The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-07-17

off by Mr.. Wayt, pushed well back upon
the nape of tho neck and revealing
scantv. uneven fringe of whitey-brown
hair, did not provoke the spectator to
smile.
There is no bringing him up to
the tone Of that study" she meditated,
grimly. lie and | arc hopeless drudges,
but he is tho happier Of the two
Homer! believe you really lore to
work." she broke forth. finally.
Homer snickered-a sudden squirt
that left him very sober. His laugh
always went out like damp match.
''Yes'm. cert'nly, maam! IF 'twant fur
work, there wouldn't be nuthin' TO live
fur.''
the ash-pan, and in a few minutes, she
could distinguish in the sounds rumbl-
ing and smothering in the depths
beneath her feet the melancholy tune
of his favoritc ditty:
ION the banks OF the Omahe-maha.
Twas there we settled many night,
As happy as the little bird that sparkled On
our block,
On the banks OF the Omaha
Hetty raised tho window and leaned
out, gasping for breath. 4 garden lay
| behind the house and on one side Of it.
1t was laid out in walks and borders
and was rather broad than deep. Be-
| yond this were underlined clumps OF
trees that looked like an orchard. Roofs
| and chimncys and spires and lines of
other trees marking the course Of streets
were emerging from the soaking mists.
Five o'clock struck from q tower not far
away. and then church-bcll began to
ring gerlly-a persuasive call to early
prayers.
The warm, sweet, wet air that aroused
her to look over tho sill ut q row Of
hyacinfhs in full bloom; tho slow peal
OF the beH: the hush Of the early morn
ing-did not comfort her. but the soft
moisture What filled her eyes drew heat
and bitterness ont of her heart. When
she went up to awaken Hester she car
ried spray of hyacinth bells, weighted
| with fragrant drops. Fine gems Of rain
sprinkled her hair, her cheeks were
cool and damp, the scent of fresh earth
and growing things chung to her skirts.
She laid tho flowers playfully against
| the heavy lids, lifted peevishly at her
| call.
J.. '>,Therc's richness for you,'" she
| quoted. "A whole bed Of them is
awaiting your inspection in the garden.
And such lovely pansies-some as big as
the palm OF your hand. You and and
Homer, who is wild with delight over
them. will. claim the flowers as our
especial charge and property
Thank you for the classification
snapped Hester. Yet we do belong to
back-yards as naturally as cats and to-
mato cans. At least Homer and do.
You'd climb he.fcnce if you could"
with, the other cats?' said Hetty,
lightly. See! / am putting the hya-
cinths in your own little vase. un-
packed your china and books last night.
Not a thing was eyon nickcd. You
shall arrange them in this jolly corner
cupboard after breakfast. 1t looks as
If it were .made .a.pupposc, as Homer
says. rIe has bumped his bead against
strange doors and skinned his poor nose
| against unexpected corners twenty
times fhis morning. He says: 'Nen-I
'spoee'it's tho bran.new a.ouse what or
cists me go. 4 allegs. gifts .o1cited in u
/ strange plcoe.s'- a. 80 :.
] The well-niehht.' diversion Was iqef-
! fectual. ~ :, :
..His oxcitefirsnr ought to be chronic.
then! thSkwascr is scalding hot
! shrinking from tho sponge in Hetty's
hand: Tor we've doae nothing but
move on ever since l can recollect. 4
overheard mother say once, with sos t
Of reminiscent sigh, that our Longest
pastorate was in Cincinnati We We're
there just four years. We were six
months in Chillicothe, and seven in
Ypsilanti. Then there was q year in
Memphis, and eighteen months in
Natchez, and thirteen in Davenport.
Tho Little Rock church had q strong
constitution. We stayed there two wears