Huntsville gazette., 1888-01-14
SAVED THE MONEY.
Why They Dare Not Call Hessie q
'Fraid Cat Any More.

'Take good care of the children,
Hester, will be back just as soon as
/ can. fyour father is no worse. ]
will bring him with me-" And kiss
ing her again, Mrs. Duncan walked
from the house and got into the high
buggy which stood before the door.
Hester watched her as she drove
of, the old horse swaying from side
to side, his tongue keeping time with
each motion. as it had done ever
since Hester could remember. When
Mrs. Duncan reached the end of the
lane, she dropped the reins and
standing up in the buggy, motioned
to Hester. She pointed to the house
and shook her head, while her face
expressed great anxiety.
Il will be careful, mother; don't
worry" called Hester.
Thus reassured, Mrs. Duncan
picked up the reins again and drove
on.
Hester, wiping. the tears from her
eyes, ran into the house to take up the
baby, who was crying loudly for his
mother.
Don't 60 far away" she said to
the twins, Dick and Vic, "for you will
have to dig the potatoes for dinner
soon"
Say, Hessie," called Dick after her.
papa isn't going to die. is he? What
did Dea. Green say when he came for
mother?"
He didn't say any thing" said
Hester, except that father had been
taken sick at Linesville, and mother
must come right away, quick as she
could. Mother said you must be real
good and help me with the baby, he's
SO fretful. And Hester returned to
her charge with sigh.
The Duncans' house stood back from
the road some distance, the nearest
neighbor living mile away. Mr. Dun
can was poor, struggling minister,
who, coming to the great Northwest
several years before, had preached
Sundays in a small log hut and worked
his farm weekdays.
AS the country around grew more
settled. his congregation increased,
until it had been decided that if help
could be obtained from the Home Mis-
sion Board they would try and raise
the rest of the money necessary for a
small church. How slowly it had come
in, often but few cents at time,
until at last three hundred dollars had
been collected by the most painful eff
fort and handed over to Mr.. Duncan
for safe keeping.
THAT money will be the death Of
me yet" said Mrs. Duncan to her hus-
band. 'Tm so afraid something will
happen to it that / dream of it at
night and think of nothing else all
day."
And if the truth were told, she
dreaded leaving the money more than
the children. 1t was the subject Of
her pantomime as she left the yard.
Mr.. Duncan had gone to Linesville
on business connected with the church.
and. being taken suddenly i'll, sent for
his wife, and at the same time, instruc-
tions to bring the money in her stock
ing for the sake Of safety.
Indeed, shall do nothing of the
kind" I" she said, energetically, to Hes
ter. You don't catch me riding
nearly twenty miles over lonesome
road with three hundred dollars in my
stocking"
But I'm afraid to keep it, too, )"
argued Hester.
WELL I suppose you are," said her
mother. "but if any thieves come for
it. just you let them have it. You
can be sure of one thing: they won t
want to steal four children along with
it."
Hester. having put the baby to
sleep again, took the potatoes from
Dick and Vic and proceeded to get
dinner.
Il wish you'd hurry up. Hester"
said Dick, for Vic and l are going
after simmons, the frost has made
them just splendid.
Nov. Dickie," said Hester, 'you
must stay near the house, for if any
thing happens. you'll have to 60 to
Mr. James for help.
Obi pshaw," Dried Dick, lottily.