St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-08-23
"LOOKING OVER" MOTHER.

no, did think I would go to the
CatSkills for a week and have one good
time like folks You know never
really did do anything just for pleasure,
but the stern needs of the coming win
ter l think will change my plans.
s'What's the need?"
"a velvet dress"
"You don't mean it. Do you forget
that you are q graded-school teacher
at salary of $500 a week."
Il can not help it. have earned my
money and saved it, and l. want one
thing that | feel Mt home in when am
invited to such places as Mrs. Cunning
hams, for instance.
IAN right, of course.
'.Are YOU going anywhere, Louiseo"
mo. have changed my plan, too y
..What was it?"
Il was invited Up to Uncle Edward s
farm to spend the summer, and eN-
pected to 60 until heard DIR. Lanes
sermon two weeks ago."
Il did not hear him allude to the
fact"
Not exactly, but do you remember
his asking us if we had ever thought
what was the very best blessing we ever
had. and advised us to 90 home and
look over our blessings and give God
thanks for them?''
..Yes, do remember that"
II had no difficulty in thinking up
my best blessing. 1t is my good patien,
mother, and when l went home and
looked her over it did not take me
long to decide who needed mountain
air and fresh milk the most of any one
So the upshot of the matter is, mother
goes for three weeks to the farm, and
am your most gracious and successful
housekeeper at home. Come and take
tea, will you?'
Perhaps" Kate Morgan answered,
absently, and the two teachers left the
subject and the large school-room TO-
gether.
But the earnest, energetic Kate Nor
gan took new thought along the
familiar streets. All the school year:
of her twenty-one years of life had beer
spent in some connection with thai
graded school in the busy manufac
turing town of Benton. The year be
fore she had been graduated with honor
from the High School and at once
offered situation in the intermediate
department, that she had filled to the
satisfaction of all and her own grea
enjoyment.
For so many years she had known
what close economies we're necessary il
her plain home that the younger
children might be clothed decently and
that she might complete the school
course. She had seen her father coun,
out his quarterly salary as clerk ano
sigh over its meagreness again and
again. She had seen the lines in hel
mothers patient face deepen over tht
problem of turned garments and doing
without things. No wonder her salar.
had seemed to her almost = fortune
and its possibilities little intoxicating
She was young, too, and pretty, with
musical gifts that made her welcome
everywhere. But she was a child o
1.-THE Kingdom" too. and every day
prayed: Search me. o God, of Thy
SELF" and to such the Spirit is the
leader.
1t was late when she reached home
and she was still busy in Cooking over
her mother. and thinking that she had
never seen her so pale and worn, wher
her father entered with sigh over thu
warm day, and sank down in his chail
quite exhausted. His daughter won
dered that she had not noticed before
how fast he was growing old. The
three young children came in and they
sat down to the plain supper. KATE
wished now she had bought quart o
berries in the morning, instead of tha
rSfashion magazine, when she saw how
little appetite her father had, and how
the sickly boy Willis left his bread un
eaten. Willis was thirteen. Herber
ten, and little Alice five years of age
Three others were waiting up in God
acre" on the hill.
That night up in her own room Kat
went through rapid mental calcula
ton, and with pencil and paper laid tn,
result plainly before her eyes, after thi
fashion:
To twelve yds. black velvet At $500 per
yard Us
To trimmings and making 10
Money lost s5s
Kate Morgan Cr.
TO cash In hand Us
But It kept her awske that night. an
It was several days before hss bus