The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-28
THE MINISTER'S WlFE'S CALL.
BY SYDNEY DAYRE.

Jim ulleO bu0 kltCuou WOOu DOA Luil
and then laid liberal pile of kindling in
readiness for the next mornings fire.
Sometimes he sighted this duty little
but there was no sighting now. Then
he very carefully swept the snow from his
boots, and came and stood before his
aunt who was busy picking over beans
for to-morrow's dinner.
Aunt Susan"
What?" she answered, as he paused
until she looked up.
"Pd like to-will you'll mean, may
L"
"Do go on, Jim Staples, and quit your
stammering and suffering"
"Can I ask some boys here to spend
the evening tomorrow night? It's my
birthday, and all the boys does it on their
birthdays"
The lady stared in astonishment at
such an unheard of request, and Jim,
having found speech, went rapidly on.
"Just nine boys. They've asked me to
their houses and we've had real good
times, and I'd like to ask 'em. We won't
make no noise nor no trouble. I'd make
the fire in the parlor without maxim q
speck O dirt, and we won't track snow in,
and I've got some Of my hickory nuts to
crack, and thought maybe you'd let us
have some apples out O the cellar--and
may I, Aunt Sussn?"
mine boysl" exclaimed Miss Staples.
"In the parlor Who's to clean up the
muss nine boysll make, I'd like to
know"
"Huldy says she will" said Jim, in a
a depressed tone.
"Huldy's got enough to do without
cleaning after boys. One boys enough
for us to clean after"
"Thep," said Jim, "may l ask four
boys? Four boys wouldn't make much
dirt and wouldn't eat many apples. just
the Parks boys and"
"What's the good of having anyP"
asked his aunt.
"Well," said Jim, as she seemed to ex-
peet an answer, I" it's just to have nice
time-you know"
But what's the good of it is what l
want to know" The voice and the look
which accompanied the question we're SO
sharp that jim had no courage to try to
point out any good which might result
in the proposed entertainment He turn
ed slowly round and walked away.
"Look here" bis aunt called after him.
"You can have the four here, but mind
you see they go home early"
"Yes'm, thank you," said Jim, CRATE
fully. He had intended to venture
petition that the big lamp in the parlor
might be lighted, but thought it beet TO
be content with tallow candles.
"All nonsense" grumbled Miss Staples,
when left to herself. "There's hardly
been bit of company in this house for
ten years, and I'm sure nobody's suffered
for the need OF it. Boysl What are boys
for except to make troubled?
People who knew Of Miss Susan Sta
pies lonely life and read in her face the
story of heart shut up to itself and turn
ing more and more from the sweet SYM
pathies which should have bound her to
her own kind, might have been ready to
declare that come one had suffered for
want of company. After the death of
her parents she had conferred all her in
terests in an only brother who had
grievously disappointed her by refusing
to join her in the conduct of the farm
which had been their inheritance. His
tastes led him in other directions, and she
had placed heavy mortgage on it in
order to buy out his portion. When,
through years Of striving and close
economy she had at length paid it off,
she seemed to have little desire for any
thing except to strive and economic
still, though with what object she had
probably never asked herself. She never
quite forgive her brother, and when his
orphan SOD, then little beyond babyhood,
had been consigned 10 her tender mer-
cies, he had found little of softness in her
heart OF home
Jim, rejoicing over the small favor
which had been granted, made such good
use Of his time that by dinner time the