Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-02-10
FARM AND HOME.
A Story With q Nor "a

"a thousand dollars !" Stella looked
grave. "Do you think you can spare
it ?"
The merchant laughed.
81 could spare S., 900, birdie, and |
would If you really needed it, just as
well as not. Why, child, you could
hardly ask anything that ] would not
do" and the care-lined face of the
merchant grew bright, and he stopped
down and kissed his little girl.
Little girl he still called her, though
Stella had passed her 10Th year by
some months. She had but lately re-
turned from school, to take the place
of her long dead mother in her fathers
house, and at his table, and she bore
the responsibility like the brave little
woman that she was Now the par
lors needed new furnishing, -curtains
carpets, all but the handsome piano,
which had been a recent gift. Beauti.
full, youthful, beloved on every hand,
Stella might have felt, and probably
did, that she had no wish ungratified.
care you going out to-day?" her
father asked, as he stood hat in hand.
."Where is Spring Street ?" inquired
Stella, suddenly looking up from a
thoughtful contemplation of the glow
ing coal fire.
"Spring Street? Why, nearly out to
the suburbs. It's not much of a place,
1 should Judge. You can't possibly
know anyone there"
"Oh, yes, mammals dearest friend,
Mrs. Sturgis, lives there" answered
Stella, brightly. "She wrote me sever
al times when [ was at school. She
has never forgotten mamma, and
mamma wished me always to keep up
her acquaintance"
ooh, | remember; Sturgis-a preach
or, isn't he? Settled over some small
congregation, or other? Poor, of
course; he is too independent in his
notions to be very popular. Have
you heard from them since you have
been homer"
eyes; cook is amember of his church.
She told me where they lived, and
that poor Mr.. Sturgis is sick again;
| suppose that means heis often sick. :"
"Sick again? Yes, | dare say SO;
such men make short work Of them
selves. Why don't his church send
him off on a vacation, somewhere,
if they think anything of him?"
II should Judge the church is made
up of mechanics and poor people, by
what cook says, and maybe they cam t
afford it,"
"Perhaps not. All, young lady,
don't let me catch you falling in love
with minister. His is, in most cases,
a dogs life!" and the merchant pulled
on his well-ftting gloves complacent thy.
cat the beck and call of everybody;
obliged to preach, sick or well-Pm
glad | never took to the profession.
NY poor old mother used to say that
it was her hearts desire to see her
Johnny a preacher. Johnny, howev-
er, has proved, think, wiser OF the
two"
81 thought it was not matter of
mere fancy, papa, said Stella quietly.
"I don't know: may be and may be
not. At all events, if you do go don't
walk. I'll tell Stef to come down with
the carriage-say in an hour"
Eyes, that will do,' replied Stella,
thoughtfully, and in an hour she sat in
the handsome carriage, of which her
father and the coachman were very
proud, and was riding leisurely toward
Spring Street.
1t did not seem to be a. pleasant
locality, as the merchant had said.
The cutters ran with uncleanness, and
shock headed urchins, peanut vendors,
organ grinders and dogs abounded.
Number 40, did you say, Miss ?"
inquired the driver, stopping for a
moment.
eyes," and rapidly they drove on to
cleaner part of the street, though the
houses looked mean and uninviting to
Stella's unaccustomed sight.
"Here it is, MISS" and they drew up
before an oldfashioned brick house,
the chains of whose landing ratified in
the brisk wind.
Stella told the man to drive around
the block once or twice, and then went
up 10 or II steps to the dingy, bell
less door.
A small domestic made her appear
ance from the region below, and adj
mitted her into a tolerably well-fur-
nished hall, then into a large parlOr.
where the little nick-nacks and elegan-
cies devised by some feminine taste,
hardly compensated for the faded car
cheerless look that generally makes
large and meagrely furnished rooms so
repulsive.
Seating herself in a capacious but
shabby rockingham near the tiny
fire Stella shivered as she waited for
the minister's wife who had been her
mothers dearest friend, and whom she
herself had never seen bu.j once, and
that when very small child.
Presently she entered,-a delicate,
faded, but still beautiful woman,- and
with an exclamation of delight came
forward.
Cam gave the wrong NAME" she
said rapidly, kissing her, ''or [ should
have had you brought directly to my
own room. Why, how chilled you do
look Come up stairs into my snug
gerry, sitting-room, nursery, all in one,"
and Stella followed her, glad of the
change.
There, in room frightened by the
sun and warmed by a good fire, O.
homely, rag -carpeted, but really cheer