Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-05-06
MRS. BAKERS RELIGION.
BY FLORENCE B. HoLLowELL.

''MfS. BAKER, ma wants TO KNOW II you
can't come and sit up with granny to-
| night. She's worse, and man T'lly's worn
out"
Mrs. Baker was frying crullers on the
kitchen stove when little Tom Marsh came
in to deliver his message. She had been
hard at work all day, and was tired, warm,
and considerably out of temper. She was
certainly in anything but mood to confer
favors.
''No, 1 can't" she snapped, turning
upon little Tom a face scarlet from the
glow of the hot fire. "Your mother ought
to know better'n to send for me- I told
her only yesterday that l was up to my
eyes in work, and that expected company
| tomorrow. She'll have to find some one
else. Goodness knows, put myself out
enough for folks without being called on to
be sick-nurse," and she resumed her fry
ing, while Tom ran home to report his
non-success
ssMother," said Madge, coming into the
kitchen just as Mrs. Baker, having finished
the frying of the crullers, was removing
the kettle of lard from the stove. "I've
fixed the spare room up beautifully.
know you'll be pleased with it. And to-
morrow I'll fill the mantel vases with flow
ers just before Mr.. and Mrs. Spear come.
And, mother very timidly, ''would you
be willing for me to ask the Shakespeare
Club to meet here next Tuesday evening
They never have met here, and I've been a
member for over year"
"You must be out of your Senses said
Mrs. Baker, GROSSLY. s'Do you suppose I'd
let two dozen people come trapesing over
my parlor carpet, and breaking, tearing and
burning everything? Pm not so foolish -
Il
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 didn't
burn up one of Mrs. Clark's lace cur
tains ?''
''That was an accident" said Madge,
''and not, likely to occur again. Mary
Lewis pushed the gas jet to one side so as
to see the glass better, and didn't notice
that she pushed 1t right in to the curtain.
Mrs. Clark didn't blame her at ALL.
''She can afford to have her curtains burn
ed up perhaps. I can't. Don't argue
the subject, Madge. When I say No
mean it, as you ought to have learned by
this time"
give learned that and good many 9TH
er things, too, mother. l know l often
wish was back at boarding-school
1t's like you to say that! 1t shows your
ingratitude.
~ don't mean to be ungrateful; but 1
know you don't make things very pleasant
for me at home. Susie Clark could have
the club at her honse every night in the
week if she wanted to-"
'There, that's enough! Go up stairs
until you 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.
sYou look tired, Sarah,'' said John
Baker, coming in as his wife was putting
supper on the table.
| 'Tve good cause to look So" was the
response. "I've worked like galley slave
ever since SUNRISE
where's Madge been?''
ooh, l never depend on Madge And
might work my fingers to the bone with
out its affecting her in the least.''
s'You do the child injustice, Sarah.
She's always willing to help, as far as /
see."
fffou never see very far"
sPerhaps not. By-the-way," with a
very natural wish to change the subject,
s.Hiram Long shot old Mrs. STAIRS 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 rightP' said Mrs. Baker,
curtly.
''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 a promise of that
kind. Why didn't she keep the COW tied
up?"
"She 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 ! was thinking, Sa-
rah, if we couldn't do something for her !?
You being on the relief committee, you
know, could easily"
"John Baker, do you suppose-do you
actually suppose I'm going to lift one fin
ger to help that old woman who insulted
me ten years ago? 1t would look well for
me to be rushing to her aid now"