The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-04-24


fearnestly. make the most of what
YOU have while You are working fol
something better. Don't crowd out
| any little sweetness you have to make
room for some great pleasure that's
further of. You see," she added,
blushIng little. as if her words need
ed excuse. Its something l had to
learn myself years ago-never trample
on daisies in q wild chase after roses.
The roses I haven't found, but the dai-
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 oven and the other half did not
fully comprehend what had been said.
s.Daisies and roses! / don't see what
any sort of flower has to do with want
| ing q new kitchen. But therei 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, I'm 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
cumsta1ces 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 cell and wasin no hastosto 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. 81 think Mrs, Barney is calling
YOU"
sYes'm: she mostly always is"
answered Tim, philosophically. pausing
to arrange the harness with painful de-
liberation.
..But. my dear boy" urged Sister
Searles. read ng 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'. /
dodge it; it generally hits 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: s.You see. she's always in such
a hurry. She can't come and bring
'em; she has to pitch 'em.
Mrs. Searles meditated as she drove
down the country road.
'sWell, / never thought of that be-
fore, but 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. Barney's dinner
ready.
s.For the bounty bestowed upon us
may we be duly grateful murmured
Mr.. Barney, with head bowed low over
his plate. Than he looked up and re-
marked that he was tired of steady
diet of ham and eggs and didn't see
why they couldn't have little variety.
You would see if you had to cook
in the hot kitchen as do" responded
Mrs. Barney, more shortly than her
wont. I'm glad to have whatever /
get most quickly and easily. When we
have . summer-kitchen we can begin
to live as other people do"
''n we amt all as old as Methuse-
Ter. = complained Master Tommy in an
undertone which was perfectly audi
BILE; anyway, the chickens will be,
If we can't have any cooked till
that time" He had shifted the doors
of the baking on his homeward way
from school, and. settling his juve-
nile mind upon chicken pie for din
ner, had been grievously disappointed.
Warm and weary with her morn
ing's work the questions and sugges-
'ti0ns fretted Mrs. Barney. She felt
wounded and aggrieved, too, as 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
&oA&~A Ae1A AkAOA % 1Ak1CCUs StIlCt SIG
was willing to do much now. and work
and plan for the sake of having things
all 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 were IN example; they could
scarcely be more badly built, or in .
more inconvenient place. Mr.. Barney
had wanted to remove them, but she
would not allow him to incur the ex-
pense. because Z second removal might
be necessary when the house was thor
oughly rearrangcd.
No. she preferred to submit to the
discomfort all this time.
Too leng : time itproved. for. while
she meditated 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 Aoor Of the cellar. One
swift moment Of terror. the crash Of the
dishes that fell from her hands. : fash
q excruciating pain, and then she knew
nothing more. She did not hear
Nealie's Wild cry from the room above,