The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-08-18
MorHERLEss JENNY.

"Well, what do you think Of our
girl, Eben ~ -
- Mrs. Rutherford asked the question
just as they were through dinner, and
Jenny had been excused from the table.
They had brought her to their pleasant
home month before on probation,
with view Of keeping her as their
own.
Eben laid down his knife and fork,
pushed back his plate, and looking
through the open door to catch glimpse
Of pink gingham fitting around the
corner, answered slowly.
al like her right well think if you'r re
suited we'd best keep her. She is
bright and willing and truthful"
"And quite little thing" put in
his wife.
"Yes, don't know but I'd as lief she
wouldn't be so quiet though I'll tell
you Sarah, I'm sort Of longing for a
child's laugh, ripping out at anything
or nothing. I'd like to see her dance
about, and singing to herself, chatter
ing like magpie, and all that sort of
thing. I've tried to please her. I've
told her stories, and taken her round on
the farm with me, and let her ride on
Charles back to the brook and she
likes il all in a quiet sort Of way. But
she don't seem downright happy and
merry, as it is child's right to be-.
"Oh, well, ] guess she's contented
enough; plenty to eat and wear, and
kindly treated. I'd rather she'd be
quiet than like Mrs. kcrr's Necly over
the way, climbing trees and riding
fences, and singing and shouting from
morning till night"
Meantime, Jenny was sitting on a rock
by the brook, laving her bare, white
feet, and saying to herself:
"Now il thought she'd care any
thing about them, I'd gather her some
of those blue fowers-thcy'r beauties,
looking at the cluster Of the iris. T'd
as lief wade in as not. But suppose
she'd say, yes, yes, child very pretty,
don't clutter the floor with thcm,' and
keep on tying up her curtains or rang
ing her closets. Mamma always liked
them so much. Oh mammal" and
the little figure lay prone on the grass
trembling and sobbing.
"Mamma TO, mamma, want you !
She's kind TO me, but there's nobody
like mamma"
"Poor child! Poor childi"
II was Eben's voice, but tender and
gentle. His strong arms lifted the
quivering form, and laid her head on
his shoulder.
"Thcrc, there, dear-don't cry
Want to go to the mill with me1 You
shall have the reins yourself, and drive
if you like"
A few words from Eben that night
set Sarah thinking; and the new
thoughts that came to her strengthened
next day in a neighbor's kitchen. She
had "run in Of an errand," and found
"Aunt Martha," as she was called in
the neighbor parlance, making pics
She stood by her moulding board,
with sleeves rolled up, and wide ging-
ham apron on, the picture Of healthy,
hearty, blithe old lady. Half dozen
pies with rich golden centres, stood by
her side. Half dozen apple-pies were
already browning in the oven. She
had little crust left. She rolled il
out, spread il in couple Of saucers,
filed the centres round and plump
with the juicy sliced apples, and dain-
tily trimmed the edges.
"Do you make saucer-pies, auntie1"
asked Mrs. Rutherford in some surprise.
"Yes-every baking. Why not 2"
said auntie.
"Well, when the children are not at
home to eat them Il seems hardly worth
while. II Is easier to put all in one
large pie, and tastes iusts the same you