The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-04-05
ALEXIS MAXIM.


"Please put on your thinking-cap fol
my benefit this evening, auntie."
Very well, Aleck. what Is itp"
Placid-faced Widow Grey spoke kind
", but without raising her eyes from
the skein of yarn she was CAREFUL,
plac ny upon the smooth arms Of I'll,
old swift.
The handsome lad hung his worn car
upon nail behind the door. held his
fingers moment over the glowing
cooking stove, patted the white cal
asleep on a cushion in the warmest cor.
ner, then taking the bit of paper upon
which his aged friend was about to
wind the soft, smooth yarn, he said,
coaxingly:
please, auntie like to make the
arms of the old swift fly around. They
seem to be ever reaching for something,
but are fulfilling their miss on all the
while"
The widow was used TO the lad 9 mat.
ter-os-course way. when he ran In of an
evening, Of making pleasure oil shar-
ing whatever work engaged her atten.
ton; so now she only said;
"Wind 1t close, remember, Aleck, o.
1t will not knit even.n
'All right, auntic; now for bush
ness, and as the old lady settled down
in her rocking-chair and took up her
knitting-work, he went on:
MIR. Hyde, ut the supper-table to-
night, gave me notice to quit. Hc
wishes to take u younger boy, one who
will eat less and wear smaller clothes, 7"
and Aleck laughed, looking down at
the bottom OF his jacket sleeves half
way to his elbows, and then at his
trousers legs half way to his knees.
II am not surprised, my child" re-
plied Mrs. Grey, deliberately. :" You
can come here right away, and stay un-
til you can find better place. You
have done well in staying rs long as
you could in the home your father found
for you before he died. There is always
enough to do for any one who has tho
will, and 1t does not make SO much diff
ference what or where your work is, MS
how you do ii. There are always op-
portunities, If one Is looking for them,
to do good or to do evil. to help others
and to help ourselves"
A sharp rap ut the outer door cut
short the old lady's wise speech. and
Esquire Eaton, a short, stout, broad
shouldercd man, clustered In.
- was passing, and called to see II
my socks were DONE" he said, declin-
ing, with bow, and wave OF his hand,
the splint-bottomed armchair Aleck
moved forward II am off for Wash
ington in the morning instead OF at
night to- morrow, as l expected, and all
the last things have to be done up this
evening""
II am just toeing them of. sir said
Mrs. Grey. ''The white yarn only came
up an hour ago. and Aleck is winding
1t for me"
The squire looked disappointed. II
shall not have to go Darefooted II / do
not have them" he said, .but 1t il a
within OF mine that to keep Off colds IL Is
well to wear home-knit blue socks with
white toes. We all have our whims,
hey, Aleckp'
ayes, sir" replied the lad, respect
fully; land one Of mine, when q little
fellow, was to learn to knit MY moth
er taught me to knit whole stocking
the winter before she died. So, when
yarn enough is wound, / can pick up
the stitches for Auntie Grey, and help
her about toeing them off. When they
are finished, sir, | will bring them to
your house, and if you are all in bed
will leave the package in the porch, ut
the side door. VIII that do, sirp
''tiocd," said the squire, looking
pleased now. ut will do very we'll.
indeed. and dropping bank-note into
the widows lap he busted away with
her fervent Good bless you!" ringing in
his ears and warming his heart all the
way to town.
1t was eleven o'clock before Aleck,
after busy evening, followed by
brisk walk in the frosty air, opened the
gate leading through a deep yard, to
the squire's handsome dwelling. That
gentleman himself opened the side door
as Aleck went lightly up the steps Of
the porch.
''All abed but me" he said. "Come
in and will pay you for your trouble. /"
"You may pay Auntie Grey for that,
SIR"
''Come in" repeated the Squire, with
something more tIIan mere politeness
in his voice, and the lad obeyed A
gust Of wind from the open doorway
sent the papers on the library table fly
ing like flock OF sea-gulls to all parts
OF the room. Alcck removed his cap
and ;nittens, and picking up the papers
returned them to the table. As the
squire put a letter that he had been
writing into its envelope he watched the
lad out Of a corner OF his eye.
Going to school this winterP" he
asked.
Il suppose not, sir l am looking for
something to do"
What do you wantp'
II can no. be over particular, sir. It
the work Is. as what make of it, he
replied. unconsciously repeating Mrs.
Grey's W. rds.
Il viii give you work, then, and we
will see what you make OF it. This call
to Washington is very unexpected to
me, as you perhaps know. My wife
and daughters are to go with me II
have had time for very few arrange
ments. The housekeeper and her hus-
band are to be left in charge, bnt they
are getting old You may come here
and stay and go to the high school and
do for your cloth and board whatever
You see needs to be done =
sire" asked AIeck, looking puzzled.
You may get the mail three times
day The postmaster has been directed
what is TO be forwarded If you see any
thing else that nec.!s to be done Won can
10 j. if you feel disposed, just as you