Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-01-20
Mrs. Barney's Sermon.

ed that very important part, the appli-
cation. Sister Searls had furnished the
text in the morning. but then the sermon
might have gone on from firstly to forty
seventhly without Mrs. Barney's notice
had not been for the cellar stairs.
Mrs. Barney was hurried that day
she was warm and uncomfortable in 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
table, was tired also.
There's so much to do, she said, wea-
rily. l don't see why we need do baking
and ironing both in one day. 1t makes
such crowd and we could have left
one for tomorrow. Tomorrow.
Tomorrow will bring work enough of
its own, answered Mrs. Barney quickly.
Besides, if we should get the work all
ouo VI tAC WoJ CnC AISV VI GuS WSeh, d
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 crowd
ed into it, murmured Nealy, to whom
an hour now looked very inviting, and
that possible day in the future very un-
certain.
The mother did not answer, and the
young girls hand moved more slowly
over the damp muslin as her gaze wan
dered away to the hills, where great
trees were throwing cool shadows. How
pleasant the shade and greenness were.
The desire to bring it nearer suggested
another thought to Nealie. Some vines
would be so nice at this window, moth
er. l could 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 it shall have shut
ters at that window.
But we don't know when we can do
that, and the vines would be so pretty
now, urged Nealie.
Pretty? Well, yes, if we had the
whole yard trimmed and laid it out as
it should be. l 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, but was silent, and pres
emily Tim eamA in NTH a"-~f.,I e
wood.
Nealie, he said, pausing near her ia
BILE, if you'd just sew this sleeve up
little. The old thing tears awful easy,
and just hit against nail.
He spoke low, but Mrs. Barney's
quick ears caught the words.
That jacket torn again, Tim? l nev-
er saw such boy to tear things to
pieces No. Nealie can't stop to mend
it now, and l can't either. I've been
intending to get you a new one, but
there doesn't seem much chance to make
anything new while you contrive to
make so much patching and darning on
the old.
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 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 new jacket would have
been very pleasant few minutes before,
but it had suddenly lost its attractive
ness. The boy drew his bushy brows
into scowl, and as soon as he was out
of sight of the house threw himself upon
the grass and began his currant picking
in very leisurely style. Then it was
that Sister Searls drove up in her rat
tling old buggy, with horse that was,
as Tim said, reg'lar old revolutionary
pensioner.
1t | can't have fine horses and car.
riages. can take great deal of com,
fort with these was always Sister Searls
CHEEKY comment upon her equipage. Sht
had an errand at Mrs. Barney's and had
stopped on her way to the village. A
plump, rosy-faced little woman she was
not young, only she belonged to the
class of people who never grow old
neatly dressed. though it was "but tha
old poplin made over" Mrs. Barney no
ticed while she was talking, wondering
a little that she should have "taken tn,
trouble, when she surely needed new
one."
This room is too warm to ask any on
to sit in, she said apologetically. placin,
a chair for her caller just outside tn
door. When we are able to have tn
house altered to suit US, | shall no
) have stove here in the summer.
In the meantime you have this mic
cool porch. What pleasant place i
J is said Sister Searls admiringly.
Yes, if any one has time to enjoy il
answered Mrs. Barney with an uneas
, lauph Pm so hurried irving to oe