Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-01-20

pleasure Iud6 IdftnCr OH. lou see,
she added, blushing little, as if her
words needed excuse, it's something I
had to learn myself, years ago,-never
to trample on the daises in wild chase
after roses. The roses [ haven't found,
but the daises have been enough to
make the path bright.
Mrs. Barney looked upon her in some
perplexity 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 [ don't see what
any sort of flowers has to do with want
ing a new kitchen But there, I sup
pose ministers wives hear so much such
that it comes natural to them. Bits of
old sermons, like as any way. Dear
me I don't get much time for poetry
in my life, I'm sure of that. How Tim
does loiter.
Tim, meanwhile, had sauntered out
from among the bushes, and was engag-
ed in untying the old horse that Mrs.
Searls had fastened as securely as if it
could be induced under any circumstan-
ces to run. He was moved to this act
of gallantry, partly because he heard
Mrs. Barney's call and was in no haste
to 60 to the house.
That will do, thank you, Tim, said
Sister Searls. nervously anxious to ex-
pedite his steps in the way of obedience,
l think Mrs. Barney is calling you.
Yes'm, she most always is, answered
Tim philosophically, pausing to arrange
the harness with painful deliberation.
But, my dear boy. said Sister Searls,
reading something in the knitted brows,
you really should try to please and help
her all you can, you know.
Oh, yes, she's kind. Only when l
see one of her kindnesses comm | dodge
it; it generally hits a fellow hard
enough to be uncomfortable, responded
Tim. Then having relieved his feelings
by this statement, his conscience pricked
him slightly and he added: You see,
she's always in such hurry. She can't
stop to bring them; she has to throw
them.
Mrs. Searls meditated as she drove
down the country road.
Well, l never thought of that before,
but l do suppose that why the Bible
speaks of the Lords glowing kindness"
and ''tender mercy" is because there is
one bit loving, and so much mercy that
is only duty and not tenderness. I'll
tell Josiah that. For it happened that
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 cur
rants picked, and Mrs. Barney's dinner
ready.
"For the bounty bestowed upon us,
may we be duly grateful" murmured
Mr.. Barney, with his head bowed low
over his plate. Then he looked up and
remarked that he was tired of 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 do, responded Mrs.
Barney, more shortly than her wont, I'm
glad to have whatever 1 can get most
quickly and easily. When we have a
summer kitchen we can begin to live as
other people do.
If we amt all old as Methuselah,
complained Master Tommy, in an under
tone, which was perfectly audible, any,
way, the chickens will be, if we can't
have any cooked till that time. He had
snlffed the odors of the baking on his
homeward way from school, and settling
his juvenile mind upon chicken-pie for
dinner, had been grievously disappoint-
ed.
Warm and weary with her morning S
work, the questions and suggestions
fretted Mrs. Barney. She felt wounded
and aggrieved to, as she moved about
silently after dinner. No one seemed
to see that she cared as much for things
nice and comfortable as did the others,
she said to herself. She cared far more
indeed, since she was willing to do with.
much now, and work and plan for the
sake of having things all that could be
desired by and by. How many present
comforts and conveniences she had fore
gone for that Those very cellar stairs
toward whose dark and tortuous steps
she was tending. were an example they
could scarcely be more badly built, OIL
in more inconvenient place. Mr.. Bar
ney had wanted to remove them, bu
she wonld not allow him to incur thu
expense, because second remova
might be necessary when the house wa
thoroughly re-arranged. No, she hac
preferred to submit to the discomfort al
this time.
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