Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-06-21
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RECOMPENSE.

~ Gctter from OtoISS, cASse1h''u
sister Kate, coming in from the post
office and holding up for our inspection
a large yellow envelope. And ad-
dressed 10 mother; isn't it funny
TO me 80 exclaimed mother, in turn,
laying down the blue sock she was
mending, and smoothing her apron as
though she were going to take the baby,
Dear me ~
"Why. how queer 80 said Hattie,
dropping her book and looking at Kate
woadcriagly. George hasn't written
to any Of Us in an age. and never to ma.
What secrets brewing now, | wonder
MAY be lie and Miliy are coming home
ON a visit, sad.
Not 50 early in the sp'ins as this,
returned Hattie. ssgely; "MlIy and
house, cleaning can, be separated
\, this moment, mother, who had
succeeded in tearing off the envelope
with eager, trembling fingers, and had
commenced reading the letter, suddenly
twisted her chair around so as 10 turn
her face from US, cleared her throat, and
wip.d her eyes on a corner Of her ging'
ham ap;oa. 49,
" Anything the matter, mother
questioned Kate, anxiously, while Hat
and sat in wondering silence.
There was no answer for moment,
then, turning slowly toward us, she held
out the letter, saving, Read it aloud
Kate; Milly is taken very i'll with ~
phoid fever, and George has written fol
me TO come 10 them. Dear child,
| wish could GO
go - echoed Kate, decisiyely, "ol
course you'll 90, and take one Of US girls
along to help nurse, too
But the work, my dear. How will
YOU manage
"Some way" said Kate. Lets see
the express goes at half-past six, and
it's half-past five now-just an hour.
Go and get ready, mother, and Cad and
I'll pack your valise.'
''Bu; your father
We'll take care of him, never fear,
and he'll be home before you 90. Hat,
you're not tit for much at home except
to run errands and keep awake nights,
and YOU can do that there. Get ready
as quick as possible, and help mother ;
she's so excited she'll be sure to get her
dress on hind side before, and forget to
lace up her shoes.
Ny energetic sister had by this time
gathered together their clothes, and,
bringing the valise from the wardrobe,
Vas packing them into it in a manner
which foretold their coming out mass
of wrinkles; /, meantime, looking help
lessly on. By dint OF earnest efforts
they were ready in season; and when
father came home from his work, he
found US hailing street-car to take
them to the depot.
Now, what's to be done first :" in
quired Kate, after We had seen them off,
and had re-entered the house with some
thing of realizing sense Of the respon-
sibility we had undertaken weighing
our minds. There's supper to get, of
course, and-Nellie can wash the dishes.
That's all, isn't it -
Mother said something about baking
tomorrow" l suggested, with a vague
idea that certain prescription was gener-
ally made concerning the bread the even
ing before its manufacture.
Tomorrow Well, let tomorrow
take care ofitself," said Kate, so prompt
ly that | was at once silenced. Lets
see what's for supper light bread, cook
les, float and cold beef. Very good.
The clouds disperse, and the sky is most
serene and fair. Set the table Cad,
while we make the tea"
And now, while l am doing that, il
the reader will take little retrospective
glance over our lives up to this point,
she viii no doubt the better understand
why we were all so ignorant of household
affairs. There was a large family of us
ten children in all. John master
workman in one of the machine shop
in the fourishing manufacturing town
of which we were resident; Milly- the
married sister, and general favorite
Kate and myself, twins bat totally un-
like, both in looks and disposition /;
Hattie, a studious girl Of sixteen; Ross
boisterous school. boy of fourteen
Nellie, delicate. petted child of eleven
and three boys in row, aged respect