Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-07
MRS. BARNEX-S SERMON.


portant part. the application. Sister Searls
had furnished the text in the morning, but
then the sermon might have gone on from
neyS notice, had it not been for the cellar
stairs.
Mrs. Barney was hurried that day.-she was
comfortable i'm the Sunshiny, stove heated
kitchen. where she was Fastening to and fro,
growing fretted and tired without slackening
her speed: Nealie, standing at the ironing Ia
There's so much to do" she said. YEARLY.
Il don't see why We need do baking and iron
and we could have left one for TO morrow"
Tomorrow will bring work enough of its
own" answered Mrs. Barney, quickly. Be
sides, if We should get the work all out OF the
way the first of the week, a whole day to rest
in would be worth something"
" But then We shouldn't take it for resting,
Just because it would be whole day, and
something else would be crowded into it,
mnrmured Nealie, TO whom one hour now
looked very inviting, and that possible day in
the future very uncertain.
The mother did not answer, and the young
girls hand moved more slowly over the damp
mMsns as her gaze wandered away to the
hills where great trees were throwing cool
shadows How pleasant the shade and green
ness were. The desire to bring it nearer sug-
gested another thought to Nealie. Some
vines would be so nice at this window, mother.
Icould plant them If you would let Tim dig
little spot out there
Yes but if we ever get the house fixed up
as We want il, We shall have shutters at that
window
but we don't know when we can do that,
and the vines would be so pretty now," urged
Pretty? Well, yes, if we had the whole
| yard trimmed and laid out as it should be.
| hope we shall have it some day; but a stray
| vine here and there seems hardly worth fuss
| ing over when We can't have the whole DONE"
Nealie sighed, but was silent, and presently
Tim came in with an armful OF wood.
"Nealie" he said, pausing near her table.
| 'if you'd just sew this sleeve up a little. The
old thing tears awful easy, and Just hit it
| He spoke low, but Mrs. Barney's quick ears
caught the words.
| THAT jacket torn again, Tim? never saw
| such boy to tear things to pieces! No,
| Nealie can't stop to mend it now, and 1 can't
| either. I've been intending to get you new
| ore, but there doesn't seem much chance to
make anything new while you contrive to
| DID,
Mrs. Barney shut the oven door with snap.
| Tim was the hired boy kind hearted but care
less, and he was rather discouraging. Board
and clothing sometimes appeared to her
| high price for his services. Hurry, now, and
pick some currants for dinner, she said.
Tim took the tin pail pointed out to him,
but he did not hurry as he passed with
clouded face down the walk The thought of
a new jacket would have been very pleasant
a few minutes before, but it had suddenly lost
its attractiveneSS. The boy drew his buShy
brows into scowl, and as soon as he was out
of sight of the house, threw himself upon the
|
leisurely style. Then it was that Sister Searls
drove up in her rattng old buggy, with a
horse that was, as Tim said, "a reglar Old
"If can't have fine horses and carriage,
can take deal of comfort with these, was
always Sister Searls CHEEKY comment upon
Barney's, and had stopped on her way to the
village. A plump, rosy faced little woman
she was not young, only that she belonged to
neatly dressed, though it was ''but that old
poplin made over" Mrs. Barney no
ticed while she was. talking, wondering lit
| tie that she should have taken the trouble
when she surely needed a new one"
This room is too warm to ask any one to
sit in She said ap0ofgetssaSy Racdng
ssWhen we are able to have the house altered
to suit us shall not have stove here In the
| Summer"
"In the meantime you have this nice cool
porch. What q pleasant place it is!' said
Sister Searls admiringy.
! Yes, if one had time toenioy it," answered
Mrs. IA. ". .1 an uneasy iadgh. I'm SO
hurried, trying to get everything about the
place in just the right order, that don't nave
"Take time, Sister Barney, take time "
said Mrs. Searls, smiling, but earnestly.
make the most of what you have while you
are working for something better. Don't
crowd out any little sweetness you have, to
farther off. You see" she added, bluShing a
!
something had to learn myself, years ago
never trample on daisies 10 wild chase after
roses. The roses l haven't found. but the
daisies have been enough to make the path
Mrs Barney looked upon her in some per-
plexity, as she took her departure. She had
listened with one half her mind on the lOaves
of bread in the oven, and the other half did
not fully comprehend what had been said.
daisies and roses! 1 don't see what any
sort of flower has to do with wanting new
l. Dat ,ft,s- rot
Wives hear so much such talk that it comes
natural to them. Bits OF old sermons, ike as
any way. Dear me! L don't get much time
for poetry in my y, life; I'm sure OF that. How
Tim. meanwhile, had sauntered out from
among the bushes, and was engaged ~ unity
ing the old horse that Mrs. Searls had fastened
any circumstances to run. He was moved to
this act of gallantry, partly because he really
liked the CHEEKY little woman, and partly be-
cause ne heard MIS-. Barney's CALL and was in
THAT will do, thank you, Tim," said Sister
Searls, nervouSly ANXIOUS to expedite his steps
IN the way OF obedience. Il think Mrs. Bar
:"Yes'm she mostly always isl answered
Tim, philosophieally, pausing to arrange the
harness with painful deliberation:
reading something in the knitted brows,
you really should try to please and help her
all you can. you know; She is kind to you. "
/ L.
of her kindnesseS comm dodge it, it gen.
orally hits fellow hard enough to be uncOm-
Portable" responded Tim. Then having re-
ieved his feelings by this statement his con-
science pricked him slightly, and he added:
"YOu see, she's always in such hurry. She
can't come and bring 'em; she has to hitch
| EN-"
Ms. Searls meditated as she drove down
| the country road.
"Well, never thought OF that before, but L
| do suppose that why the Bible speaks of the
| Lords loving kindness, and tender mercy
| because there is SO much kindness in the
| world that isn't one bit loving, and so much
mercy that it is only duty and not tenderness.
| while the good minister pOred over his books
and studied theology, his wife, going here and
| there, studied humanity. And though he
| cooked his own sermons, she often seasoned
| them.
| The baking was done at last, the currants
| picked, and Mrs. Barney'S dinner ready
For the bounty bestowed upon us may we
| be duly grateful murmured Mr.. Barney,
| with head bowed low over his place. Then
| he looked up and remarked that he was tired
| of a steady diet of ham and eggs, and didn't
see why they couldn't have little variety
"You would see if you had to cook in the
| hot kitchen as dc" responded Mrs. Bar ney,
| more shortly than her wont. I'm glad TO
| have whatever i can get most QuicklV and