Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-13

you know, came to see Elma and me yes
terday. Papa is earning his living; we'll
earn something, too"
/ should like to know how ?n muttered
Spencer. might go out somewhere as
Farmland, if 1t wasn't for that wretched
old horse, and the pigs, and the woodchop-
ping, and"
"Oh, but there is something that won't
interfere with the work, nor with school"
said cheerful Rose; just listen-all l ask
of you is to listen"
And the weeks grew into months, and
the red leaves eddied down in little swirls
from the elm trees, and " pig-killing time :"
came; and, with the aid of lame, one
eyed man, Mr.. Chesney laid down his own
stock of pork and sausages for the winter
with a sense of being triumphantly eco
nomical.
The family had left off complaining now.
Apparently they were resigned 10 their
doom but there were some things that Mr.
Chesney could not explain at all.
A new rug frightened up the dismal
hues of the parlor carpet; Rosie had a
crimson merino dress, trimmed with black
velvet bars; Elma's autumn jacket was
edged with substantial black fur; and
grand climax of extravaganza Ches-
ney had a new shawl, in place of the old
brOche garment which had been her moth
er's before her
He looked over the housekeeping books
| with renewed vigilance he consulted the
stubs of his check-book with a glance that
nothing could escape.
"I-don't-know-how--they-m manage
it" said he, scratching his nose with the
lead-pencil that he always carried. 1
! hate mysteries, and ! mean to be at the
bottom of this before am an hour older.
He took his account book under his arm
and marched into the kitchen, where his
wife was clearing away the late supper.
Abigail said he how is this? I've
given you no money. You've long left off
asking for money. How have you man
aged to smarter yourself and the children
up so? l won't be cheated by my own
wife?'
Elma set down the pitcher which she
was wiping, and came and stood before
her father with glittering eyes and cheeks
stained with crimson, like flag of battle.
Papa" she said, you must not speak
| to mamma so. Mamma would not cheat
you nor anybody else. It's money that we
| have earned ourselves. There Noto !"
Mr.. Chesney stared at the girl with in
| credulous eyes.
And if you don't believe it, come and
see how" said Elma, flinging down her
towel. Mary Penn showed US. She told
US everything, and gave US the first swarm
Of bees. There are fourteen hives down
under the south wall. Spencer sold the
honey for Us and we planted all the nice
| flowers that grow down IN the meadow
| that you said was too stony and barren
even for the sheep to pasture upon and
| VIII dug and hoed around them after the
work was all done, and we sent boxes and
| bouquets of lilies and verbenas to the city
every day by Mr.. PENIS wagon. And we
gathered wild strawberries before the sun
was up and got cherries out of the cid
| lane. and the money is all ours-every
| farthing of it y
Honey, eh ?'' said Mr.. Chesney, staring
at the row of hives for Elma had dragged
| him out into the November moonlight TO
the scene of action. Well, I've seen these
many a time, but I always s'posed they
belonged to Squire PENIS folks. And
| flowers, and wild berries Didn't think
there was so much money in EN-. Believe
| I'll try the business myself next year.
! Queer that the women-fOlk should have got
| the start of me p
And after that he regarded his family
with more respect. The mere fact that they
could earn money had elevated them i'm
mensely in his sight but when spring came
he lost his ablest coadjutor.
Miss Elma incidentally announced TO
him one day that she was going to be mar
ried to Walter Penn the next week.
And mamma is coming to live with
u.s." added Elma she can't stand the
damp house and this hard work any
longer"
But Mrs. Chesney did not go the Penn
farm. Mr.. Chesney hired q stout serving
maid, and laid drain pipes under the kitchen
| floor.
If his wife really understood her bust
ness so well. it was worth while 10 keep
her well and active, he considered.
couldn't well leave papa, you know, .
said Mrs. Chesney to Elma. He means
well, and now that Rebecca Beckel is COM
| ing here, and the kitchen is dry, we shall
get along nicely. l wouldn't go back to
| the city for anything now"
Nor l, either" said Elma. And Oh,
mamma, I shall always love those bee
hives under the hollyhocks, for it was
there that Walter asked me to be his wife. "
And Mrs. Chesney tearfully kissed her
daughter She, too, had been happy once,
and had her dreams.
1t was to be hoped that Walter Penn
was made of different metal from George
Chesney.
To Elma, however, all the world was
| coulelp de rose. Had she not the eternal
| talismans of Youth and Love?