Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-12-02

t0ok up uoI DIUAC Wiou OH oSSiiCsCo "a
pectation that the chapter she wished
to prepare herself upon would be mis-
ing in that copy. Peaceful Thoughts
stole over her as she turned the pags
whose meaning is always fresh for tho'e
who seek. The husk Of discomfort WIS
dropping off and leaving the more child
like spirit which was her better sell
when knock at the parlor-door wa
followed by Mary Mahony' IS shrill voice
"lt's some creature wanting you, Mrs.
Warren, and she's to the inner kitchens
the baste - this last term being added
as the busy girl returned to her dinner
getting.
Reluctantly the lady rose and an
swered the summons, finding in Bridget's
nice '.parlor kitchen" one of those gro
tesque figures which parody the human
face and form divine, woman, tall,
gaunt, leathery, tough, as if the hard
grip of want turned nerves and muscles
into something imperishable.
At the sound of Mrs. Warren's dress
upon the floor she stood, with look at
once abject and elated.
"Here | be, again p
"Polly Huse why"
/
"You thought was in Kansas l
don't wonder. About the last person
you expected to see? Yes, marin. /
'spose so."
"But Polly. you had no right to come
back so soon The ladies took great
deal of trouble to move you, and you
said your friends would take care of you
the rest of your days. You have not
been gone
"Just year to day. told Moses
it was cause we should all be back to
Oxridge In that time. We was uncom-
mon homesick i; and when we got out
there to Moses uncle's house he said he
didn't know there was six of us; that
was four too many. Now there's one
more, cause I've got baby!"
''Of course" answered Mrs. Warren,
absently. "What do you expect to do
for living now?"
A grim humor lighted the beggar's
cavernous eyes.
"About what we used to, / expect,
marin. We ant lucky; and Moses he
asked his sister to stop with us this
winter. / thought | would just step in
and let you know that any little
polly, don't think we ought to do
for people who are SO shiftless. said
Mrs. Warren, growing more indignant
as she reflected. "And | cannot give
you another moment. am busy with
the missionary society now.'
whats that for, marin ?" enquired
Polly, with interest.
"We work for the heathen."
"Where are they mostly ?" demanded
Polly again, and the lady was fain to
answer.
eat our own door !"
This was not the reply given, howev-
er, and the usual supply of food was
bestowed and received as if no happy
interval had elapsed since Polly's last
visit. Mr.. Warren did not return home
to dinner, and the mother was silent,
although Tommy and Matte were over
flowing with talk.
The return of Polly Huse had cast
another pebble into the troubled stream
of her thoughts, and this misfortune was
quite in keeping with everything else
upon that blue day.
"What ails people that they should
so annoy me?'' was Mrs. Warren's final
query as she tied her hat strings and
|
A small number of ladies were pres
ent, and their leader being conscious Of
irritated nerves rather than Of spirit
ual sympathy with the topic, failed tc
produce any impression she desired
Polly Huse's appearance was reported
as the circle broke up. and exclamations
of dismay and laughter followed. Then
Mrs. Warren and her school friend, Mrs
Robb, walked away together.
why couldn't you help me out BY
saying word in meeting, Anna ? fell
choked, as if | had dust in my mouth 7
declared Mary Warren nervously.
"Shall tell you frankly ? am cross
and while you reported the India mis-
sion l was trying to repent and be for
given"
!, Il have had very annoying day,
, confessed the other, ''my house and al
my belongings worried me as soon as
opened my eyes. felt that thing
would go wrong, and SO they have gon'
wrong."
t "You were not the least bit-sa,
cross ?" asked the privileged con6dan
of many years.
r "Was | ?" asked Mrs. Warren, sud
/ denly, stopping at the street corner. :"
must 60 home and reflect about it."
"Matters Strengthened out, wife 2
enquired Mr.. Warren, as they met tha
? night on the stairs while the tea bel
rung.