The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-02-10

hope, sighed little i>heDe Palmer, as sne
took her sewing out under an old elm that
hot afternoon. 4 wonder if ever ! shall
look handsome to anyone? | wonder if ]
shall ever be of any real service to anyone.
| ought to be of as much use as Tom-and
y don't know but Fam
The last words brought a bright flush
to her checks. She knew she could do her
part in the household, though she could
not bring in the money as Tom did. Tom
was considered bright, handsome fellow !;
he Inherited his mothers beauty, while
Phebe was little plain brown wren, with
loving brown eyes and The sweetest smile
in the world Your heart would have
warmed to her If you had seen her on that
hay August afternoon, as she sat under
that splendid elm, just on the right of the
nnpretentious front door. looking through
whose shaded vista one might have seen
two pretty children playing among the
roses in the cool back garden. Phebe
leaned back and smiled as she heard their
merry voices. She felt as if she had a
monopoly in all the pleasant sights and
sounds about her As far as the eye could
see there was nothing but gardens and
orchards and pretty nesting houses. The
work was done in doors. A fresh batch
of her best doughnuts awaited Toms com
ing, with his mans appetite; the bread and
pies were baked for the week. What if
Miss Maybe had said she was as homely
as hedge fence? Words which, some in
udicious friend had repeated to her; she
was healthy, busy and happy, and Tom
and her mother loved her, and she loved
Tom and her mother with an all absorbing
love, and gladly worked for them. When
she went to set the table she surprised her
mother wiping her eyes.
why mother what's the natter she
asked
The gray head was shaken bnt the lips
said nothing for some moments, then, as
if driven by some terrible impulse, Mrs.
Palmer-the widow Palmer'-as she was
called, looked up at Phebe with eyes full
of grief, as she said:
Tom is going to he married.
Well, and Phebe paused moment TO
fortify herself, for the news was sudden to
her-swe always expected that he would
get married some time, didn't We? Jenny
is such good girl. yon know. We all
love her
Yes, but | hoped it wouldn't be for
some years yet. Ir will make such a diff
ference in the house, for OF course Jenny
mnst come here. Tom hasn't business
enough TO support two separate families.
Well. well. we must be resigned"
1t seemed so odd to Phebe to hear her
mother talk about being resigned, while
her own mind was running about the we'd
ding and gay times, on the new muslin
made now, and upon the acquisition of
such a pretty. amiablc sister-in-law, who
would fill the house with sunshine and
make the time pass till Tom came home,
both looking for him, that she knew not
what to answer.
AT any rate, she said, unthink ingly, as
she proceeded to lay the table for supper,
1T will be good deal better than burying
him.
How often she thought Of those words
afterwards, and for how long, particularly
as her mother made answer:
We'll, | don't know, and added diseon-
solately, marriages seem TO me sometimes
like funerals.
Phebe laughed and chatted away, try
ing to console her mother, who was rather
given to looking on the dark side Of
things.
Then the clock struck six, and they
watched for Tom, whose day it was to go
to the city for goods-for Tom drove a
wagon and sold the lighter and finer
kinds of tinware--having bought himself
route-when they saw Jenny running up
the rose bordered path to the house, her
pink calico sunbonnet in her hand, her
cheeks pale, her hair disarranged.
Hasn't Tom Gomez she cried, bursting
in. No, of course not-but, O, dear, |
heard Of an accident, and it sent me cold
all over. | shall be wretched now until
Tom comes.
AN accident, exclaimed the widow
Palmer, letting her needles fall from nerv-
GUS hands. % dear! I've been feeling all
day as if something was going to happen.
What did you hear?'
Il was down at the store, and while |
was there two men, strangers, came in.
They said they had come from the Five
Corners. and people were talking of
train being run into-the very one that
Tom is oning in
The little group sat there speechless and
troubled, even the children's voices we're
hushed as they waited in dread suspense
for tidings. Phebc put on her bonnet at
last and went down to the depot, only TO
hear the news confirmed.
There's smash but We havn't got full
particulars. Only two or three killed,
however.
Only two or three What did it mat
ter to poor Phebe how many hearts would
beat with new thankfulness on the NOR
row. while her little home Was the scene
Of mourning aud desolation. OF the three