The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-03-09

with sigh, Miss Silence went back to
her lard.
"Christmas gift, indeed I" she NUT
tered, after standing for some time in
deep thought; 81 think | see myself
eating humble pie to Martha Baldwin. :"
But, somehow or other, her conscience
did not feel quite 80 easy as it had felt
before Toms call.
An hour later Tom was sitting in the
Widow Baldwin's small parlor with his
arm around very trim waist, and very
lovely golden head resting on his
shoulder 1t was very evident that the
closest economy was necessary with the
Baldwins, for the carpet was patched
and worn, and the muslin curtains
washed threadbare. and the furniture
III SAD need or varnlsh and new hair
cloth.
81 wish saw my way clear to take
you out of this, Prissy," said Tom, with
a sigh, "but clients are scarce enough
in Wolf boro."
"Now, Tom, where's the need to
worry? I couldn't leave Aunt Martha,
anyway. We are both young enough to
wait. !"
"You're too good for this world,
Prissy," said Tom, with a kiss on the
dimpled white chin.
"Theres some one knocking; let me
CO." cried Prissy, springing up and run
ming to the door.
II was no visitor, but the hired man
from Miss Silenco's farm, with the spring
wagon, which he had brought to convey
Tom to his cousins home, for Miss ST.
lence had, not ten minutes after his de-
parture. IN hour previous. overturned a
kettle OF lard by accident, and been ter
ribly scalded.
Where's my hat ?" cried Tom, in
great excitement, while the man was
telling how he had wasted time by 60
ing to the Office first, and, not finding
him there, had hunted him up.
"Let me go with you, Tom | know
| can help" cried Prissy, as her lover
was springing into the light wagon.
"Oh, Prissy, if you only would.
"Wait until [ get my bonnet and
shawl and tell Aunt Martha. | won't
be gono q minute" and Prissy rushed
into the kitchen, where her aunt was
ironing.
600, by all MEANS" said Mrs. Bald
win, when she had graspcd the meaning
of the girls incohercnt explanation.
"Stay as long as you are needed, and
don't worry about me.
Miss Silence made no remark when
Prissy entered her room with Tom. She
was in great pain, and was thankful to
see even this member of the hated Bald
win family. =.
For three weeks Prissy was chief di-
rector at the farm, and managed 50 clev-
erly that Miss Silence had no chance to
find fault. But the grim spinstcr had no
word Of commentator for the young
girls rmtiring industry.
" [ calkerlato to pay you for what you
have DONE" sho said one day, as she
watched Prissy making bread. "You
needn't think you're workin' for moth
in"
81 don't want any pay, Miss Silence, "
said Prissy, with trembling lips; 81 nm
only too glad to do what can, be-
cause" She hesitated and turned
scarlet.
"Bocause you're in love with Tom, "
finished Miss Silence. ooh, you Dccdn't
blush; I know all about it, and, if he
chooses to break his head agin stone
wall, | aiu't a-goin' to stop him..
At the end of three weeks Miss Silence
was able TO be about again, and Prissy
went home, declining the $40 bill for
| her services. But she had not been
gone three hours when the hired man
came from the farm, with two large
baskets, which he sat down on Mrs.
Baldwin's kitchen floor.
Compliments of Miss Silence, and
she sent these in place Of the money,
and was driving off in the spring wagon
before Prissy could recover sufficiently
| from her astonshment to ask him any
questions.
The baskets we're full Of good things
of every sort, and til was a royal
Christmas dinner for the Baldwins the
next day, much to the joy of the chill.
dron, who had contemplated, ruefully,
dining on mush and potatoes.
Prissy sent note OF thanks to Miss
| Silence by Tom, but she never received
an answer.
Time moved on, and Toms law bust
ness improved so much that he persua-
ded Prissy, against her better Judgment,
to marry him.
Miss Silence did not grace the impor-
| tant occasion with her presence.
I've no time to be gallivanting off to
weddings" was her excuse, when Tom
reproachcd her for this slight.
"She is such peculiar woman, we
must not expect her to act like other
people: but she has good heart in
spite of her queer ways" said Prissy,
when Tom tried to mako excuses for his
cousins remissness.
"But her greatest popularity lies in
her not liking you, Prlssy, sad ION,
kissing his brides soft checks. And l
can't quite forgive her lack OF taste"
All went well with the Young couple
for more than year. They began
housekeeping in modest cottage, Tom
WAS paving for by lnstalIments, and we're
so prudent that they managed to gather
about them many little comforts that
made their home pleasant.
But fortune seldom smiles long at a
time, as we all know, and reverses Will
come to every one. One bitter night IN
December Toms house caught fire and
burned to the ground. nothing being
lett except a few clothes belonging to
Prissy and the baby.
OF course Mrs. Baldwin opened her
house to them at once, though it ne ices
STATED much crowdmg.. frisSy suS,,
gested an appeal to Miss Silence, Da'
Tom emphatically declined to make 1t.
He WINS far too proud to ask for the help
which he thought should have been
earnestly offered. His last books and
papers had all been destroyed in the
fire for he had used a room in the cot
tage for an Office, and getting a living
dreary enough that year, and even Pris-