Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-06-13
MRS. BAKERS RELIGION.
BY FLORENCE B. HALLOWELL

Mrs. Baker, ma wants to know it you
can't come and sit up with granny to-
night. She's worse, and ma N Tilly's
bout warn out"
Mrs. Baker was frying crullers on the
kitchen stove when little Tom Marsh came
in to deliver his message. She had been
at work all day, and was tired, worn and
considerably out of temper. She was GER
tainly in anything but mood to confer
favors.''
mo, I can't'' she snapped. turning
upon little Tom face scarlet from the
glow of the hot fire. "Y our mother ought
to know better than to send for me.
told her only yesterday that I was up to
my eyes in work, and that expected
company tomorrow. She'll have to fnd
some one else. Goodness knows, put
myself out enough for folks without being
called on to be sick-nurse," and she re-
sumed her frying, while Tom ran home to
report his non-success.
Mother. said Madge, coming into the
kitchen just as Mrs. Baker, having finish
ed the frying OF the crullers, was remov-
ing the kettle of lard from the stove.
"I've just fixed the spare room up beauti-
fully. You'll be pleased with it. And TO-
morrow I'll fill the mantel-vases with
flowers just before Mr.. and Mrs. Spear
come. And mother" very timidly, "would
you be willing for me to ask the Shake
speare club to meet here next Tuesday
evening ? They have never met here and
I've been member over year,
"You must be out of your senses, -
said Mrs. Baker, Grossly. ''Do you sup
pose I'd let two dozen people come trapez-
ing over my parlor carpet, and breaking,
wearing and burning everything? Pm
not so foolish"
"You speak as If they were so many
wild animals, MOTHER" said Madge. in a
tone of some resentment.
"They act like wild animals said Mrs.
Baker. I'D like to know if they did1 t
burn up one of Mrs. Clarke's lace cur
tains ?''
s'That was an accident" said Madge,
land not likely to occur second time.
Mary Lewis pushed gas jet to one side
SO as to see the glass better, and didn't
notice that she pushed it right into the
curtain. Mrs. Clarke didn It blame her at
ALL"
'She can afford to have her curtains
burned up, perhaps; can't. Don't argue
the subject, Madge. When say me- 1
mean it, as you ought to have learned by
this time.''
81 have learned that and good many
other things, too, mother. know often
wish 1 was back to boarding-school."
sit it like you to say that it shows
shows your ingratitude.
'I don't mean to be ungrateful; but
know you don't make things very pleasant
for me at home. Susie Clarke could have
the club at her house every night in the
week ii she wanted to.
There, that's enough Go upstairs un-
til you can learn to control your temper"
said Mrs. Baker, going into the pantry;
and Madge went out, closing the door be-
hind her with good deal of unnecessary
noise.
"You look tired, Sarah" said John
Baker, coming in as his wife was putting
supper on the table.
'.I've good cause to look so," was the
response. "I'ye worked like galley slave
ever since SUNRISE"
"Where's Madge been ?"
"Oh, never depend on Madge. And I
might work my fingers to the bone with
out it's affecting her in the least"
"You do the child injustice. Sarah.
She's always willing to help, as far as
can see."
"You never see very far.'
"Perhaps not. By-the-way," with a
very natural wish to change the subject,
"Hiram Long shot old Miss Starts COW
to-day. You know he said he would if it
ever broke into his corn-patch again. The
old lady's bout wild over it,"
"Serves her right" said Mrs. Baker,
CURLY.
..That amt Christian like, Sarah"
"He gave her warnings enough" said
Mrs. Baker, ''and she knew he was the
sort of a man to keep promise of that
kind. Why didn't she keep the cow tied
up?"
sSbe said the creature would break
loose no matter how she tied her. And it
does seem hard case. The COW was the
old lady's only support. I was thinking,
Sarah, if We couldn't do something for
herr You being on the relief committee,
you know, could easily"
ssJohn Baker, do you suppose-do you