his brow,
with look OF helples wonderment, that
was too much even for Alice to endure,
and she said: .
81 suppose we shall try to get you
some.''
| At this, Sally, with look Of relief,
fastened out into the kitchen. to prepare
the extra good supper she had cooked ex-
pressly for him.
| She had just got the white table-cloth
in her hand, when voice came from the
bedroom:
''Sally, where is my everyday vest? |
can't find it,
II can't leave off to find it. L m busy
setting the table, evidently delay ing this
request with more readiness than she had
any of his others. But Alice spoke up at
| once:
eve have made you a new one, atiler.
We thought you needed one."
! 'Well, l didn't need another evel yda y
vest. The idea Of your debating to- m.
about my clothes! Where is my old We st?"
''Just see your new vest, father" said
Alice demurely, as she brought it forward
and spread it out before him, with an air
of great satisfaction. 1t was made of that
identical cloth that he had bought for
Alice's dress. It was made rather long
and had fold OF the same round the edge.
s!Because it would wear better,'' Alice
explained. "Braid wears out so quick,
and we had heard you say so many times
that you cared nothing for fashion, at all
durable; good for summer OF winter, s5rong'
enough for mems wear. That put it into
our heads to surprise you with a nice new
vest made of it. You KNOW" she added
sweetly, ''that you are always making just
such surprises for ma and me.''
Mr.. Hastle opened his mouth wide
enough to give utterance to the largest
words in Webster's Unabridged, but no
words came at first. Finally he found
voice.
"Do you suppose am goin' to put that
lookin' thing on me?''
why, yes,'' said Alice, ldemurely.
"You know you don't care anything about
looks, if it is only good cloth and wears
well.''
why folks would say was u natural
born fool, or else as crazy us a LOOM"
'sBut then father you know you don't
pay any attention to what folks say or
think Of vour cloth es."
Mr.. Hastle made; no reply, for the good
reason that he ha6I, at the time, nothing to
say. So he put n his hat and walked out
of the kitchen door. He evidently want
ed to be in the fresh air for moment
But as he stepped his foot on the platform
a sight met his eyes that would, | am
esure, have ma de his hair stand perfectly
erect upon tb top of his head il he had
had any to stand up. There stood his
new barn, the pride of his eyes, in which
he had taken pride, that we fear was
sinful; there; it stood, painted entire ely yell
low on the end, fronting the kitchen, and
he supposed, of course, the whole of it was
"Isn't it pretty, father? There won't be
so pretty a barn in the neighborhood. AS
1 told mother, women don't often have
their way about such things; but if they
did, things would look sight better.7'
No audible words were spoken in reply
But memory was whispering loudly to Mr.
Hastle. These are the very self-same
words that he had uttered in relation te
that bright yellow paint and gorgeous wal
paper in the parloF. The tables were turn
ed upon him. For the first time he real
lied how it seemed to have his own perso
nal affairs controlled by those who mad NJ
business with them, how it would seem tt
be dictated to unreasonably, concerning
J his own outdoor affairs; how it would
| seem to have his own clothing selected fol
, him, regardless of his own preferences
how it would seem to have his reasonable
household requests met with grumblin.
and granted grudgingly.
7 Mr.. Hastle was naturally just man
r and sensible one, one who only needed
to have his duty pointed out to him, in or
{ der to follow it. He walked into the house
ate his supper, put on his old coat, AM
$ proceeded 10 do his barn-chores. He re
> tired early to bed, and what thoughts visi