Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-01-18

thing. And there's the keeping-room
chamber all cleaned and ready. Doesn't
1t seem as IL she was sent to us, motherr"
"Your poor father never felt like
keepin' boarders." said Mrs. Dorset. ~
used to kind OF like the idea OF 1t. but
he wasn't willin'. / thought 1t would
be company to have one in the house, II
they was nice folks. 1t does seem as II
this was the Lords will for us; her COM
ing is so unexpected, and all"
Two days later Miss Morgan, with .
hammock and folding canvas chair and
O trunk full OF light reading, arrived,
and took possession Of her new quarters.
For the first week or two she did little
but rest, sleeping for hours at time in
the hammock swung beneath the shad-
owing elms. Then, as the color came
back to her thin face and the light to
her eyes, she began to walk little, to
sit with Brie in the FIR grove, or read
aloud to her on the doorstep while she
mended, shelled peas or picked over
berries, and all life seemed to grow
easier and pleasanter for the jewellers
in the solitary farmhouse. The guest
gave little trouble, she paid her weekly
due punctually, and the steady income,
small as 1t was, made all the difference
In the world to Brie.
As the summer went by, and she grew
at home with her new friend, she found
much relief in confiding to her the per-
plexities Of her position.
II see," Miss Morgan said, sit is the
winter that is the puzzle. will en-
gage to come back next summer as
have this, and that will help along; but
the time between now and then is the
difficulty"
EYES," replied Brie, ''the winter is
the puzzle, and Reuben's money. We
have plenty Of potatoes and corn and
vegetables to take us through, and
there's the pig to kill and the chickens
will lay some; II there was any way in
which could make enough for Reuben's
wages we could manage"
81 must think it over" said Miss
Morgan.
She pulled long branch Of the bal
sam fir nearer as she spoke and buried
her nose in 1t. 1t was the first week in
September, and she and Brie were sit
ting in the hill grove.
II love this smell So" she said. at
10 delicious. 1t makes me dream"
Brie broke of bough.
II shall hang it over your bed" she
said, land you will smell it all night"
So the FIR bough hung upon the wall
until it gradually yellowed and the
needles began to drop.
"Why, they are as sweet as ever
sweeter!" declared Brie, smelling .
handful which she had swept from the
floor. Then an idea came into her head.
She gathered great fagot Of the
branches, and laid them to dry in the
sun on the floor Of little.used piazza.
When partly dry she stripped of the
needles, stuffed with them q square cot
ton bag, and made for that cover OF
soft sage-green silk, with an odd shot
pattern over it. It was a piece Of what
had been her great grandmother's we'd
ding gown.
VOLTA! Do you realize the situation,
reader? Brie had made the first OF all
the many balsam pillows. 1t was meant
for goodbye gift to Miss Morgan.
"Your cushion is the joy Of my life,"
wrote that lady to her month after
she went home. Every one who sees it
falls in love with it. Half dozen peo-
pie have asked me how they could get
one like it. And Brie, this has given
me an idea. Why should you not make
them for sale? ! will send you some
pretty silk for the covers. and you might
cross-stitch q little motto If you like.
copy some for you. Two people have
given me orders already. They will pay
four dollars apiece il you like to try"
This suggestion was the small wedge
Of the new industry. Brie lost no time
in making the two pillows, grand
mothers gown fortunately holding out
for their covers. Then came some pref
ty silk from Miss MorganPwith yellow
tiIoselle for tho notices, and more orders.
Brie worked busily that winter, for her
balsam pillows had to se made in spare
when other work permitted.
The grove on the hill was her unfailing
treasure Of supply. The thick-set twigs
bent them to her will; the upper
seemed to her to rustic rs with
at the aid they were giving.
In the spring the old trees renewed
their foliage with vigorous will, as II
not to balk her in her purpose.
The fir grove paid Reuben's wages
that winter. Miss Morgan came back
the following June, and by that time
balsam pillows were established as
articles of commerce, and Brie had
offer from q recently estab-
Iished decorative art society for supply
Of the needles at three dollars per
pound. 1t was hard, dirty work to pre-
pare such q quantity, but she did not