The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-12-06
MARGARET.


He knows what is safest, wisest and best.
Chicago Tribune.
MARGARET.
"What! torn again o Margaretr'
but haymaking time" pleaded
Margaret, ruefully, mother, things
come out of their way to tear me-"
Mrs. Chesney laughed. You will
never be lost for want of an answer, y
she said, "but you must try and be
careful. That = mornings work for
me-"
~ am sorry, moLher!'' said Marga-
ret. "We were scrambling in the hay
jim, and Godfrey, and l land it hap
pened, somehow
"Well, it cannot be helped" said
Mrs. Chesney, STOPPING to look at the
long rent, and then turning back to the
basket of undarned stockings. "Takc
it off, and I will do it presently"
~ am very sorry" repeated Mar
garet, earnestly, following her mothers
tired fingers as they moved swiftly
backwards and forwards over the old
stockings; "and you meant to go out
with father"
II can 60 this afternoon" said Mrs.
Chesney, smiling, without raising her
eyes, g only you must try and be a lit
tie quieter, Madge, you must indeed."
"Giris will be girls" said Mr.. Ches-
ney, looking up from his perusal of the
Times. ''It is an unfortunate fact.n
"Only girls will be boys in this case, !"
said Mrs. Chesney. "Eh, Madge?'
1.-The nature of the creaturer' he
answered. "You see, Margaret, what
it's to have a good mother. But we
must not let her work those pretty eyes
TOO hard, or tire those pretty hands.
Wemust spare her.p
Mrs. Chesney looked up with sus-
picion of tears in her ewes. "Don't,
.Jim,' she said; but she put down the
stocking for minute, and looked across
at her husband with sudden, sweet
smile. "You spoil me, as usual. What
will Margaret think of hearing such
nonsense talked to her old mother-as
if would not work for people like you
with pleasure.
'But even people like us cannot pre-
vent you wearing yourself out" said
Mr.. Chesney, and it will do Margaret
no harm to look at her mother and see
a pretty woman"
Women are always beautiful, / think,
in the eyes that love them, even when
the first fresh bloom of youth has faded,
the roundness of girlhood gone from
the face, the plumpness from the thin
hands, and the eyes have the WEAKNESS
of the perpetual struggle to make both
ends meet.
Mr.. Chesney's wife had had no idle
life, and the work, and thought, and
care, had left theirimpress on her face;
but it was sweeter face now, he
thought, than when it had been first
raised, blushing and shy, to his, one
evening, sixteen years ago. 1t was a
beautiful face in Margaret's eyes, who
had been her mother companion since
she could speak.
For the mother was the central point
in this home of turbulent children
mother whose memory would be an
abiding presence in all the after years
they might have to live without her.
By three O'Clock that same afternoon,
Mrs Chesney was standing waiting for
her husband in the sunshine at the hall
door, when Margaret, breathless and
painting, ran to her.
"How sweet you look, motherr' she
said. - Are you going into the town?'
"Yes; your father wants little
shopping done. Is the hay getting on
wellY'
"Oh, yes," said Margaret, smooth
ing the slender hand that lay in hers,
and kissing it gently. "One field is
carried, and we hope to get the other
done tonight. But it looks like rain,'
she went on, turning up her face to the
radiant sky, across whose blueness dull
clouds were gathering.
docs itp" said Mrs. Chesney, loos-
ing her hand and gathering up her
skirts. "Then we ought to start. Is
there anything you wish particularly to
do this afternoon?'
Nothing" said Margaret. "WhyP''
"Your father is worried about the
hay" said Mrs. Chesney, anxiously,
and baby is SO heavy with his cold
that do not like nurse to leave him
alone. Would you mind sitting with
him till tea-time, while nurse helps a
little out of doorsp'
ooh, dear, nor said Margaret, res
olutely shutting her mind to the thought
of the baby's temper. II don't mind
a Bit"
Mrs. Chesney's brow cleared. MANY
thanks, my good daughter" she said.
Good-by." She stopped and lifted |
the soft young face between both her
gloved hands, and kissed the smiling
lips.
Even after that little ceremony was
over, and she had gone to her husband,
she could not resist turning once more
70 look with loving approval at the fig
ure in the doorway.
Margaret was shading her face from
the fierce sunlight, and under the curv-
ing hand shone out two beautiful.
steady eyes. The rest of the face had
no particular beauty at that time, ex-
cept in its promise Of beauty to come,
for the features were irregular and UNI
softened, the figure loose and untidy.
But Margaret's very Inconsistencies
Of any charm made one of her greatest
charms to others. Presently, she saw
the boys come racing toward her over
the lawn. So, for fear of being tempted
10 break her promise, she turned and
ran up to the nursery.
In two minutes. Jim, the younger,
was hammering at the door.
"Oh, / say, Madge,' he shouted,
. it is mean to cut away like that, and
he hay is lovely! Come, quick!''
I'm not coming" said Margaret.
. Hush, baby is ill"
mot comingr' Jim whistled in
perplexity. why, what's the mat
err he said, opening the door and
cooking cautiously in. You never
missed the last field before Ii
i can't come, y said Margaret, > lit
lie dolorously. g 1 promised mother to
ook after baby. Go away, Jimmy boy, /,
md enjoy yourself" II
How can I?'' said Jim, sn9rily.
and you sticking up here like thisl Z
rs too bad Of mother. She didn't &
NOW it was the last carry
Yes, she did," said Margaret, ,
Now do go away, Jim. You are wax
" baby. Don't be cross don't you +
ee ! want to come, toog''
zee that you are not coming, =
xumbled Jim. And q you win not
ONE when want you to, you shall i
ust wait, now, until let you out. = n
With that, be clicked the key sharply | j
the lock, and Margaret was locked
!" Let me ont. Jim!,, ia osiesI shsrp.