Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-05-02
MRS 1BAKER'S RELIGI0N
BY FLORENCE B. HALLowELL.

BY FLORENCE Is. HADLOW ELL.
HMrs. 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
Nbout 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, I can't" she snapped, turning
upon little Tom face scarlet from the
glow of the hot fire. '"Your mother ought
to know bettern to send for me. l told
her only yesterday that l was up to my
eyes in work, and that l 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 a sick-nurse," and she re-
sumed her frying, while Tom ran home to
report his 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.
'I've fixed the spare room up beautifully
l 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 a member over year."
"You must be out of your Senses"
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 everything2 . I'm
not so foolish"
"You speak as if they were so many
wild animals, mother" said Madge, in q
tone of some resentment.
"They act like wild animals" said
Mrs Baker. CPD like to know if they
didn't burn up one of Mrs. Clarke's lace
curtainsW
"That was an accident" said Madge
"and not likely to occur a second time
Mary Lewis pushed a gas jet to one side
so as to see the glass better, and didn'
notice that she pushed it right into thC
curtain. Mrs. Clarke didn't blame he
at all" =
"She can afford to have her curtain
burned up, perhaps. I can't. Don
argue the snbject, Madge. When l sa
mo mean it, as you ought to hav
learned by this time"
II have learned that and a good man
other things, too, mother. / know
often wish was back at boarding
school,"
cts like you to say that 1t show
your ingratitude."
II don't mean to be ungrateful; but
know you don't make things very pleas
ant for me at home. Susie Clarke, coul
have the club at her house every night
the week if she wanted to-"
"There, that's enough Go upstail
until you can learn to control your ten
per-" said Mrs. Baker, going into IL
pantry; and Madge went out, closing ii
door behind her with good deal of III
necessary noise.
"You look tired, Sarah" said Joh
Baker, coming in as his wife was putin
b supper on the table.
i live good cause to look so" was IL
response. GIVE worked like gallc
slave ever since sunrise"
= "Where's Madge been"
ooh, never depend on Madge. Al
I might work my fingers to the bo
without its affecting her in the least"
Q 'You do the child injustice, Sara
"A She's always willing to help, as far as
see."
"You never see very far"
K 'Perhaps not. By-the-way, with
very natural wish to change the subjct
.''Hiram Long shot old Miss Starts cC
to-day. You know he said he would
it ever broke into his corn-patch agai
The old ladv's bout wild over it,"
"Serves her rightr said Mrs. Bak
% curtly.
THAT amt Christian like. Sarah"
''He gave her warnings enough, " Sc
Mrs. Baker, ''and she knew he was
sort of man to keep promise of Il
kind. Why didn't she keep the c.
tied up9'
lie "She said the creature would bre
tie loose no matter how she tied her. Ant
n does seem hard case. The COW v
the old lady's only support. | was THU
ing, Sarah, if we couldn't do somethi
for her? You being on the relief CO
mittee, you know, could easily"
"John Baker, do you suppose-do
actually suppose Pm going to lift
y, finger to help that old woman who
" suited me ten years ago2 1t would lt
we'll for me to be rushing to her aid no
"T think help would look better com
ro, from you than from any one else, Sar'
lu- She'd know you'd forgiven the past,
that your religion meant something "
"When she comes to me and asks
pardon for what she did ten years a