The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-06-04
MRS. BAKERS RELIGION.
BY FLORENCE b. HALLowELL.


'CMrs. Baker, ma wants to know if you
can't come and sit up with granny to-
night She's worse, and ma N Tilly's
bout warn out"
Mrs Baker was frying crullers on the
kitchen stove when little Tom Marsh came
in TO deliver his message. She had been
at work all day, and was tired, warm and
considerably out of temper. She was GER
tainly in anything but mood to confer
favors.
"No, can't" she snapped, turning
upon little Tom face scarlet from the
glow of the hot fire. "Your mother ought
to know better'n TO send for me. l told
her only yesterday that l was up to my
eyes i'll work, and that / expected COM
pany tomorrow. She'll have to find
some one else. Goodness knows, / put
myself out enough for folks without being
called on to be ck-nursc," and she re-
sumed her frying, while Tom ran home to
report bis non-success.
Mother, said Madge, coming into the
kitchen just as Mrs. Baker. having fin
ished the frying of the crullers, was re-
moving the kettle of lard from the stove.
'pve fixed the spare room up beautifully.
! know you'll be pleased with it. And
tomorrow I'll fill the mantel- vases with
flowers 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 Tues
day evening? They have never met here,
and I've been member over year"
"You must be out of your senses, I"
said Mrs, Baker, GROSSLY. "Do you sup
pose I'd let two dozen people come trape-
sing over my parlor carpet, and breaking,
tearing and burning everythingl Pm
not so foolish
"You speak as if they were so many
wild animals, mother" said AIadge, in "a
tone of some resentment.
"They act like wild animals" said
Mrs Baker. "rd like to know if they
didn't burn up one of Mrs. Clarke's lace
curtainsan
"That was an accident" said Madge,
"and not likely to occur a second time.
Mary Lewis pushed gas jet to one side
so as to see the glass better and didn't
notice that she pushed it right into the
curtain Mrs. Clarke didn't blame her
at all"
g She can afford to have her curtains
burned up, perhaps, l can't. Don't
argue the snbject, Madge. When say
no mean it, as you ought to have
learned by this time"
81 have learned that and good many
other things, too, mother. l know
often wish was back at boarding
SCHOOL,
"It's like you to say that! 1t shows
your ingratitude."
~ don't mean to be ungrateful; but ]
know you don't make things very pleas
ant for me at home. Susie Clarke could
have the club at her house every night in
the week if she wanted to-"
"There, that's enoughl Go upstairs
until you can learn to control your tenn
per-" said Mrs. Baker, going into the
pantry; and Madge went out, closing the
door behind her with good deal of un-
necessary noise.
"You look tired, Sarah" said John
Baker, coming in as his wife was putting
supper on the table.
'I've good cause to look so, ," was the
response. 1--WE worked like a galley
slave ever since sunrise"
'Where's Madge been9"
ooh, l never depend on Madge. AnC
might work my fingers to the bone
without its affecting her in the least"
''You do the child injustice, Sarah
She's always willing to help, as far as
see."
''You never see very far"
'Perhaps not. By-the-way," with ,
very natural wish to change the subject
'Hiram Long shot old Miss Starts COW
to-day. You know he said he would i
Il ever broke into his corn-patch again
The old ladv's bout wild over it."
"serves her rightm said Mrs. Baker
curtly.
That amt Christian-like Sarah"
che gave her warnings enough, sale
Mrs. Baker, ''and she knew he was tn
sort of man to keep a promise OF tina
kind Why didn't she keep the Gov
tied upY"
"She said the creature would breal
loose no matter how she tied her. And
does seem hard case. The COW wa