Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-12-07
THAT BLESSED BARREL.

BY Mary Tilcomb.

ayes, mother, / am just coming"
replied a cheerful voice from the room
above.
Now Bessie was usually up betimes
te h elp get breakfast, and to help dress
the baby. But when girl of thirteen
walks five miles carrying pretty big
bask ct of eggs in one day, she natural
ly feels like sleeping an extra halt-hour
next morning.
"What is 1t, mother, dear?" asked
Bessie, as he shastened into the kitch-
en- on coming down stairs. Anything
the matter, For her mother Was
standing by the pantry door with q pan
full Of flour in her hands, and per-
picked expression on her face.
"When did Aunt Susan say she
should be here?' asked Mrs. Lane,
looking at Bessie, but still making no
movement toward the kitchen table,
where the bread-tray and kneading-
board stood ready for use.
bessie wondered what in the world
her mother could be thinking about.
ado you mean in the letter that came
Saturday night" she asked. ST think
aunty said she hoped to see us about
the Goth of October"
"And now it is--Bessic, what day of
the month is it?'
"The 5ih, mother, | am sure, be-
cause Farmer Ray
"Then we must have corn bread for
breakfast, not biscuit" Aud Mrs. Lane
turned quickly into the pantry, er1ptied
the flour back into the half-filled bucket,
and presently brought out some yellow
corn meal
Bessie Lane was more mature thar
most girls Of thirteen. Her home sur
roundiugs had made her thoughtful be-
yond her years. She was a baby when
her parents settled on the rough land
in western Kansas, aud now there were
five children younger; wild, mischief
loving Bert, gentle Amy, Edwin, a sober
little man of seven, Willie only faur,
and Baby Sue, the pet of the family.
Many Kansas farmers were in sore
trouble, Bessies father among the num-
Der. The terrible drought of the sum-
mer had cut off most of his crops. There
was little harvesting TO be done, The
grass which shrivelled up in midsum
mer, left little winter food for cattle.
Provisions were exhorhitantly high, and
money scarce.
Mr.. Lane lost all courage, and
gloomily broodod over impending
struggles.
In vain his wife trusting back her own
fears, strove TO cheer him. He could
see no hope in the future.
Bessie and her mother sat late by the
kitchen fire that night, after the rest of
the family were in bed, consulting to-
gether.
81 want everything pleasant for Su
SAN" said Mrs. Lane, when at length
she told Bessie they must both go to
bed. "She hasn't been here for eight
years, and | don't want her TO ind us
unhappy"
mo, indeed I" said Bessie. "Isn't it
good that we have got into our new
house2 / am so glad father began to
build it last year. TO be sure it is not
all finished, but it is clean and com
Portable"
"And if we can only make your
father feel more hopeful, we shall all
be happier" said Mrs. Lane.
eve viii try, mother" said Bessie.
What was il about the -four this
morning." she added, sitter little
pause.
ave have only little flour. You
know father has but few bushels of
wheat, and / don's know when he will
get that ground. We must have dour
when Susan is here, so we must be
spariug of it now
Had anybody peeped into Bessics
room long after midnight, they would
have seen Ivy the moonlight q very
wiie-awake gul. Bessie was thinking
how she could earn money
"Here's letter tor you, Mary" said
Mr.. Lane several days afterward, as
he came in TO dinner. Farmer Ray
brought it when he came to see about
Brindle."
But ne isn't going to take her now"
shouted Bert; he's going to send load
Of hay, and pa and are going to work
for hum Saturday =
There was general shout of delight,
for it had come to be known among the
children that the COW must be sold for
lack of hay.
"That is good news indeed, sand
Mrs. Lane, rs she dropped into chair
as if to realize it more fully. 'ls it
really So johns turning To her nus
band.
"Yes, really So. Mr.. Ray is very
kind"
But mother, the letter. the letter.
exclaimed Amy.
Now letters were rare visitors in that
western home, and The children, quite
forgetful of dinner, crowded around
their mother eagerly as she opened
the letter and read aloud
''NEW York, Oc{. l. 1871"
"Why, how long it has been coming,
said Mrs. Lane, interupting her read
sno. then continued: