The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-23

selected. Never before had SO fully
appreciated the bright CHEEKY home and
the warm love of brothers and sisters,
which had always been mine. went
about my work. with dull, heavy heart,
for could not bear to think of mother
having so much more to do, and once I
caught myself hoping that they would
send Ruth to granny: but when the
thought of that merry little sister Of
mine without any OF US near her to
make her life happy, rose before me, and
| felt that I was getting very selfish, and
that mother would have never have
wished to shift her burdens on to other
folks shoulders like that; so went and
volunteered to go to granny if father and
mother wished.
''God bless you, Esther" said mother,
with the tears in her eyes, 81 knew you
would be the best to go. but I didn't
like to turn you out OF the nest. You
have always been such q good little
daughter. I needn't tell you to be as
dutiful to granny as you have been to
me, for know you will do your best
I turned away to hide the tears that
would come at mothers tender praise,
which felt did not deserve, and, for
want of something to do, hastily tied
my apron over my head, seized the buck
ct in which we fetched the water from
the pump, and ran across the yard to it,
slipping as I went, for the ground was
covered with frozen snow. There had
been partial thaw the previous night,
and then sharp frost which had glazed
1T over and made the ground quite dan
gerous to walk on, especially as the boys
had made long slide from the back
door to the barn.
I reached the pump and placed the
bucket in the trough, still wrapt in my
own thoughts, when was aroused by a
shout of laughter from Dick, who
screamed out:
swell done, Esther! when do you ex-
pee o fill your bucket? Don't you see
the spout is frozen up? Why, whatever
are you thinking of, old girl?'
! And then told him all, and his hear.
ty, boyish sympathy was very comfort.
ing to me, for he had always been my
favorite brother, and we had never been
parted, even for day.
In less than a week went away, and
oh, how dull the March weather seemed
at first, though I loved g ranny dearly
and she was kindness itself to me. Still
I missed the racket and the hustle of the
old home life, and, above all, the ooys
who would turn everything topsy -turvy
as soon as you had tid1ed it up. Ane
every saturday as it came, when father
drove into Looe market, and passed ou1
door on his way home, longed to gel
up beside him and go straight away Il
have peep at the dear ones.
| But it could not be. However, has
something to look forward to, and used
to count the days to Christmas eve, wher
granny and were to 60 to the farm tol
a few days, and on that evening there
was to be Christmas tree in the school
room, given by the ladies in the parish
to the Sunday scholars, and they were
KIND enough to say they hoped to see nj
too. as had always been a regular at
tendant.
went to granny's in February, *
there were good many months before
would bring Ruth or Maggie on his wa,
J to market, and fetch them on his return
and then how we did talk to be sure, ant
granny would spare us for an hour to g
down to the sea, and they were Away
delighted with granny's trim flower gar
den, and loved to watch the bees, for W,
| had none at home.
Well, at last it came to the day beforI
Christmas eve, and then had dreadful
disappointmentfor granny said she coult
not leave home after all. She had pre-
sentiment that Uncle James would reall,
; come home this Christmas. Obi how
: wicked and rebellious l felt for CON
} minutes. l was forced to leave the room
for tear would say something rude t
granny which should he sorry for after
wards. I went up to my little room an
gazed vacantly out at the leafess trees
) and took no notice of my pet robin VIII
came to be fed every day, and VIII
was now tapping on the glas
with his beak. Presently heard m
name called, and I ran down quickly.
ESTHER" said my grandmother, i
her kindest tones, II dare say you thin
me very changeable and foolish, an
after all, maybe, it's only an old woman
l whim. I couldn't go with this ide
r about poor James in my head, but 20
9 shall go, dear. I know you've bee
i looking forward to it all summer; the
will like to have you at home, and I da,
t say Mrs. Moss will look in and keep m
q company. We two old folks shall get o
very we'll together
don't know how it was, but I neve
: loved granny SO much as at that momen
= and my mind was made up at once tn,
: nothing should make me leave her. SUI
e pose she got i'll. or anything else was
happen in my absence, why I Shout
T never forgive myself. And so gave U
all thoughts of gong home, and busie
!. myselt.in making the plum pudding f.
t us three, Tor granny said she should as
: Mrs. Moss to conc IN to us on Christm,
: day, as she lived all alone, and I coul
e see that grandmother was pleased at m
d not wanting to leave her
: Well, father came the next mornin
!, as he had arranged to drive us over, an
9 he was sore put out to find that Meth
y of US was going, though he was very ge
2, tie to granny-as he is to all women-a1
n | CO ia ho hOno0 ,,nclo vOul0 firm nm