The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-03-01

~ didn't think the dishwater was
hot she explained. Il forgot to put
ii on till after dinner
.'Ycs. that's always the way You
never think OF nuthin' when your
nose is stuck in book. II Id a
know'd what l do now, I'd never a
sent you TO school day"
Lucy made no reply TO this tirade'
but her sensitive lips qui,crcd and her
eyes filed with tears which she strove
in vain 10 reprcsS
Scenes like this we're Of daily occur
renee in the Ross family; for the
mothers natural irritability had been
greatly increased by years OF hard
work and ill-hcaith. and Lucy pro
vokcd her beyond measure BY the
growing listlcssncss with which she
went about her household duties. The
truth j. that Lucy had become en-
crossed. heart and soul. in the pur.
suit OF knowledgc-it being the fixed
purpose OF her life to rise above tho
station Of d mere toiling machine.
Mrs Ross. incapable Of mental labor
herself. was equally incapable Of form
ing any conception OF it. Drudgcry
was her ideal work. What wonder.
then. that she mstook Lucy's preoc.
cupation for Incidence. aud that she
lost no opportunity in rating her
soundly for it.
When the di shes had been washed
md put away Lucy returned TO wher,
she had left her book. but to her sur
prise il was gone. She was not slow
70 conjecture what had happened. One
OF the children had hidden it to tease
her. Hardly a day passed that she
was not made the victim Of one OF
more Of their pranks. Tim. the Oldest
was four years her junior; and added
to this difference in age was VET
greater difference in disposition. Luc,
mad. consequently. retired moro ant
more within herself. and had grad
ually come TO regard her brothers and
sisters rs 50 many necessary evils
They. on their part. looked on hcI
quiet. studious manners as indication:
OF dullne-s and stupidity. and thought
il fine sport to anger her, or WAX,
her up" as they termed II.
On this occasion she was too much
concerned for the fate Of her missing
book to feel angry.
Mother" she called. as Ell,
searched aimlcssly about the room
snake the children give me back my
physiology They will get IL soiled o.
torn. and then what will Kitty sayP"
Mrs. Ross usually sided with tn,
children against Lucy in .hcir diff
cuItics. but the knowledge that thu
book in question was gift from Kit,
Olwirt made her equally anxious fol
its safe restoration. Accordingly. sh,
summoned the children. and tried frs
TO persuade and then to brighten III,
guilty one into revealing its where
abouts. But all stoutly protested tina
they knew nothing about It; and coax
ing. threats and logging proved alik,
unavailing.
lin not going 10 Kitty's this even
ing without itv' declared Lucy. tear
fully.
Kitty was her one friend and sympa
thizcr The only being in the work
who truly understood and appreciates
her. A warm intimacy had existes
between them ever since. AZ children
they had played together at school.
But Lucy's school days ended a
soon as she grew old enough TO be use
full NJ home. She struggled bravely o.
in her studies. however. finding littl
bcncfactrcss IN Kitty. who supplied he
with books and assisted her in ever.
possible way.
The two friends met regularly thrc
times q week TO discuss Lucy's sell
assigned lessons. and the hours thu
spent were the happicst Of Lucy
life.
Tho poor girl was almost besid
herself over the disappearance Of he
cherished physiology. II was pitifu