Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01
Trying to Please.

Strangely enough, the cellar stairs preached it-a: least they contributed that very important part, the applioa- ton. Sister Searles had furnished the text in the morning. but then the ser mon might have gone on from firstly to forty-sesenthly without Mrs. Barney g notice, had it not been for the cellar stairs.
 Mrs. Barney was hurried that day she was always hurried-andit it was warm and uncomfortable in the sun-shiny, skove-heated kitchen, where she was hastening to and fro. growing fretted and tired without slackening her speed. Nealie. standing at the ironing table, was tired also.
 !" There's. so much to do," she said, wearily. "I do not see why VIC need do baking and ironing both in one day. It makes such crowd, and we could have left one for tomorrow"
 ITO morrow will bring work enough of its own" answered Mrs. Barney, quickly. Besides, if we should get the work all out of the way the first of the week, awhole day to rest in would be worth something"
 "Bnt then we shouldn't take it for resting just because it would be whole day and something eisewould be crowded into ii, murmured Nealie, to whom one hour now looked very inviting and that possible dsy in the future very uncertain.
 The mother did not answer, and the girls hand moved more slowly over the damp muslins as her gaze wandered } away to the hills where great trees were throwing cool shadows. How pleasant the shade and greennsss were. The de. sire to bring it nearer suggested another thought to Nealie. ssSome vines would be so nice at this window, mother. I could plant them if you would let Tim dig little spot out there" -s
 Yes. but if we ever get the house fixed up as we want it 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 Nealie. .l
 '' Pretty? We'll, yes, if we had the whole yard trimmed and laid out ''as ii ehould be. hope we shall have it some day; but stray vine here and there seems hardly worth fussing over when we can't have the whole done.''
 Nealie sighed butw silent. and pres. entIy Tim came in with an armful oi wood.
 Nealie," he said, pausing near her table, "if you just sew this sleeve up a little. The old thing tears awful easy, and just hit it against nail.'
 He spoke low, but Mrs. Barney'a quick ears caught the words.
 .sThat jacket torn again, Timp l never saw such boy to tear things to pieces l No, Nealie can't stop to mend it now and I can't either. I've been in tending to get you new one, but there doesn't seem much chance to make anything new while you contrive to make 30 muck patching and alarming on the cid. "
 Mrs. Barney shut the oven-door with snap. Tim was the hired boy, kind hearted but careless, and he was rather discouraging. Board and clothing some. times appeared to her high price fol his services. Hurry, now, and picl some entrants for dinner" she said.
 Tim took the tin pail pointed out te him, but he did not hurry as he passed with clouded face down the walk. The thought of new jacket would have been very pleasant few minutes before but 1t had suddenly lost it's attractive ness. The boy drew his bushy brow! into scowl, and as soon as he was ou of sight of the house, threw himself upon the grass and began his currant picking in very leisurely manner. Then it was that Sister Searles droy, up in her rattling old buggy, with horse that was, as Tim said, $ regula old revolutionary pensioner."
 If I can't have fine horses ant carriage I can take deal of comfor with these" was always Sister Searles' eheery comment upon her equipage She had an errand at Mrs. Barney's and had stopped on her way to tn village. A plump, rosy-faced littl woman she was. not young, only tha she belonged to the class of people wh, never grow old; neatly dressed, thougl t vas but the old poplin made over. Mrs Barney noticed while she wa taking, wondering a little that sh, should have taken the trouble, whei she surely needed new one."
 . This room is too warm to ask an, one to sit in, :" she said, spologstically placing chair for her caller just out siae the aoos, ( Whsn re ass able t'