The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-28

DOye.
"Who's that coming here?" asked Miss
Susan of Hulda, the maid, who was grow
ing gray in her service. as, half sn hour
later, a cutter drew up at the gate and
lady was seen coming in.
SITS the new minister's wife," said
Hulda, going to the door, while Miss Susan
took off her kitchen apron and went into
the sitting room to receive her visitor.
Mrs. Blake was CHEEKY, chatty, little
body, who approached Miss Staples as
she approached every one else, not at all
as if she knew that no one now kept up
the habit Of calling at the old Staples
farm.
ct came to ask you," eaid Mre. Blake,
after salutations had been exchanged,
"to let your hoy come to meet a few
others at our house tomorrow evening.
Nice boy-such comfort he must be to
you'll I've noticed him in Sunday-school
and was quite taken with him. There's
something in his face different from most
boys. Perhaps it's his eyes, or maybe
his forehead. However it is, l told Mr..
Blake I was sure that boy would make
something some day and be a pride to
whoever he belonged to. Now our boys
are just ordinary little varlets--care for
nothing except to shirk study and play
and eat and get into mischief tell Mr..
Blake that if they grow up able to make
an honest living and never do anything
dreadful it's all we can expect of them
and may be thankful to Providence for
that"
The little woman paused to take breath,
and to laugh so merrily that Miss Staples
could not forbear laughing with her.
But there was so much food for startled
thought in what had been said that she
found no words ready for reply A COM
fort and pride to her! In the long ago
she had fondly looked forward to what
her brother might be to her, but Jim,
whom she had tolerated as necessary
encumbrance, and had with little thought
consigned to life of drudgery, lightened
the idea was 80 new and surprising that
her mind wandered vaguely over long
stretch of the past and the possible fu-
ture.
But Mrs. Blake did not need much
help in conversation when we'll started
on the subject of boys, and chatted away
until in the next pause Miss Susan asked:
"How many boys have your"
"Five-that is, four of our own and
one of my sisters, who died. But there's
no difference, for I'm sure brothers or
a sisters child is almost as near as ones
own. There's quite little crowd COM
ing tomorrow night, and Mr.. Blake's
going to have the magic lantern, for we
want to give them good time. | tell
Mr. Blake 1 think it does boy real good
to have good time, and I have the
fancy" she lowered her voice little,
"that some day when / am not here 1
want them to remember that L looked
out for their pleasure and was glad when
they were glad. L don't want them to
remember anything unkind OF me. What
grade in school is your Jim in?"
Indeed, I don't exactly know said
Miss Staples. She had signed Jim's re-
ports without looking at them, and had
with i'll grace bought the books he need
ed, but further than that had given her.
self little trouble about his schooling.
lizard to keep track of these new
school ways. isn't it? l couldn't do it
myself if they didn't beat it into my head
with their persistent talk and their de-
mands for help in their lessons. Your
Jim looks like the sort that could depend
on his own wits, though. Folks tell me
he's the only boy left in your family. Is
that SOP"
EYES, and Miss Staples wondered
that she had never thought of that be-
fore. To be sure, Jim was the only
Staples left. Was he not entitled to
some consideration in view of that?
unjust be all the world to you, of
counsel How glad am he's a boy SO
full of promise"
A little more talk followed, and then
with he sure and let him come" Mrs.
Blake took leave.
Miss Susan Staples sat SO long after
her guest had departed that Hulda made
an errand in to poke the fire. Her sur
prise was in no way lessened at perceiv-
ing that her mistress's hands lay idle in
her lap, thing positively unknown be-
fore in all the years of her stay in the
house.
Miss Susan at length got up and walked
slowly out to the kitchen. The pantry
door was open, and upon lower shelf in
a corner stood what she knew to be Jim's |
for his expected company-a
plate of apples which he had rubbed un-
til their rudy cheeks shoDe, and guam
tity of hickory nuts in a starch box.
Two hours ago she would have viewed
them with indifference, but now, to her
newly awakened perception, they told a
story which brought an unwonted DIM
ness to her eyes. Numbers of china
dishes stood on the shelves above, but he
had not taken one in which to set his
nuts in better style before his friends.
Who, after all, had better right TO the
good things of the Staples farm?
Jim's step was heard at the door.