Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-02-23
A HOMELY VALENTINE.
But a Not Insanity Keeping Of
the Day.

Without was the frosty air and the
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 and icy show outside,
were warmth and color and bright
ness. 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
q baking of pies. juicy and bubbling in
their plates. and their delicate brown
fakiness 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 a 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 pie and doughnuts
on the table. bright coffee pot and
two or three GOV cred dishes at the back
of the range.
Mother and daughter were in the
motherly woman with pink cheeks.
despite her fifty-five years. bright,
large. brown eyes. and hair still thick
and brown and bonny. though here
and there lay silvering 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 s,crier than her
mother had ever been, with paler
and more reticent face. yet with the
same hair and eyes. She was DOMINIC
cloak and legginss for her cold walk
to tie 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. 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
it, with four children, one an invalid,
the oldest. May. only thirteen"
Mrs. Lane? don't remember any
-one-Oh! it's Mary Lane. Mary Brad
ford that was. and Mary Cages
daughter. and lives on the home place
there. I've been away SO long I'd for
gotten They had but just come when
/ went Do you think they're SO very
poor. Sue?"
Il think they must be-" Sue an
severed.
Her mother had been away in >
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 tefore.
MAY. 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 it seems
as if Their mother did her utmost with
what she has. And they'll never stay
to their dinners. however stormy It's.
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 80 pleasant and cheer
full imagine she wouid't give up.
while she lived. l think DR.. Worthy
must be very good to them; he goesvery
constantly thought We might do
something. but thoagh father was will
ing netthsr he nor could think OF any