Connecticut western news., 1884-11-19
A BIT OF LOVING KINDNESS

It was a little brown house nestlin, between two great maple trees, witt yard full of roses and ilacs before it and an orchard of plum trees and cherr, trees and apple trees behind. Littl, Fay Decker spied it out the first morn ing she went to school in Cloverdale--i sunny morning in the very lest of April "What cunning house !" she cried clapping her hands. "It makes m, think of ground-sparrow's nest. Who lives there, Suea I'm sure it's some body that's real nice"
 Sue, who was zty's cousin, laughed 'T don't believe you'd say so if you knew Miss Weaver. She's the crossest crabbedest creature; and you cant think how mean she Is. !"
 "What about P asked Fay, opening her blue eyes wide. She nodded very knowingly indeed.
 iYoun see," said she, "when she drives you away from her gate if you SC much as look at her hIacs and roses such oceans as she has of them, too And she'd let her cherries and things spoil before she'd give away any 10 us girls and boys. I wouldn't wonder ii she counts lem on the trees to make sure nobody touches one P
 ''Does she live all alone ?'' asked Bay. "Yes.''
 Tender-hearted little Zly, thinking maybe of her gentle, invalid mother, seeking for health in far southern State. sighed before she spoke again; and she looked at the tiny house with a new interest.
 Don't you suppose she is lonesome, Euef''
 'tI wouldn't care bit if she were, '' was Sues mgracious reply. "I'd be glad of 1t; think she deserves to be, |" Fay did not answer; and pretty soon they came opposite the little gate. There were lilacs in blossom in the yard --hlacs blue, and white, and fragrant. "Oh, Sue, just look P cried z4y, stopping short. "How pretty and sweet those hlacs are Yours haven't begun to blossom yet"
 'No," said Sue, stopping also; 'Miss Weaver always has the first ones and the largest. l don't know why, I'm eure.''
 'Go right along, children" said 6 voice. Don't stop at my gate"
 Fay and Sue looked up quickly. A little brown woman with snappinR black eyes. and broomstick in her hand, was standing in the doorway of the little brown house.
 "That's Miss WeaYer,'' whispered Sue.
 "Go right along" said the voice again, It was very shrill voice, and Miss Weaver shook her broomstick ever Sc little as she spoke.
 "What did tell you ?" said Sue. in ar indignant whisper. Come, Bay l" But Fay plucked up courage to speak, though her voice trembIed. and sht blushed rosy-red.
 "t you please, ms'am, we wanted only to look at your iiIacs. They are SC lovely"
 "WeU, I don't please" said Miss Weaver, grimly. Give children an inch and they'll take an ell. That's always the way with 'em."
 "Oh indeed we wouldn't" proteste7 Fay.
 But Miss Weaver had her own opiu. ion about that; and she shook her broom stick little more decidedly without an other word, and z y and Sue went away slowly along the street.
 ''Now, isn't she cross ?" asked Sue with funny little grim zee. "And ism she means And isn't she inst horrid ? 'tI don'tknow." answered 2 y softly She started in great amazement Don't know ?" repeated she.
 Maybe she is, continued zay. "Bu -I can't help pitying her little, Sue because she lives all alone, and I thinl she must be lonesome, and mayb, that's what makes her so-so cross, vol know"
 Sue couldn't help laughing. But it wa exactly like Fay she thought, and sh, said so, too.
 "You are so funny, Zsrdu. I don know who else woul think of pityin, Judith Weaver-Cross-p patch Weaver we call her. How the girls will laugh if tell 'em P
 70 Sue, don't They're all new one to me, you know"
 Yes, Sue knew; and she saw how nea the tears were to 2 ay's blue eyes; an she said to herself that she woudn' tell for all the world. She forgot abou telling any way, because at recess rher were May baskets and the Maying part to talk over. The next day would be Sat urday and, of course, aholiday.
 II hope it will be nice." said Mani Barrows. ''Last May-day it rained."
 There weren't any flowers any way. And we couldn't hang May bas ketsl r
 We've made two lovely ones--Z and l, " said Sue, "and we're going t have two bouquets of Mny-aowers an violets to go with them. But 2 " don know anybody to hang hers for2''
 "Yes, do," returned Fay, with quiet little laugh.