Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-11-01

tnOugh SIZE was so uncomety, ner dress
looked fun of smuggling places for chill
dren's heads, and her large shoulder like
pillow for the forlorn.
=" Now, take off your things and be COM
fOrtable,n she said. q / was afraid you
couldn't come this evening, the weather's
80 raw
y | don't mind the weather." said
Phoebe, "when am asked to supper with
you. Here you are shut in princess-like,
with a rcd-hot forest stacked in your fire.
place, the woods outside breathing, and the
kitchen kettle singing. wish Thorney and
were set up in log-housc life"
''How is Thorney!' inquired Mrs. Barker,
:" He is well. He is so stout and Draw
py.N She locked ~ the hearth without
Frightening. " / am glad he has muscles,
anyhow"
"Mr. Barker's late tonight said the
schoolmaster's wife. "His school is so full.
He's fitting some of the Young men for col
lege, and often helps them after HOUSE,
She hung up her guests wraps on deer
entlers. Several doors Of various heights
opened from this general room. Beyond
one the kitchen showed its FURNISHED stove
and tin vessels another, STOPPING down
ward step gave entrance to bedroom,
where Mrs. Barkers best fincrv hung 0G
the log wall protected By d muslin curtain.
Two more doors just like it probably opened
on similar state rooms. But the masters
library was u boldcr conception, cast out
like a dormer-window from the main pile
to be entered by ping aTchway hung with
curtains OF chint2 calico. The shelves wero
very full Rudoly carved pyramids Of
pomegranatcs supported the masters row
Of Greek authors His study-chair was
gnarly stump, chopped into shape ana eush.
joined
n long clock in cherry case filled one
corner beside the fireplace, is yellow dial
marked in Arabic figures. One iron hand
pointed to five. and with deliberate, rasping
voice, it told the hour,
Phccbe stood on the hearth to warm her
hands, while Mrs. Barker drew table from
the wall and set up its leaves on extra legs,
The broad boarded floor showed the many
grooves this table had made in it's many
journeys. Tho masters wife spread cloth
Of unbleached linon, exactly balancing the
ample folds at each table corner, and put
her bluc-edged dishes and horn-handled
knives and forks in array upon It, Her
talk With her guest was as brisk and cone
slant as the firm leather pat OF her foot
steps On the naked floor She brought jams
and finally scented cake from her store
room. The masters chair was dragged
from his library to preside at the foot Of the
table like throne over two splint-bOttomed
seats and ono wooden chair with gliding on
the back. The hostess scwing-roclSer stood
near the fire for PhCbe's use.
II told Mr. Baker If he saw your hrat1er
to ask him to supper along with you"
.'Thorncy would be too shy to come" said
Phoebe, wistfully.
..You pear very different 10 me- re-
marked Mrs, Barker, candidly, as she set
down the maple sirup in a glass dish and
arranged in a goblet the silver spoons she
had bought with her own first savings, be.
fore she married Mr.. Barker. III always
tell girls said the masters wife, standing
back and admiring them, ''the first thing
they ought to do 10 to get set Of spoons,
Take some Of your earnings and buy 'en.
whether you're thinking OF going to house.
keeping or not, Thea you have 'em."
'iThorney and can hardly afford silver
when we set up our house, said PhG5e.
..alerely to begin il will be great unacr
taking But we have saved more than .
hundred dollars between US, Mrs. Barker
HWen, that docs frst-ratc for two or.
phans. And hope you've put it out safe
"I-loancd little of mine" said Ph9bei
hcsitating. "The rest keep by me; te
DO always ready
''8lercy you oughtn't to keep such big
| su.a IN the house You bear the spoons liz
mind, . urged the masters wife, laughing
"You amt going to keep old MAIDS hal
| with Thorney for cyern
II hope ! am. 1t would be almost too
much to have snug log-pile like this, and
be sheltered up among trees, and never
tormented by anybody. Thorncy is a good
boy, and / have only him. 1t would be
nice said Phoebe, locking her fingers, 'if J
could be proud Of him; If he were bright
/ and handsome, Ike such young men as Mr.
/ Gurley. and could direct and advise me in
stead of my having to direct and advise him
But he can't help il, you know, and must
| Just cover up his weakness as well as car
| and take him for his good qualities"
'You dear clild!' said the masters wife
"He's my brother" explained Phoebe.
sincerely. "And even II he appeared dis
gushing TO other people, it would be base
for me to own TO myself that found him so
| Other people do not know the best Of him.