Smyrna times., 1884-05-07
Better Than Silks.

and two sisters, who were teachers
6adee goodbye to their pupils, glad. in.
deed, that there was pleasant coun.
Try home waiting with wide-open
doors to greet them. Hattie's mnsiC
scholars were all coming back in the
Fall, and two or three friends with them
Susy's place in the grammar school
was also waiting for her, SO there
seemed no drawback to the Summers
rest and enjoyment.
After the joyful Homecoming and
the bountlful supper, such as they had
not tasted for six months, the girls
trlpped lightly about and "did up the
work as in the olden times. while
mother looked after the milk and fed
the cat and happy Rover, who reioiced
as truly as any of them, though in his
own peculiar fashion.
Early hours were the custom of the
old homestead, so the girls at nine
o'clock found themselves in the old fa-
miliar room, fragrant with saucer of
pinks, and cool with its fluttering vine
at the window.
How lovely it seems" said Susy /:
L could just hug this old, blue chintz
spread. There is no place like home.
Is there, Hattie ?"
A long, confidential chat followed as
they sat there in the moonlight. and
Susy ran glibly over the purchases she
hoped to make next week in the citv !.
prominent among them was a beauti-
tul Summer silk which she had in her
MINDS eye, and which she hoped she
could find to suit her.
But why don't you talk, Hattie.
and tell me what you expect to get
You must have a lot of money: Won
earn 50 much more than | do"
l have just been thinking over that
money of mine, Susy, and it is that
which worries me-"
Afraid you'll lose it? Oh, fie! its
safe enough here"
1t is not that; but can't you see.
Susy, how thin father and mother have
grown Father kept no hired man
this year, and he works too hard for a
man of his age"
Why didn't he keep one? He al
ways did"
To save the expense. Do Won
know, Susie, how the money was oh
school?"
mo, dear"
Father mortgaged the farm, and
ne can't pay it off or even keep up the
interest. Mr.. Johnson wants the farm
badly for his son, as it joins him. and
ne is such hard man he is likely to
toreclose year from this time"
Why, Hattie? will father and
mother lose this dear home they have
worked so hard to make? If we were
boys now, we could take hold and
plow and reap, and make money off it
to pay UP Mr.. Johnson"
But being girls, we must calculate
what next we can do. / am willing to
help father to the extent of nv earn
iIngs to help pay off the debt. | need
but very little for next year except the
lnevitable shoes, which l cannot
make"
Susy mused a little while. for il
would be some sacrifice to give up the
cherished silk of her own earnings"
Her sister went on to tell her Of a
young lady who lived in Ulster county.
New York, who was left with the pa
ternal acres heavily encumbered with
debt. Her aged mother and her feeble |
sister lived with her; also two
orphaned neices, and brother, vast |
ing with consumption, demanded her
daily care. So many helpless ones GER |
talnly needed the shelter of a home. |
ana she determined to keep the one she |
nad. Ii was very hard, uphill work.
one saw the farm alone was insufficient. |
SO sne went out as a teacher, keeping
still the oversight of every department |
Oh the farm. During the Summer va
catlens she worked hard at all sorts of |
1arm- work, taking the oversight of her
valuable stock, and keeping all her
business affairs in the strictest order
Her good mathematical ability camein
good play here, and her school learn
ing was large factor in her success
. Yes, she did succeed" said Hattie
y and paid off every dollar of debt. he,
sldes bringing the old place up to a
nigh standard of improvement. Now,
that IS what one woman can do, and a
school teacher at that. Besides she
mad so many weights on her hands
which we have not"
Hattie, we can do as much.n said
Susy with enthusiasm. "Who cares
Tor new dress? / should always be
TOO careful of it to take any comfort in
IL. There is twice the ease in these
soft, pretty cashmeres. What can we
do for father, Hattie ?"
Long the two dutiful daughters stud-
led over the problem, and much ciph-
ering was done to see how they were
likely to come out. With health and
their present good prospects, and a
profit from the farm. thew
could compass their object.
Father and mother had hoped for "a
good visit" with their girls, but thew ,
never forecast such substantial helm. ,
lt had been source of comfort that
each was able to earn her own living.
lut they did not look to them to nav
'tf bad mortgage also. The old peo- :
NE set out for another year of toll
With something of their old time enerov I
md enthusiasm. Such kind and con-
Iloerate children are the very strength
If old age. There were new Wnoss;-
'liiues IN their business, which had
oeen suffered to fall into neglect. I
father went humming about with his |
latchet and can of nails, fixing up the /
lilapldated chicken-house into a warm. '
mug harbor for the flock in Winter t
nus ensuring harvest of eggs at a
ime when they were dearest. And as
'ood fortune would have it, some Gus.
omers came for all the milk mother a
sould spare through the Winter. c
tVery penny from poultry and milk e
vas dropped into the mortgage boxn 5
Which before the Easter HOLIDAYS had (;
'rown very heavy. But it was not to Fl
'e opened until the girls came home I
or their weeks visit. "
The first commandment with a {,
romise is given to dutiful children. I I,
hink the reward comes often In other a
rays besides long life. The case of a
hese two sisters was no exception. Il
Or Susy's principal advanced her to a u
igher grade with small increase Of a
alary, and Hattie found herself such a
opular music-teacher that she was
mplOyed nm to the full canaaifv of ha, | a