The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-09-28
RECOMPENsE.

"a letter from George" exclaimed SIS
ter Kate coming up from the post-office
and holding up for our inspection large
yellow envelope. "And addressed to
mother; isn't it funny?"
"To mer' exclaimed the mother, in
turn, laying down the blue sock she was
mending, aad smoothing her apron. as
though she we're going to take the baby.
"Dear mel
"Why, how queerl" said Hattie. drop
ping her book and looking ut Kate won
deringly. George hasn't written to any
of us in an age, and never to me. What
secrets brewing now. wonder?"
maybe he and Milly are coming home
on a visit" said I.
mot so early in the spring as this"
replied Hattie, sngely. Milly and house
cleaning can't be separated.
At this mo nent, mother, who had sue
ceeded in tearing off the envelope with
eager, trembling fingers, and had COM
menced reading the letter, suddenly
twisted the chair around 80 as to turn her
face from US. cleared her throat and
wiped her eyes on q corner OF gingham
apron.
Anything the matter, mother?" ques-
toned Kate anxiously, while Hattie and
sat in wondering silence.
There was no answer for moment,
and then turning slowly toward us, she
held out the letter, saying:
Read it aloud, Kate; Milly is taken i'll
with typhoid fever, and George has writ
ten for me to come to them. Dear child,
l wish was so could CO."
"Gov" echoed Kate decisively; Of
course you'll go, and take one Of us girls
along to help nurse, too"
"But the work, my dear. How will
you manager"
"Some way" said Kate. Let's see;
the express goes at half-past six, and its
half-past Ave now-just one bour. Go
and get ready, mother, and Cad and !
will pack your valise."
"But your father"
I'VE will take care of him, never fear,
and he will be home before you 60. Hat.
you are not fit for much at home except
to run pyramids and keep awake nights
and y0u can do that there. Get ready
as quick Is possible and help mother; she
is ~ excited she will be sure TO get her
dress on hind side before, and forget to
lace mp her shoes"
NV energetic sister had by this time
gathered together their clothes and bring
1ing the valise from the wardrobe, WAS
packing them into it in manner which
foretold Of their coming out mass Of
wrinkles, I, meantime. looking helpless
" on. BY dint OF her earnest efforts
they were ready in season, and when
father came homo from work he found
ne hailing street car to take them to
the depot.
'sNow, what .is to be done frst?" in
quired Kate, after we had seen them OF.
and had re .enterAd the house with some
thing OF the realizing sense Of the re-
sponsibility we had undertaken weigh
ing ON our minds. ''There is supper
to get, of course, and NOVELETTE,
can wash the dishes. That is all, 10 it
not?"
Mother said something about baking
tomorrow, l suggested, with . vague
idea that . certain preparation was gen
orally made concerning the bread the
evening before its manufacture.
ITO. morrow? Well, let tomorrow
take care Of ITSELF" said Kate, 20
promptly. that was ct once silenced.
LET us see wLat is for supper; light
bread. cookies, float and cold beef, Very
good. The clouds disperse ami the sky
Is most serene and fair. Set tho table.
Cad, while make the tes."
And nov. while l am doing that, II the
reader will take little Retrospective
glance over our lives up n this point he
will, no doubt the better understand
uhy We were all 80 ignorant Of house
old affairs There was : large family
)of us--ten children in all; John. master
workman In one Of the machine shops 10
- = -. - -.