Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-13

A premOnltOry symptom OF inconsistencies
seized me as / glanced round my little
room in the dim winter light. Aunt Aga
tina had made it so pretty; but here GER
tain suspicious moisture stole under my
eyelids, and | gave myself a resolute
shake, and commenced my toilet in bus
iness-like way that chased away gloomy
thoughts.
Never had the little dining-room looked
more inviting than when | entered it that
morning. One of Uncle Keith's carefully
bearded logs blazed and cracked in the
roomy fireplace, delicious aroma OF
coffee and smoking ham peryaded the
ROOM Aunt Agatha, in her pretty morn
ing-cap, was placing vase OF hot-house
flowers some old pupil had sent her in the
center of the table, aud the bUllfinch was
whistling as merrily as ever. while old
Tom watched him, sleepily, from the rug.
was rather long warming my hands and
stroking his sleek fur, for somehow l
could not bring myself to look or speak IN
quite my ordinary manner; and though
Uncle Keith did his best to enliven us by
reading out scraps from the newspaper, L
am afraid we gave him only partial at
tention. When Uncle Keith had babe me
a husky goodbye, and had gone to his Of
fee, Aunt Agatha and / made grand
feint of being busy. There was very little
to do, really, but / considered it incum-
bent to be III great state of activity.
am afraid to say how many times | ran
up and downstairs for articles that were
safely deposited at the bottom of my box
Aunt Agatha put stop to it at last by
taking my hand and putting me forcibly
In Uncle Keith's big chair.
"Sit there and keep warm, Merle; the
cab will not be here for another half hour:
what is the use of our pretending that we
are not exceedingly unhappy? My dear,
you are leaving us with a sore heart, can
see that, and it only makes me love you
all the better Yes indeed, Merle" for l
was cIinging to her now and sObbing soft
" under my breath; land however things
may turn out, whether this step be a
failure or not, / will always say that you
are a brave girl who tried to do her duty"
Are YOU sure you think that, Aunt
Agatha?"
Then she smiled to herself little sad
ly.
"You remind me of the baby Merle who
was so anxious to help every one. re-
member you such little creature, trying
to lift the nursery chair. because your
mother was tired; and how you dragged
it across the room until you were red IN
the face, and came to me rubbing your
little fat hands, and looking so important.
The chair hurried baby drefful, but it
might hurted poor nanny worser;' that
was what you said. / think you would
still hurt yourself 'dreffur if you could
help someone else"
1t was nice to hear this. What can be
sweeter or less harmful than praise from
one we love? 1t was nice to sit there with
Aunt Agatha's soft hand in mine, and be
petted. 1t would be long before | should
have a coy time with her again. 1t put
fresh heart in me somehow; like Jona-
than's taste of honey, 1T lightened my
eyes" so that when the final gOod-bye
came, | could smile as | said it, and carry
away an impression of Aunt Agatha's
smile, too, as she stood on the steps, with
Patience behind her, watching until l
was out of sight. | am afraid | am differ
ent to most young women of my age
more imaginative, and perhaps little
morbid. MANY things in everyday life
came 10 me in the gulse or SYMBOLS or
signs-a goodbye, for example. A part
ing even for a short time always appears
to me faint type of that last solemn
parting when we bid goodbye TO temporal
things. ! suppose kind eyes will watch
us then, kind hands clasp ours; as we
start on that long journey they will bid
God help up, as with failing breath and,
perhaps, some natural lOugingS for the
friends we love, we go out into the great
unknown, looking for the Divine Guide
to take us by the hand. I'm my Fathers
house are many mansions" He who
gave the promise and who died to make it
ours, will lead us to those other rooms,
where the human drops will be wiped
away, and where pain and trouble are un-
known.
CHAPTER v.-MRs. GARNETT's ROCKERS.
had plenty of time for such introspec-
tive thoughts us these during my brief
railway journey. and before my luggage
and were safely deposited at 30 Prince.
Gate.
Again rang the bell, and again the
footman in plush and powder answered
the door. but this time there was no hest
tatiou in his manner"
Miss Fenton, believe" he said. quite
civilly. "If you will step into the waiting
room moment | will find someone to
show you the way to the nursery" and
in two or three minutes a tall, respeCta-
bic Young woman came to me, and asked
me very pleasantly, to follow her up
stairs.
On the way she mentioned two or three
things; her mistress WAS out in the car
rilge, and Miss Joyce was with her. The
nurse had left the previous night, and
Master REGINALD had been so fretful that
the housekeeper had been obliged TO sleep
with him, rs Hannah had been no manner
of use-"girls never WERE" with toss of
her head, which showed me the rosy
checked Hannah was somewhat in dis
favor. Mrs. Garnett was with him now,
and had had great deal of trouble in
lulling him off to sleep. the pretty dear"
We had reached the children's corridor
by this time, and | heard the full, cOzy
tones Oh Mrs. Garnett's voice in "Husha-
bye, baby" and the sound of rockers on
the floor. The sound made me indignant
that my baby should be sOothed with that
wooden tapping. No wonder 50 many
children suffered from irritability Of the
brain; for | was as full of theories as a
sucking politician.
look, gurgle-da." exclaimed baby, and
pointed a fit finger at me over Mrs. Gar
nett's shoulder. OF course he was not
asleep: it would have been an insult to his
infantile wisdom to suppose it.
"Oh, Master Babyr' exclaimed Han
nah, responsibility. 81 did think he had
gone Off then, Mrs. Garnet; and you
have been rocking him for the best part
of an hour
''Ah, he misses his old nurse" returned
Mrs. Garnett, placidly. She was a pretty
looking woman, with faxen hair, just be-
coming streaked with gray. Perhaps she
was a widow. for she wore a black gown,
and a cap with soft floating ends, and had
a plaintive look in her es. "l hope he
will take to you, my dear, for he nearly
frcttcd his little heart out last night, bless
him; aud Mrs. Morton crept up at two
o'clock in the morning, when Mr.. Morton
was asleep. but nothing would do but his
old nurse; he pushed her away, and ii
was "Nur. nur," aud we could not pacify
him. Poor Mrs Morton cried at last, and
then he took TO pstting her and laughing
at her IN the drollest way"
81 will just take Off nv bonnet and try
and make friends with him." | returned;
and Hannah. who really seemed "A good
natured creature, ushered me into the
night nursery-a large, ch sarful room,
with Il bright fire and a CONGRATULATIONS
ing bed, with a brass crib on each side
and pointed out to me the large chest OF
drawers and hanging wardrobe for my
own special use, and then went down on
her knees TO unStrap my box.