The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-04-21
HEIRESS OR NO HEIRESS.
Why Matte Meredith Wanted to
Learn Homework.

The old OXweed farmhouse was look
ing its very best and prettiest in thu
yellow August sunshine, as Matt,
Meredith came up the foot-path will
her trim travelling satchel in her hand
Mrs. Oxweed was feeding her young
goslings at the kitchen door; she started
up to welcome the unexpected guest.
'Why, my dearie," she cried, %
thought you would be waltzing at New,
port or counting over your beaux al
Saratoga before this time!''
But Matte shook her golden-browr
curls.
s.No," she said, 81 am tired of New.
portland Saratoga don't suit me this
year. Do you know what have come
here for, Mrs. Oxweed?"
81 couldn't possibly guess" said the
farmers wife, tenderly brushing the
dust from Mattie's plumed hat.
''To learn how to do homework, +"
said Matte.
''Bless me-" said Mrs. Oxweed, swhy,
what has young lady like you to do
with drudgery?"
But, goa do it, don't you?"
THAT'S because I'm obliged to-" said
Mrs. Oxweed laughing.
nAnd that's precisely why want to
do it, said Matte. seriously. Things
have changed, Mrs. Oxweed Life
Books very differently to me from what
it used to dor'
''Deary, dear" said the kindly farm
er's wife. Il couldn't have believed
it. Riches has wings, says the Good
Book; and I'm sure there's proof
enough of IL in this world. And your
poor ma. how does she take it, Miss
MATTER"
Mamma is as well as usual" said
Matte. ''But please let me come in,
and have a cup of tea, Mrs. Oxweed.
I'm a little tired with the Journey"
$40 be sure, deary, TO be sure" said.
Mrs. Oxweed. "Tea is just ready. But,
I've got five boarders, Miss Matte
II won't be in the way" said Matte.
pleadingly. "You can tuck me any
where. / should so like the little gar
ret bedroom. Mrs. Oxweed, that looks
out into the bough of the cherry tree"
! .And YOU shall ha<e it my dear, and
welcome" said Mrs. Oxweed. But
the two young theological students
have the big front room, and Mr.. Joyce
Hazeltine, that writes funny lectures,
has the back bedroom, and Mr.. John
Jefferson has the room on the wing,
and Lieutenant Cooper sleeps in the
elope-roofed room off the parlor. We're
pretty well crowded, my dear. But
there is always room for you"
81 remember them ALL" said Matte
with sparkling eyes, ''except Mr.. Hazel
tine. We used to have such merry
times last year, didn't wer'
"And every one of 'em was dead in
tove with you," said Mrs. Oxweed.
'sOh, you needn't blush and look so
confused, Miss Matte; its human ma
ture, isn't it?"
And Matte, resting on the big parlor
sofa where the cool green lights sifted
through the maple boughs half an hour
aater, could hear the voices of the
boarders at their tea.
"Miss Meredith back again?" cried
Mr. Jefferson. "Why, it will be re-
newal of old times!'
'.Miss Meredith was a most charming
young lady," said Mr.. Dover, the eldest
of the specialized young theologians.
'tMost remarkably so," said Mr..
Laidlaw, the younger, who had very
red hair and Roman nose.
1.-The prettiest girl L ever saw in my
life, said Lieutenant Cooper.
Really" exclaimed Mr.. Hazeltine,
'1've great curiosity to cultivate her
acquaintance"
Mrs Oxweed bridled and fiuttered
with pleasure. Years ago, before she
had married her farmer husband, she
had been Matte Meredith's nurse, and
she loved the girl still with almost ma
Sernal tenderness.
''And you'll find every word they say
rs true, Mr.. Hazeltine, IS said She ''But,
dear me! things isn't as they used to
be. I'm afraid, from what Miss Matte
has told me, that MIR. Meredith has had
bad luck with his investments. She
won't be an heiress any longer, poor
dear"
"Eh?" said Mr.. Oxweed, pausing in
his task of carving cold lamb. 'sBuf
what will she do, Mary Amp"
"What other folks does, to be sure, "
said his wife, briskly. "Bless her
heart! she amt one to sit down and
lament over spilled milk. She told me
with her own lips that she had come
here TO learn to do homework"
''Housework, eh?" said Mr.. Oxweed.
''But didn't s'pose as the young ladies
called that sort O. thing gsnteel nova
days. Painting on cheeny, now, OF
giving music lessons, or fine sewing"
''Oxweed! hold your tongue!'' said
This WIFE Whatever Miss Matte Mere
ldith does will be right and proper. And
that's enough for you and me to know. "
Matte lay quite still on the sofa,
feAkiea And IS she &c. -