Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-11-19
"I'm called" said the voice Of Mrs

'NfN'i''i
thought Tom, who could see any of
her bOarders starve and rot for ten
cents saved
81 have undertaken" said the land
lady, giving Tom smile such as he
had never dreamed could rest in her
features-"I have undertaken to 60
with you in search of Mrs. Primmins'
niece, Malviny."
Several hours later Tom Collins
sprang from a light wagon in which
he had driven to the door of a pretty
cottage.
1--WE will make one last effort by in
quiring here" he said to his landlady
who held the baby.
With his usual impetuosity he push
ed directly through into the rear kitch-
en-. There he forgot his errand--forgot
everything except what he saw A
young girl, plump, neat. and rosy,
stood with round arms barred before
table. She was assiduouSly occupied
in caressing with white hands little
Jumps of dough into shape.
suddenly she turned. Such a dim
pling smile! Such rosy embarrass-
ment! Tom. great black-haired, jetty-
eyed giant that he was, thought this
plump blonde an angel. Thought.
why, he was sure of it.
After a while he came to his senses
and said:
"Im looking for one Malvina Bar
ker."
"And that is me-" said the rosy lips.
"Then I've brought you baby" he
said abruptly.
A good deal of aston ishment can be
put into a pair of bright blue eyes
without spelling them-.and so there
was. Fortunately, at that point the
landlady appeared and so, q moment
later, did Malvina's mother, called up
from the cellar by the voices.
Negotiations were soon completed.
Tom, again in his little room, found
it the loneliest, dreariest place he had
ever in his life looked upon.
A couple of days later he concluded
that it would be inhuman not to 60
and enquire after his little charge. In
an incredibly short time he was seized
with the same impression again. Then
he went to take to baby, who had not
yet learned that the moon is more dis
tant than the doorknob, box Of geo.
graphical blocks. Then he went to en-
quire if it needed pocket money; and
he told Malvina that he knew she was
not kept awake nights with it,because
her eyes were so bright.
After tea the moon came out. Oh
that wicked, shameless moon! Tom by
its light, told Malvina right out that
her eyes were bluer than heaven-hel
lips sweeter than roses and all that.
When they parted Malvina went tC
her room and cried.
What could perfect king of man
mean by talking like that to her? o.
course he could not mean to marry ;
little school mistress only home on {
vacation?
Tom acted queerly, too, when alone
in his room. lie took paper ant
pencil, and figured and calculated. HI
made a list of all the little properties
he possessed. He added them up ant
he added them down. Then he SCI
down a list of all the things he wa'
accustomed to spend money upon thai
could be dispensed with. Then h,
brought out a book on economy, wher,
it tells how q man can live chea, el
with a frugal wife than he can alone
He was astOnished TO find that book 81
intensely interestingl
The next day Tom went again t
see the baby. In fact, it had seemed
to him as though the afternoon woulc
never come. He had more waiting t.
do at the cottage, for Malvina's mother
received him, and she did not appear
At last his impatience spurred him tt
ask.
81 don't want you to see her again
young man. l will be frank with yol
and tell the truth"
"Oh, Mrs. Barker" cried Tom.
"She's asimple child, sir, and is il
danger not to understand that atten
tions from one like you can meal
nothing"
"Dear Mrs. Barker, you misunder
stand me entirely. 1 must see he
this once. l must, indeed. If sh
sends me away l will never com
again"
Tom conquered. When he explained
to Malvina about his small income ant
consulted with her about its sutlicien
cy, she told him that he ought to b
ashamed to waste such heaps of none
on one: lie should have sent half t
the heather.
Toms income has thus far held on
better than when he was single.
Young man, try it!
, a church bell at Saratoga recent
| ronp 1ni tiuoc nna ctrnka for pnpl