The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-06-07

it, without his cognizancc. New dresses
wore frowned upon; spring bonnets we're
strictly interdicted; orders were issued
that old carpets should be reversed, and
broken dishes repaired with cement and
quicklime.
"Save, save, savel That is the chief
thing" he kept repeating briskly.
'.Women folks can't earn; they should
try their best to save"
''Boys," futtercd Rosie, 'Tve an idea.
Mary Penn, who lives on the next farm,
you know, came over to see Elma and
mo yesterday. Papa is earning his liv-
ing; we'll earn something. too."
Il should like to know how" NUT
tered Spencer. l might hire out some
where if it wasn't for that wretched old
horse and the pigs and the wood chop
ping and"--
"Oh, but there is something that
won't interfere with tho chores, MOI
with school," said cheerful little Rosie.
"Just listen-all l ask of you is to lis.
ten,"
And the weeks grew into months, and
the rod leaves eddied down into little
swirls from the maple trees, and ''pig
killing time' came, and, with the aid oi
lame, one-eyed man, Mr.. Chesney laid
down his own stock of pork and saus
ages, with the sense of being triumph
antly economical.
The family had left off complaining
now. Apparently, they were resigned
to their doom. But thero were some
things that Mr.. Chesney could not ex
plain at all.
Anew rug frightened up the dismal
hues Of the parlor carpet; Rosie had {
crimson merino dress, trimmed with
black velvet bars. Elma's fall jacket
was edged with substantial black fur
and-grand climax of extravagance-
Mrs. Chesney had new shawl in place
of the old garment which had been her
mothers before her.
He looked at the housekeeping book
with renewed vigilan ce; he consulted
the stubs of his check book with .
glance that nothing could escape.
ow-how-they IMAM
age It," said he. scratching his nose
with lead pencil that he always car
ricd. 81 hate mysteries, and l mear
to be at the bottom of this before an
an hour older"
"Abigail,' said he, show is this
I've given you no money. You've long
left off asking for money. How hav'
you managed to smarter yourself ane
the children up so9 won't bo cheated
by my own wife"
Elma set down the pitcher which
she was wiping, and came and stood be
fore her father with glittering eyes and
cheeks stained with crimson, like flag
of battle. ,
"Papa," she said, ''you must not
speak to mamma so. Mamma woulc
not cheat you nor anybody else. It:
money we've earned ourselves.
Mr.. Chesney stared at the girl will
incredulous eyes.
"And if you don't believe it, com
and see how" said Elmer, fingins
down her towel. "Mary Penn shove,
us. She told US everything, and CAV
us the first swarm of bees. There ar
fourteen swarms down under the soutl
wall. Spencer sold the honey for us
And we planted all the nice flowers tina
grow down in the mead ow, that yo
said was too stoney and barron even TO
the sheep to pasture upon, and VIII
dug and hoed around them after tn
chores were all done, and we sent boxe
and bouquets of lilies and verbenas t
the city every day by Mr.. Penn
wagon. And we gathered wild straw
berries before tho sun was up, and go
cherries out of the old lane. And tn
money is all ours-every cent of it."
tsuoney, eh9' said Mr.. Chesney, star
ing at the row of hives, for Elma haG
dragged him out into the Novembe
moonlight to tho scene of action. ''Well
I've seen these many a time, but a
ways supposed they belonged to SOUR
PENIS folks. And flowers and will
berries! Didn't think there was s,
much money in 'em. Guess I'll try tn
business myself next year. Queer tina
the women folks should have got tn
start of me-"
After that he regarded his famil
with more respect. The mere fact ths
they could earn money had elevate'
them measely in his sight.
But when spring came he lost his abl
co-ad jutor Miss Elma incidentally an
lOulCeu 10 ullu OHc uny ehoe SAo VIC
going to be married to Walter Penn th
next week.
"And mamma i, coming to live wit
, us" added Elma. "She can't stand th
damp house and this hard work an
longer"
But Mrs. Chesney did not 90 to IL
Penn farm. Mr.. Chesney hired sto,
serving maid and laid drain pipes undt
the kitchen stoop. If his wife reall
, understood her business so well it W,
} worth while to keep her well and activ'
he considered.
| "Icouldn't leave papa, you know.
said Mrs. Chesaey to Elma ''He NEAR
, wcii; and now that Rebecca Beckel
coming here, and the kitchen is DIR,
| we shall get along nicely. 1 wouldn'
go back to the city for anything now.
ssNor I aither said Elma ga n