Connecticut western news., 1879-02-12
Laying Up Treasures.
A STORY FOR PARENTS.

4AAkcs l&AOO<O WoS Q Uuo9 WOIuhA AS u0E husband was busy man. Their views of life as it should be were practical in the extreme. Mir. Moore was a well-to- do farmer. He had made his large and thriving farm by hard work and saving, and in these he had been ably assisted by his wife. So earnest had been their efforts to lay up riches that they had scarcely given heed to the family grow ing up about them. Both forgot they were once cbildren, and that children have aspirations and long1ngs that older people can scarcely comprehend or ap- preciate.
 Joe, the oldest boy, and Jicky, the little girl, had been busy all the morn- ing digging potatoes. Joe's heart was not in his work and the potatoes gath cred very slowly in the basket. Several times his mother had been obliged to go to the door and call to him to hurry, as she wanted to cook dinner. Joe grum- bled as he worked, and when the basket was taken to the house woman, flushed and tired with mornings hard work, and annoyed with this long waiting, caught the basket before the tardy little feet that bore 1t had crossed the thres- hold, and said in tones sharp with impa- tience
 ts We'll, you did get here at last 1! What possessed you to stay so? Itdoes seem to me that I can't set you children at anything but what you'll continue to hinder more than you help. Here, Joe, take this pail and bring me in some water-quick, now! !"
 Joe got the water and then went and sat down in the doorway. He was rest less and uneasy that day, his thoughts continually travelling back to disap- pointment of the morning.
 don't see why we can't go to the picnic tool All the other boys and girlsn be down at the school-house this afternoon, helpin' make wreaths and banners, and learnin' speeches an things to say.
 His mother looked into the oven, and carefully turned the loayes of bread that were baking, but made no answer.
 ss don't see why we can't go, too ]; say, mother, why can't we ?"
 You know very well told you this morning. Nothing will do but the little girls must all wear white, 50 I'd have to buy and make new dress for Jicky i; and then there must be cake and other things baked for you to carry, and I haven't got time to spend on such non- sense, nor money either-that's all there is of it. You're better of at home any way"
 That's what you always say, and I don't want to stay at home all the time, want to go somewhere, and have some fun,'' persisted Joe, complainingiy. s Can't go up to the school-house and see what they're doing ?"
 "Dear me yes, if that1l keep you quiet.
 And can put on my t'other jacket an' trowsers 9''
 No, you can't, was answered short- ly-the mother was tired of being leased. If you get 'em on you'll get 'em all stained and soiled, and then they won't be fit to be seen on Sunday, un- less they're washed. can't be both cred that way"
 "Then I won't go, said Joe, lean ing his head back against the door frame again. ".I ain't goin' up there lookin' this way, when the other fellers Il be all fixed up-that's what I ain't P
 '' Very well, you can stay at home, then you'd ought to if you don't know that it's politeness and good manners that make any one respectable, and not what they wear. If you'd only behave as we'll as you're dressed, you'd do well enough"
 Behave like I'm dressed p muttered Joe, surveying pair of pants that cer. tainly bore strong proof of maternal in, dnstry in the mending line. "Guesi I'll have patched up politeness an darned manners then. ]"
 Joe P exclaimed Mrs. Moore, SC verely, but Joe was walking of toward the barn and did not hear.
 Marcia, pretty girl of fifteen, wht
 pod at the ironing tableayith her bacl
 kard her mother, smiled faintly. Sh,
 2 lurking suspicion that if !" tendin
 meant reproof, Joe would do quit.
 well without further attention tha day. She watched him walk istlessl, across the yard, and 8 little wound il her own heart ached in sympathy witl bis disappointment. Someway the, never did "haye things like other folks, as he said never kept the holidays, O had birthday parties. or " snt off ol little excursions. She did not quit know why, only father and mothe thought such things nonsensical-aus use less way of spending time and money Perhaps they were right. and she nigh feel differently about it, too, when sh grew older, but now she was so wear of the dull, monotonous round, and s Ionged for things that never came int her life. The words 30 frequently re peated-ss we can't afford this or that, awe gust economize, ;" somebody mui work. or how shall we iye?" ofte sounded in her ears like clanking chainl and by no means satisfied her huugz heagk