Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-18


unfolded this ingenious plan, and she ra1
hastily off to rehearse the good news to the
| lazy tabby cat that, no doubt would hav,
preferred chickens to the most cunningly-
colored eggs that were ever seen
Thus deserted Towsley strolled out intc
the garden and wandered around the IA
miliar enclosure. 1t was the commence
ment Of the gardening season, albeit the
days were yet raw and chilly-some of them
and Towsiey could scarcely raise the ring
ing tune with which he was accustomed to
cheer himself
| Even sparrow can not fall to the earth
thout His notice, he whispered, as he hob
bled tremblingly about. AN air you not
of more value than many sparrows? Oh,
ye of little faithI"
Then the song rose clear and full, with
only the vibrations incident to q failing
voice:
Tis not a war of flesh an blood;
I fight fer Heaven; fight fer God;
kingdom, with nv rights in;
Oh, that's the war fer me-"
The next day he visited the wood-lot, and
on his return bound the sassafras roots up
with his load of sticks
''Twas good idee. he cried, cheerfully,
as he deposited the burden in the back
yard THE sassyfras IL do the colorin' an
also make the tea I've been wishin' fer tea
the whole winter, an never onct thought o.
that sassyfrasl"
"'Twas the Easter eggs, gran'pa," Ethel
explained, solemnly. 1T must "a been"
Il dono but you're right. 1 dono but
you're right" he assented, rather struck
with the idea 'All things work fer good
to them that love Him. Yes; dono but you
air. Wen believe SO anyhow"
He hustled about quite briszly after that,
preparing their simple meal; while the tea
pot sang merTtly, as the fragrant steam
arose like incense from it.
I've got two eggs, now, gran'pal" said
Ethel, proudly. as she sat at his side while
he helped her from the dishes
What air you lowin' to do with emp" he
questioned ''You can't eat all O. EMP
I'm a-goin' to roll 'em down the hill,
gran'pa, an fight 'em with Sissy Tanner.
An I'll give you one, gran'pa; an I'll save
two forever an ever. Sissy's got four eggs,
now. But don't keer Speck's eggs is the
best an purtiest."
$50 they be! So they be-" Towsley
agreed. Il hope you'll allus be as well sat
istied as you air now Ones own things air
allus the best O. their kind in the worI. It's
human natur to think SO; an it's right"
In spite Of his cheerfulness Tom Towsley
knew that their stock of provisions was
dreadfully low. He had made an inventory
that morning before starting to the wood
lot. Ten days fare, of the very scantiest
kind, was all that he could reckon up,
scrape as he might at the echoing flour
barrel and the almost empty meat-keg.
The next morning, with this knowledge
impressed firmly on his mind, he began a
search for work
ltwas not successful; but he continued
1t, regardless of his aches and pains and
failing strength
The only one of the family Gf the ex-
preston may be allowed that seemed pros
pering in business way was Speck Day
after day her transparent cackle resounded
from the little chicken-hous where, in an
old, straw filed key she had chosen her
nest
At the first note Ethel would bound
through the doorway, and a white, chubby
hand would quickly extract the treasure
from its resting place. Speck always eyed the
performance askance; but she evidently re-
garded this spohation of her nest as the in
evitable fate Of the egg-laying sisterhood.
At any rate, she never changed its location.
or failed on any day to add an egg to EthePs
pearly hoard
The afternoon before Easter Tom lows
ley returned earlier than usual from his
unsuccessful quest he could scarcely mus
ter the cheerfulness and bravery necessary
to enable him to raise the song with which
he always heralded his coming. For more
than year he had not once failed in this
Nor did he fail now; though there was a
quaver In the words not wholly due to age.
For two days Towsley had practically
tasted. While placing before Ethel the last
scanty remnants Of food, he had kept from
her the knowledge of his abstention by the
harmless fiction that headache had de-
pr1ved him of an appetite. That noon
Ethel had devoured her restricted allow
ance and hungrily called for more. Alasl
there was no more
Weak from ill-health and lack of food.
Towsley had made another vain endeayor
to find work. Now he was returning to a
hungry grandchild and an empty cup
board And tomorrow would be Easter;
that day when the whole earth should be
hIed with cheer and gladnessi
de fairly reeled as he passed into the
yard; but when Ethel came running to
meet him, he Strengthened up with great
effort and carried her In his accustomed
manner
de dreaded the announcement which he
knew would come.
"Gran'pa, Specks laid another egg! an
now I've got dozen fer to-morrer
whole, big dozeni"
spose one o. 'em wouldn't do fer ye,
would it," he asked, trying to speak quite
cheerfully.
She looked up in alright
Why, You amt a-goin' to sell 'em, gram
pa:"
Well, 1 low dono what ter do! It's
Jes as you say, though, Ethel Fact is, I
can git any work, however much try;
an, we eat up the las bit O. vittIes at noon
A dozen aigs amt much; but they'd git
dust o meal an bit o. bacon-'nough
mebDe to last day er two
His chin quivered as he made the pitiful
confession and big tear. rolled down each
furrowed cheek
kthel was only 9 child and could not