Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-04-03

you have while you are working for
something better. Don't crowd out
any little sweetness you have to make
room for some great pleasure that's
further off. You see," she added,
blush1ng a little, as if her words need
ed excuse, ''it's something l had to
learn myself years ago-never trample
on daisies in a wild chase after roses.
The roses 1 haven't found, but the dali
sizes have been enough to make the
path bright"
Mrs. Barney looked upon her in
! some perplexity as she took her de-
parture. She had listened with one
half her mind on the loaves of bread in
the wen and the other half did not
fully comprehend what had been said.
daisies and roses! l don't see what
any sort of flower has to do with want
ing a new kitchen. But there! I sup
pose minister's wives hear so much
talk that it comes natural to them.
Bits of old sermons, like as anyway.
Dear me! I don't get much time for
poetry in my life, Tn sure of that.
How Tim does loiter!!"
Tim, meanwhile, had sauntered out
from among the bushes, and was en-
gagged in untying the old horse that
Mrs. Searles had fastened as securely
as if it could be induced under any cir
cumstances to run. He was moved to
this act of gallantry partly because he
really liked the CHEEKY little woman
and partly because he heard Mrs. Bar
ney's call and was in no haste to go to
the house.
THAT will do, thank you, Tim," said
Sister Searles, nervously anxious to ex-
pedite his steps in the way of obedi-
ence. II think Mrs, Barney is calling
YOU"
"Yes'm; she mostly always u.s."
answered Tim, philosophically, pausing
to arrange the harness with painful de-
liberation.
"But, my dear boy" urged Sister
Searles, reading something in his
knitted brows, ...you should really try
to please and help her all you know.
She is kind to YOU"
"Oh, yes, she's kind. Only when /
see one of her kindnesses a-comin', L
dodge it; it generally hits a fellow hard
enough to be uncomfortable" re-
sponded Tim. Then, having relieved
his feelings by this statement, his con-
science pricked him slightly, and he
added: ''You see, she's always in such
a hurry. She can't come and bring
'em; she has to pitch EN-"
Mrs. Searles meditated as she drove
down the country road.
"Well, l never thought of that be-
fore, but I do suppose that's why the
Bible speaks of the Lords loving kind
ness and tender mercy-because there
is so much kindness in the world that
isn't one bit loving, and so much mercy
that is only duty and not tenderness.
I'll tell Josiah that" For it happened
that while the good minister pored over
his books and studied theology, his
wife, going here and there. studied hui
mainly. And though he cooked his
own sermons she often seasoned them.
The baking was done at last, the cur
rants picked and Mrs. Barncy's dinner
ready.
'For the bounty bestowed upon us
may we be duly grateful" murmured
MIR. Barney, with head bowed low over
his plate. Then he looked up and re-
marked that he was tired of a steady
diet of ham and eggs and didn't see
why they couldn't have a little variety.
''You would see if you had to cook
in the hot kitchen as l do" responded
Mrs. Barney, more shortly than her
wont. 'I'm glad to have whatever [
get most quickly and easily. When we
have a summer-kitchen we can begin
to live as other people do"
eff we amt all as old as Methuse-
ler," complained Master Tommy in an
undertone which was perfectly audi
h1o. Sso,r11or tho oh;o1-oo, ~~;11 lo
if we can't have any cooked till
that time" He had shifted the odors
OF the baking on his homeward way
from school, and, settling his juve-
nile mind upon chicken pie for din
ner, had been g%rievously disappointed.
Warm and weary with her orn
ing's work the questions and sugges-
tions fretted Mrs. Barney. She felt
wounded and aggrieved, too, a. she
moved about silently after dinner. No
one seemed to see she cared as much
for things nice and comfortable as did
the others, she said to herself. She
cared far more, indeed, since she
was willing to do much now. and work
and plan for the sake of having things
ali that could be desired by and by.
How many present comforts and con-
veniences had she ~foregone for that!
Those very CELLAR stairs toward whose
dark and tortuous steps she was
tending We're an example; they could
scarcely be more badly built, or in a
more i~nconvenicnt place. Mr.. Barney
had wanted to remove them, but she
would not allow him to incur the ex-
pense, because a second removal might
be necessary when the house was thor
oughly r%earranged.
No, she preferred to submit to the
discomfort all this time.
Too long a time Improved, for, while
she m%editated, an insecure board slip
ped beneath her feet, plunging her
down the dark, narrow stairway,
against the rough stone wall, and then
upon the hard floor of the cellar. One
swift moment of terror. the crash of the
dishes that fell from her hands, a flash
of excruciatingpain, and then she knew
nothing more. She did not hear
Nealie's wild cry from the room above,
nor see her husbands pale face as he
lifted her in his arms.
When she returned to consciousness
a strange voice-the physician's-was
saying: