The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-02-28

EMe2AZl v her mothers quer-
i 80 ~ ulous voice Lucy
~ III IIt Ross threw down
VII Ssfs,,HNNg her book and hur-
IlFias.aH Wa ri d into tn e
~ kitchen.
Il didn't think the dishwater was
hot, she explained. 4 forgot to put
it on till after dinner"
Yes, that's always the way. You
never think of nuthin' when your
nose is stuck in book. II Id a
know'd what | do now, I'd never
sent you to school a day."
Lucy made no reply to this TRADE;
but her sensitive lips quivered and her
eyes filled with tears which she strove
in vain to rcpress.
Scenes like this were of daily occur
renee in the Ross family; for the
mothers natural irritability had been
greatly increased by years of hard
work and ill-health. and Lucy pro-
voked her beyond measure by the
growing listlessness with which she
went about her household duties. The
truth is that Lucy had become en-
crossed. heart and soul, in the pur-
suit OF knowledge-it being the fixed
purpose Of her life to rise above the
station OF a mere toiling machine
Mrs. Ross. incapable OF mental labor
herself. was equally incapable of FORM
ing any conception of it. Drudgery
was her ideal work. What wonder.
then, that she mistook Lucy's preoc-
cupation for Incidence. and that she
lost no opportunity in rating her
soundly for it.
When the dishes had been washed
and put away Lucy returned to where
she had left her book, but to her sur
prise it was gone. She was not slow
20 conjecture what had happened. One
81 the children had hidden it to tease
aer. Hardly a day passed that she
was not made the victim of one or
more Of their FRANKS. Tim. the oldest.
was four years her junior; and added
% this difference in age was q vet
greater difference in disposition. Lucy
lad, consequently, retired more and
more within herself, and had grad
aally come to regard her brothers and
listers as so many necessary evils.
They, on their part. looked on her
auict. studious manners as indications
II dizziness and stupidity, and thought
I fine sport to anger her, or wake
.aer up" as they termed it.
On this occasion she was too much
concerned for the fate of her missing
book to feel angry.
Mother she called, as she
searched aimlessly about the room,
make the children give me back my
physiology. They will get it soiled or
tern. and then what will Kitty say?'
Mrs. Ross usually sided with the
children against Lucy in their diff
culties, but the knowledge that the
book in question was gift from Kitty
Olwirt made her equally anxious for
It's safe restoration. Accordingly, she
summoned the children, and tried first
to persuade and then TO brighten the
guilty one into revealing its where
abouts. But all stoutly protested that
they knew nothing about it; and coax
ing, threats and flogging proved alike
unayailing.
I'm not going to kitty's this even
ing without it, declared Lucy, tear
fully.
Kitty was her one friend and sympa-
thizer. The only being in the world
who truly understood and appreciated
her. A warm intimacy had existed
between them ever since, as children,
they had played together at school.
But Lucys school days ended as
soon as she grew old enough to be USE
fLl at home. She struggled brayely on
in her studies, however. finding little
benefactress in Kitty, who supplied her
with books and assisted her in every
possible way.
The two friends met regularly three
times q week to discuss Lucy's self
assigned lessons, and the hours thus
spent We're the happiest of Lucy 5
life.
The poor girl was almost beside
herself over the disappearance of her
cherished physiology. 1t was pitiful
to see her that afternoon, vainly peSi-
ing again and again into every crack
and corner Of the house and yard,
whore it seemed possible for book to
be secreted.
When four o'clock came. which was
the time appointed for meeting with
Kitty, she sought the children at their
play, and, with tears in her eyes and
voice, promised TO do any thing in her
power for the one who would tell her
where her book was
Her entreaties elected derisive
laugh from Tim. in which the others
joined. and with the words: Cry
baby' cry-baby!'' ringing in her ears.
she fastened away.
Reaching a secluded spot in the
orchard. she seated herself under a
tree and gave full vent to her feelings.
When she returned to the house her
mother scolded her for not keeping her
appointment with Kitty.
You know the children'll give back
yer book when they've had their fun
over it, she snapped. And you
ceel.d a told Kitty you mislaid it!''
Before Lucy could reply, her little
sister came running in. calling ex.
citedly to her to come and look in the