The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-05-04

the WORST OF II, lot scNcIal tlHlcS uuTlHS lHt "
ternoon | caught myself wondering how
would have been if Esther had not come unit
the curtains were paid for and upon the vii
dows. And I'm afraid the wonder was nearC
to being a wish than | quite like to comics
Oh, what "a dcspicable object the crownn
work of creation can become sometimes
Wei, we did get the last carpet down an
the last picture hung before bedtime, thong
we were obliged to leave things little inst
cure in places; and jamie, after long frU
less search for a glaZicr which ended in his IT
placing the broken paneS himself was heard L
conhde to Mary that IF things was to 90 on Tx
this, Mr. Iiaydon must loo, OF, {" new pal
| of legs to 10 the running TO l., ,,omen.'
The story of thar night when | scrubbed
scrubbed, scrubbed, with Polly Garside stand
ing over me whip in hand and Mary startin.
me into wakctulness only that | might clos,
my eyes and begin again-that story, | say
is not to be told At last, after despairingly
counting one, two three, tour fell into swee
oblivion. The broad sunlight aroused me, anC
sprang to the floor; but oh, the torture o.
that dressing, The crack cracking of stfeneC
bones, the painful effort to pick up pins with
balls on the ends Of my fingers, and the weary
winding of back HAIR with jointless arms
When at last | reached the foot of the stairs
lifting one leg after the other with my two
hands, | surveyed with solemn wonder Mr.
Hayden eating his SOLITARY meal. The thought
painful to me that could not eat a mouthful
" Sabbath, what delightful word" thought
"if only 1t meant rest, absolute rest for one
blessed day instead Of dressing, walking to
church and sitting on a stiff seat during a t.
dious sermon" Il hope our good pastor will
forgive me; am not in the habit of applying
that adjective to his sermOns) Before leaving
the house called upon Jessie, who had been
invisible all morning,
Yes ifyou must you must, you know.
suppose you are the best judge of what you
owe to duty. | am quite content to add an.
other to the list Of my sins of omission"
IL really think | ought to go, Jessie, if only
10 find out about Libbie and the temperance
rooms
so, yes, certainly. There is everything in
he motive you know
With this atlectIonatc dismissal, Jessie turned
IN her pillow and | crcaked away.
What the text was OF the sermon, | know
not | remember that Mr.. Hopkins, his wife,
MS sons and his daughters sat just before me,
md that | counted them; wandering if the
ones were very patient while the cid.
,rs ate their Sunday dinner around Esther's
title table. remember seeing Jessie come in
o Sunday school and take her seat beside Bes-
he COsgrO, while | wondered what her motive
vas. | noticed that rs she passed Frank Ed.
wards in the aisle he did not speak to her, but
did not wonder about that, for Libbie was
ust then explaining to me that as she had to
,bey my commands, Bessie could not 30 rid
ne with him, Lizzie would not countless some
,ther girl went, and Frank drove off alone,
mad" ut all three of them. The SKY had be-
hover was now falling looked ut the big
,oots of the young HOpkinses and wondered if
Gsther's serene brow were not Just a little
ouded when they tracked mud all over her
title house
My nerves were tinglng with the prophecy
If thunder storm, which helped me to work
myself into a fever of Indignation over Es-
hers wrongs so that when the school was
dismissed | was decided that the time had
ome to give that man the gentle hint 50 long
ncditated Walking up to him as he came
Town from the bible class looked full IN his
told face and brought out every word with
ronical emphasis and deliberation:
MIR. Hopkins have the honor of your &C
luaintancc, but am aware that you and your.
nmiIy are in the habit Of stopping with my
ricnd Esther on Sundays. As Esther is not
we'll to-day, and there are SO many of you. II
bought it might not be amiss to ask YOU toI
top with me instead, so that She can nave,
,cace in her little home"
OF course the man stared at me angrily, and
lustlmg his family into the big wagon droveI
lomc in II rage, just as had expected HIM toI
10 Well, no, he didn't Clutching my hand
nd hugging it as a bear might have done, heI
bowed every one of his furrcd teeth in hor-
lille grin, and bawcd out so that cvcrybodvI
n the church turned to look at him:
Thanks, ma'am, thanks, Esthers place as
uthcr close quarters for me an the boys. Mel
n my woman Il he glad to stop with YOU till
ne storms over Tnercll be right smart OF
lind, I'm thinking"
Turning about with a sickening heart met
esSic's horrorstrickcn face and Tom, sarlon-
: smile
Rather improved on the old Samaritan,
aSn't She, jessie" heard Us | left the church
nth the feeling O! walking in dream.
How ushcred that tribe into Mr.. Haydon'sI
ou>c, breaking in upon the only rest he ever
nowS, cannot tell; nor how made him
Understand The dreadful situation. But re.