The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-01

the summer, and that young student on
the second floor back is Fostering me to
spend his vacation with us; but surely,
Hulda, you would not begin our new life
with bOarders?"
mo, Magda, no." she said, with that
little melancholy, deprecatory, exasper-
ating smile of hers; and as she went
away she left the germ after lerot rather
a bitter misgiving, which ripened into
full maturity when VIC got settled in the
old homestead, with all our household |
goods about US. These deities wore |
ruefu! and rusty air. There was some.
thing out of joint. twas Time himself
no daubt. The tall clock in the corner
didn't tick in the old CHEEKY way, but put
Hulda in mind Of some weary Jingle she
had read, with the one refrain of .sNever,
forever-forever, never" I never could
see, myself, the use of reading rhymes
either they are too silly or too grave but
Hulda had always been what they called
romantic. began to hate the approach
of a moonlight night, for she would sit
out-of. doors and run the risk of the ague;
and when the air grew chill enough to
have comfortable fire on the hearth,
Hulda spoiled it ali by begging me not
to light the lamps, and there she would
sit in blindman's holiday. l began to
get the ricketts, myself; and though
the world. was sorry I hadn't brought
out with me Ms. Post and her baby, and
the young student on the second floor
back. For one thing, l hadn't enough to
do. Chloe did all the kitchen work,
Hulda attended to the bedrooms, and the
cooking that was left to me wasn't worth
mentioning. 1t was enough to break
ones heart to see the dishes come and go
untouched and untasted. would al
most have been glad to see that greedy
Marley come in for one hearty meal
There was nobody to brew or bake for;
nobody to mend or make tor; and, ali
me what bitter cry had one day when
stupidity stumbled into Bob's ,snuggery,
up under the caves IF the garnet, and saw
there the broken fishing rods, the old
rabbit hutches, the bird traps, kites, mar.
bles, and heaven knows what and all! l
couldn't get the boy out of my mind,
and began, now that mad plenty of time.
to think that might have been a little
hard myself, and grew to wonderful
about the children of Bob's first wife that
I'd given over to the clutch Of Judith
Marley without one word to cheer O:
comfort.
The hard northern winter came on
, apace. All the little brooks froze tight
the tender green of the larcbes and will
lows had given way to red and gold, and
, at last there was no color or substance
! left them but their skeleton branches
t against leaden sky. The snow came
| down in whirling drifts, and day in, day
, out, the clock licked the doleful refrain
, got out some patchwork, but put il
/ away again-for VINO would inherit my
handwork?-a made up my mind wee
have no New Years danties that year tt
? stare us dolefully out of countenance
3 Poor Chloe was getting dyspeptic already
with overlooking, and even her WOO
I didn't tighten up in the old vigorous
4 way. .~. ~-'
? 1t was the third day before New Yea
( when storm sci in of hail and snow anl
= sleet, so that it was all we could do to ge
, the dumb creatures about the place
f housed and fed. When all was done
e set the logs to blazing upon the hearth
e and happily kepta warm drink in thu
# ashes for Chloe, who was still fussin.
It about the kitchen. The wind roares
d around the house, swinging the branche
r of the trees against the weather boarding
t and said I, "Hulda, God save any poo
n creatures at. the mercy Of this storm to
I night!'
Y ':Amen!' sail Hulda. 1s
e At that moment we both heard some
e thing like human voice strained to tn
n utmost, and Hulda stated to her feet.
: "Be quiet, Hulda," said,. myself ia
y from easy Its only the shreaking of tn
II wind"
o But again we heard the voice, an
e again we heard my name. reached fo
r my cloak and hat, and buckled on m
g rubbers, while Hulda stood trembling by
g when suddenly the door flew open, and
q great lust of storm and sleet came pel'
n ing in, driving before it a man and som
e children he was budding before him lik
1t sheep in tempest. They were blinde
l. with the storm and half frozen, Tut tn
!, boy dragged his sister by tie baud, an
=. poor Bob held the youngest child in h
arms. ..-5 = ~.....
t. "Don't you know us, Aunt Mag!" sal
y the little fellow. I'm Bob, you hnov
The wagon all broke down, and wei
II jolly glad to get no ome.'' Here the Ii
to tie man began to cry, for his brave hea
ID was over. burdened, and the child in Bob
L. arms took up the refrain. Bob himse
x was white as the snow outside and SCENE
III dazed and bewildered. .E.
is "See here, Mag" he stammercd gu
I'd give brought the children, to you
le. board for awhile. Eve1ythings
vn SKIES and sevens in the city; Marley
he Brothers have gone to smash; but I
rs. get something in the way of a clerksh
en- again, and pay the children's board. "
on know; they shan't be burden to yo
as Mag"
ng A burden! It didn't seem much Ill
er burden. Such glad commotiol
ok those little ones created, &Hulda al
he Chloe putting dry clothes on them, al
;es trucking them out as if for a baby ms
10 querade. The hot posset was poar
he down their little threats, and bountit
in supper was given them of hot milk al
tn buns.