Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-27
MERLE'S CRUSADE.
BY POSA NAUCHETTE CAREY.
A1thos of Barbara Hedthcote's Trtdl,"
"Qucenie's Whim," 1.-THE Search
for Basil L1yndhuTst"

"Qucenies Whin," 1.-THE Search
for Basil LyadhuTst."
Every pretty, indeed, Joyce" observed
Mrs. Morton, rather abseatly, when the
child had finished. But Joyce looked ur
In her face wistfully.
do you ever say hymns, mother dearS
Il sirsg them in church. nv pet"
s.But you never teached them to me
mother; they are all nurses hymns, the
little one and the long one. and the little
wee hymn say with my prayers. Would
you like to hear my little wee hymn,
mother dearsn
Il will hear all you know, my darling"
But there were tears In the beautiful eyes
as she listened.
"How nicely she says themi / am glad
you teach her such pretty hymns, Merle.
as the child ran off to fetch Snap, who
was whining for adnittance. Somehow
1t seems more like the Sunday of cid times
up here-so quiet, SO peaceful. We must
do as the world does, | suppose; but these
secular, busting Sundays are not to my
TASTE
Her words Jared on me, and l replied
rather too quickly, considering my posi-
ton, "Are we obliged to follow bad fash
fons That is indeed going with the crowd
to do evil"
She looked up in some surprise. Unjust
have been new thing to the petted mis-
tress Of the household to hear herself so
sharply rebuked
"On, ] beg your PARDON I exclaimed,
penitently; Il had no right to say that; 1
forgot to whom / was speaking"
DO not distress yourself, Merle" she
returned, In her sweet way; lit is good for
all Of us to hear the truth sometimes. 1t
was foolish Of me to say that. | only mean
that In our house ii is very difficult not to
follow the worlds custom"
VERY difficult. indeed" / acquiesced:
but she continued to look at me thought
fully.
'Do not be afraid Of saying what is in
your mind; you may speak to me plainly,
If You will. Yon are my children's nurse,
but cannot forget that in many ways we
a~eeqnais. You never intrude this fact
on my notice, but it is none the less APP
parent / know our Sundays are terribly
secular, MS ] continued silent: "some-
times | wish it were not so, for my chill
dreu's sake"
Not for your own sake, Mrs. Mortonf"
A distressed look came over her face.
Il seem to have no time to wish for any
thing"
81 could well believe that; but, Mrs
Morton, it seems to me as though we owe
some duty to ourselves. If we neglect the
highest part of ourselves we are commit
ting n sort Of mental suicide. How often
has Aunt Agatha told me thatP'
How do you meant" she asked, anx-
fously.
I'VE all need quiet time for thought.
1t always seems to me that on Sunday one
lays down ones burdens for a time 1t is
such rest to shut out the world for one
day In the week, to forget the harass of
ones work. to take up higher duties, to
lift ones standard afresh, and prove ones
armor. it. is just like abiding in the
tents for shelter and rest in the heat OF
battle"
had forgotten the difference in our
station, aud was talking to my mistress
lust rs though she were Aunt Agatha
Something seemed to compel me to speak.
/ felt a strange sort of trouble oppres ing
me, as thought | saw II beautiful soul
wandering out of the way. She seemed
moved at my words, and it was several
minutes before she spoke again
"Your words recall the old Sundays at
my own dear home," she observed pres
emily. 'Do you not love Sundays in the
country, Merle2 The very birds seem to
sing more Sweetly, and the stiffness OF
which you speak seems in the very air
My Sundays were very different then. We
lived near the church, and we could hear
the Ginning of the bells as we walked
through the village. ] taught in the Sun
day-school | rccollect some of the chill
drens names now. Father always liked
us TO 90 to the evening service. | remem.
Der, too, we invariably sung Bishop kcn's
evening hymn. One evening little robin
found its way into the church. / remem.
Der MIR. Andrews, our vicar. was just
reading that verse, Yea, the sparrow
hath found her a house, aud the swallow
nest TO herself, where she may lay her
young when we looked up and saw the
little ere ture tluttering round the chan.
eel Oh, hose sweet old Sundaysl" Aud
here she broke Off aud sighed
| Thought IL best to say no more, and
leave her to those tender memories. A
word ia season may do much, but | was
Young aud had no right 10 teach with au.
thority. l suppose she understood my re.
ticcnce, for she looked ut me very kindly
rs She rose from her scat.
alt doe me good to come up here Merle
i always have n more rested feeling when
! go down to my duties. If did not feel
TINT they were real duties that called me,
/ should &c very unhappy.
She babe her children goodnight, and
left the nursery. What made me take up
my Bible, | wonder and read the follow
ing verse In this thing the Lord par
don thy servant, that when my master
goeth into the house of Rmmon to wor-
shin there. and he leaneth ON my
ana / bow myself in the house OF Kim
mon, the Lord pardon thy servant this
thing"
CHAPTER vIrG-'LABoRARE EST oRARE."
My mistress chow | loved to call her by
that nameD was beginning to give me heI
confidence. In little while | grew quite
ut my ease with her.
She would sit down sometimes and ques-
ton me about the book was reading, or,
II we talked Of the children, she would ask
my opinion of them in a way that showed
she respected it.
She told me more than once that her
husband vas quite satisfied with me; the
children hrived under my care, Reggie
especially, for Joyce was somewhat fratl
and delicate. 1t gratthed me TO near TINS,
for longer acquaintance with Mr.. Nor
ton had not lessened my sense Of awe in
his nreseuce Il had had to feel the pressure
OF his strong will before nad been many
weeks in his house aud though had sub
mttted to his enforced commands. they
had cost me my only tears of humiliation
and vet al the time knew he was per-
in his demands) The occasion
tie that when visitors asked
dreu-a very frequent oc-
Mrs. Morton received at
head nurse should bring
blue drawing room, as it
On two afternoons | had
duty. With all my boosted
he idea of facing all those
.saNs, was singularly obnoxious; l
81. >, wv. =, ~usider myself privileged to i'm
S sle.., :, j., apart Of my office, l dressed
the child ya carefully auo o""e Ii"" u tS'u