Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-02-25


story that have never yet told some
thing that only your mother and my.
self ever knew. And it seems to me
that Providence had directed that ]
should hear this conversation between
you and John in order that I might
tell you the story. Will you hear it ?"
@Of course, I'll hear it, aunty. I'm
glad to hear anything you have to tell
always"
Ordinarily Aunt Jane talked while
her busy fingers piled the knitting.
needles; but now she laid aside her
knitting and folded her hands in her
lap as she spoke.
my dear child, oh how well 1 re-
member the scene !-aconversation be-
tween my father and mother almost ex-
actly like that which you and John
have just held. With a difference in
language, the spirit and meaning of the
conversations are the same. It was in
the autumn instead of the spring and
my mother had set her heart upon a
new pony carriage and new set of
silver-mounted harness. One of our
neighbors, not so we'll off as our father
was, had got new carriage and new
harness. Mother saw this new turn
out for the first time at church.
"Well, mother that moment was dis
satisfied with the old double-seated
carriage that had served her ever since
I could remember, and which was just
as good then as ever it was. At any
rate, it was just as good for service.
Your mother and I were. then girls of
II and IA; and we were present when
my mother gave her final order-an
order it amounted to-just as want
pressed by you, and adhered to, is an
order to your loving husband. Father
tried all he knew to persuade her away
from the idea. He gave exactly the
reason for his wish that John gave you !;
and could see that he had to struggle
hard to keep the tears from coming.
But mother would not give in. She
got the carriage and the old ono was
laid aside.
George, you know father was the
first one called from our family circle.
Our neighbors had supposed him not
only free-handed, but really wealthy;
and he ought to have saved more
than he did. He was not careless
man; he was by nature thrifty and saw
ing; and had he had help, he might
have saved goodly sum. AS it was,
he left the place free from mortgage,
and there was ready money to pay
every debt, but not much more. After
every bill was paid, we could command
one hundred pounds in cash-no more.
The farm was one of the best, but
small, and our buildings in good re-
pair.
"There were three of us-our mother,
and we two girls. I was then just
20, and your mother was Is. I will not
tell you how we managed; but it was to
me a very painful time. Mother had
no thought of reducing our expenses by
curtailing her society enjoyments, and
bidding farewell to the behests of fash.
ion. Your mother and I made old
dresses into new ones; but we had not
he heart to suggest such a thing to
mother.
II remember well, I had started one
lay to take from our little stronghold
i've pounds, for the purpose of paying
! bill which was overdue.
Mother asked me how much would
% left if I took that away. I told her
! little over two pounds. Oh, not for
he world would she let me take that
Her dress-maker was coming
IN the morrow and she must purchase
and SO on, for her new silk
lress. And even then I did not at
empt to thwart her. But other bills
we're growing. However, let them go,
md let me come to the incident I wish
% give you.
zone stormy, disagreeable day
'our mother and I were ran
acking pas old desk, where he
zept his private papers and
I'D letters and account books, and by.
Ind-by we came across small book that
re had never before noticed. It was
little blank book, such as traders use
or pass-books. I found it, and up on
'pening it and letting the leaves slip
IF my thumb, I found only four or five
f the first pages written on; and this
Fas what I read at the head of the first
age, written in fathers fullest, round
Of hand. tt WAS dated and fban wont