The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-02-03
A H0MELY VALENTINE.
But a Not Insanity Keeping Of
the Day.

But a Not Insanity Keeping Of
the Day.
Without was the frosty air and the
crystalline whiteness of a midwinter
morning, The fields and roadsides
were covered with thick, shining
"crust," and the bending boughs of
the trees were coated with sparkling
mail, vulnerable only TO the glancing
arrows of the February sunshine.
Within, fit complement to the glitter
ing whiteness aud icy show outside,
were warmth and color and bright
mess. The sunlight lay on the shining,
yellow painted floor of great farm
house kitchen. On an immense
braided rug before the glowing cook
stove lay big, purring, yellow cat.
The oven door was open, and revealed
"a baking of pies, juicy and bubbling in
their plates, and their delicate brown
Hakiness declared them just ready to
be transferred to the pantry shelves.
One table held pans whose yellow
cream was waiting to be skinned,
and deep brown stone jar and shin
ing tin skinner were beside them.
Another covered with q crimson cloth,
with plate and knife and fork for one,
was evidently the breakfast table de-
layed for some one, for whom were
waiting also, beside the bread and
butter, the apple pic and doughnuts
ION the table, q bright coffee pot and
two or three coy cred dishes at the back
of the range.
Mother and daughter were in the
room; the former q short, rounded,
motherly woman with pink checks,
despite her ~ffty-fiye years, bright,
large, brown eyes, and hair still thick
and brown and bonny, though here
and there lay q silyering strand. Not
even the black and white calico could
make her look otherwise than CHEEKY
and comfortable; and though she had
known sorrow, she would always be to
Others comforter Sue WylIie was
taller and more slender than her
mother had ever been, with a paler
and more reticent face, yet with the
same hair and eyes. She was DOMINIC
cloak and leggings for her cold walk
to the district school-house, where she
taught.
The jingle of sleigh-bells passing
drew both for a moment to the win
dow.
" "Dr Worthy. He's going up to
Mrs. Lanes, l suppose. The youngest
boy, Freddy, has been sick long
time; they have been afraid he would
be crippled. Poor woman! I'm afraid
she has hard time. She can't help
1T, with four children, one an invalid,
the Oldest May, only thirteen"
Mrs. LaneP don't remember any
One-Oh! it's Mary Lane, Ma Y Brad
ford that was, and Mary Gage S
daughter, and lives on the home place
there. I've been away so long I'd for
gotten. They had but just come when
1 went DO you think they're so very
poor, Sue?"
Il think they must be-" Sue an
swered.
Her mother had been away in a
distant State at the bedside of her
mother, then living with another
daughter, Mrs. Wyllie's only sister,
and had only returned after her death
two or three weeks before.
INLAY, and George, he's eleven,
come to school. Fred's the invalid,
and the baby Nell is only three, They
wear such thin clothes, though itseems
as if their mother did her utmost with
what she has And they'l IL never stay
to their dinners, however stormy tbs.
Perhaps they don't have much to bring
I've thought, / called there; and Mrs.
Lane is so thin and pale and tired look
ing, though ever so pleasant and cheer.
full l Imagine she would't give up,
while she lived. think Dr.. Worthy
must be very good to them; he goes very
constantly thought we might dc
something, but though father was will
ing neither he norI could think of any
way to give without hurting their pride
and their feelings, too, for they ar
proud.
Il don't doubt it, but not in any silly
way, or she wouldn't be her mothers
daughter. You can't remember her.
Sue? She died when you were little
thing. She was my dearest frient
when we were girls together We wert
married on the same day, Valentines
Day thirty-fve years ago this month.
Mary-this Mary, was married very
young. She's been a widow now her.
self year or two. It's we'll she had
the old place to come to, if she's got
nothing else. You'd hotter wait SUI
sic, y as her daughter opened the door.
Jack IL be here right away and carry
you down."
mo, no! It's not snowy to stick
it's frozen, you know"
And in moment she was in thu
road. She had gone only few steps
however, when the young doctor drove
back again, sooner than was his won't
and the watching mother saw hin
rein in his horse, and without waiting
her assent, spring out and help her in
"She couldn't help it this time. Sh
thought he wouldn't be coming bacl