The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-28
ABOVE THE CLOUDS.
BY SYDNEY DAYRE.

"Now, I wonder what will be wrong
with the breakfast this morning." said
Emily, closing her German grammar
with an impatient sigh to go down to the
kitchen. 20, how do envy those girls
who have nothing to attend to but their
study and practicing. And yet some OF
them think they are dreadfully driven.
Oh, dear-if mother we're only here! It's
the longest six months 1 ever knew.
But if she comes back strong I'm going
to help her more than I used to-"
The disorderly kitchen was not CHEEKY
to the already depressed girl, neither
were the dissatisfied faces which present
ly surrounded the breakfast table.
"Are we to have the potatoes burnt or
half raw this morning?" said her brother
Hugh in a grumbling voice. "Or will
there be too much salt or no salt at all in
the pancakes?"
"She always goes to one extreme or the
other" said Emily fretfully. It's dread
full work getting along with such girl,
and can't get another one."
The particular failing this time OF poor
stupid, good-natured Lena, consisted in
allowing the omelet to burn. The two
little girls whimpered at finding their
favorite dish nearly spoiled. Hugh
threw himself back petulantly in his
chair, exclaiming,
II should think you might see to things
yourself little, Emily"
"She does not have time for that Hugh,
with her studies" said his father, in his
always gentle voice.
Emily felt grateful to him and re-
pressed the angry words which rose to
her lips, but the cloud on her brow was
very heavy. She had been in the kitchen
very late last evening giving very care
full directions to Lena, and had felt hope
full that things would be right.
Everything seemed cloudy. The iron
ing had dragged late into the week and
Hugh went off in another grumble at not
being able to find exactly the style of
collar he wanted to wear. Kitty and Flo
fretted because there was no cake for the
lunch baskets, and Flo had left Der rub
bers at school the day before, and Emily
had to take the fifteen minutes in which
she had hoped to look over her German
again to hunt in the garnet for an old
pair which Flo grumbled at being
obliged to wear.
At the last moment before going her
self she remembered that the cellar
ought to be aired and swept. She had
heard her father direct Hugh to clear the
snow from the windows, where it had
done good service in helping to keep
out the frost, but did not know whether
Hugh had done it or not.
"Lena," she said. running to the kitchen.
is the snow cleared from the cellar win
dows?"
30 yes,' said Lena in the same hearty
tone in which she answered every ques-
ton one way or another, whether or no
she knew its meaning.
sit is light down there, then, is it?'
80, no." said Lena.
Elena, is-it-dsrk-do cellarp
ooh, no." still persisted Lena.
Emily ran to ok for herself and as q
result, received her first tardy mark.
She went home at noon accompanied by
one of her friends who wanted book.
The sitting room into which they went
was still unswept and the fire out. Lena
was found still over the dragging iron
ing, bat her face was beaming as ever as
she went to make the forgotten fire.
Emily gave her own most faithful care
to the preparation of dinner, TO be told,
just as it was ready to take up, that her
father had sent home fish to be served
that day, which would lose its freshness
by being kept until tomorrow.
1t was too late to remedy the mistake
and again Hugh grumbled.
There was no afternoon session at the
high school she attended, and Emily was
Just settling herself to her studies, hop
ing to save an hour before bedtime for
the piano practice she dearly loved, when
a ring came at the door. Opening it,
young girl with the inevitable agents
sachel stood before her.
Many of her friends, che knew, were in
the habit OF at once shutting the door in
the face of such visitors, thinking them
selves more polite than was really neces-
sary il the act was accompanied by few
cold words. But Emily knew that this
was not in accordance with her mothers
ideas of Christian courtesy.
81 can't buy anything of you," she said