The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-02-23

IamOnr the furnaces ana rollers, nanulliS al
sorts of things and asking all sorts of queS
lions; but when Lizzie and tired Of our nice
seat out of the way Of the dirt and begged 10
20 where he did, what q manly smile he gave
'us and told Il, that he thought it hardly the
thing for two well.brcd ladies to venture III
among such rough fellows As if We were
any more likely than he to be injured by the
contact with bad grammar, or to meet with
Idsrcspcct, Next time we intend 10 20 alone
Then all the way home he rcg"''H - with ar
Igumcnt, to prove the impossllut. =. woman 2
invcnting anything. How in the world Is she
to invent any combination Of machinery when
she is ignorant of the uses of the SimpIcs,
wheels and bolts? That is Il knowledge which
a boy has in his infancy. Do you remember
noon that you spent in the garnet pulling that
old clock to pieces and putting it together
againg When begged to go too, and Cath
crime gave me some silk pieces to make my
doll a dress and told me that was girls play
thing. remember wondering why | should
be forced to sew when | hated the sight OF Il
needle and Tom should be allowed to exercise
the bent for pulling things to pieces anC max
ing discoveries, that was born in me just as 1t
was born in him. | haven't settled the qucs-
ton yet
MY dear child" laughed Tom, "wly did
YOU not inform me of your penChant, 20 that
might have brought an old clock or two for
your birthday instead Of the guitar? was
not aware of this tragedy in my fair cousins
life"
Il admire your payfuness," rctortcl She,
I"but am in earnest
Esther laid quoting hand on the excited
lchild's head.
There, Jessie, You are doing precisely what
these male creatures are always striviAgto have
us do-admltting that the question is one OF
superiority rather than Of difference. l.oronc
am willing to acquiesce in Gods decree that
there shall be blossoms as well as battles in the
world and since it is human nature to place
in the front rank that which one most easily
Iassimilatcs, | am inclined sometimes to elevate
the perfection of detail in these minute crea-
lures above the rude grandeur Of mountain
piles and ocean fury, although each needs the
contrast of the other to bring out It's own beau
ty On the same principle, suppose, We hear
Mr.. Bartlett enthusiastic on the sublmity OF
form in Michael Angeles creations, while he
says comparatively little of Raphacl's drIicacy
of coloring and design And Esther sighed
involunarily, as if she wondered when she
should no longer depend upon anothG's de-
scription for her idea of these things but
should behold their gloricS with her own eyes.
There was pause during which was re-
fleeing how small Il part Tom had really taken
IN the conversation and how artlcssly Esther
had permitted herself TO be drawn out when
Tom asked suddenly:
Having such genius for the finding out
of tragedies, Miss Esther what tragedy have
you discovered in my monotonous eXistmce?'
$40 you wish me to tell You here and low?"
she asked.
Here and now" he answered 'fmy gentle
cousins can bear the uncovcring Of an ugly
skeleton"
well, then, the tragedy Of high spirit,
frettng against chain that is none the less
CALLING for being of your own forging
All" cried Jesse ijoyously, then you have
discovered that Tom is himself an artist"
mo, Jessie, think must plead with Mar
garet Fuller, that having the artists hand and
eye, have not the artists love of construction"
For shame, Tom You were not so lazy
when you used to spend whole days daublng
my picture books and makiag all my mud
pies into clay models"
well my dear, you could not talk and sing
so cntcrtainingy in those days, and time must
be killed in some may" And he took. her
hand to lead her to the piano
While she was protesting against serving us
a mere timckiller, little Bell was ushcrcd in
by Mary Bell had declined my invitation to
make one of our party because she had work
to do. She had come to inform Esther that
Mr.. lIopkinson was at the house with pres
Clll, WHICH Hc NOull nOl ldht from Ills wagon
until he could deliver it to Esther herself
Neither would he be persuaded to drive around
here with il. There was no help for il. our
guest must be returned home. The carriage
was brought out, and Tom lifted her in with
Jessie beside her, but did not offer to accom-
pany them this time. When he seated himself
moodily, with his hands behind his head, |
asked him what he supposed the precious
present could be. II must be something extra
ordinary, for the visits of Mr. II. and family
have been more frequent than ever lately, sincc
they became members of our Sunday school,
and they cannot fail TO see what dram such
hospitality must be upon Esthcrs means.
ut is probably bushcl Of onions" said
Tom, composcdly.
Now Tom, you don't think man in his
senses would make such fuss over bushcl
of onions; say apples and potatoes to last I'M