Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-09-17


his mother looked after him.
The next mornizg Mrs. Marden, |
busy as usual in the kitchen, was
boarder.
81 intended to get up to breakfast,
but oversight am not used to early
take a bowl of bread and milk. No.
nothing else"
In a few minutes Miss Desiree was
cozily established on the back porch
the baby by her side. Very fresh and
pretty she looked in her morning
gown, her fluffy bangs blown and
rufled by the soft breeze, her eyes
aglow, and faint color in her fair
cheeks.
81 have finished my breakfast now,
and with your permission will take
baby with me for walk in the or
chard."
The permission was readily given.
Mrs. Mardon wondering meanwhile if
this was merely a freak or a desire to
relieve her from the child's care.
In a week Desiree Colburn had made
friends with all the members of the
household. Simple and unaffected in
manner, her sunny disposition made
welcome addition to the family.
MRS. Mardon, you must grant me
one favor to-day" she said, appearing
in the kitchen one sultry morning, the
second week of her arrival.
"What is it2" with faint attempt
to smile. The headache, which since
dawn had racked the housekeeper'
throbbing temples, seemed to grow
more painful each hour.
please go into the sitting-room and
lie down on the sofa. have darkened
it and put plenty of pillows where you
can rest until your headache is over"
"Oh, but can't think of such thing
The work is to be done, the dinner to
get. 1t would never do
II will get dinner and do what is to
be done. 1t will be pleasant change
for me-"
you get dinner?" with an incredu-
lous glance at the white, ieweled
fingers.
Eyes; I assure you that 1 am an ex-
cellent cook. I really am determined
to have my own way in this matter, so
you might as well make up your mind
to rest for short time"
So with many misgiving Mrs. Mar
don went to the sitting-room and De-
stree tripped lightly around the room,
on household tasks intent.
But the dinner was we'll cooked, and
refreshed by her much-needed rest,
Mrs. Mardon sat in the low rocker by
the kitchen door, her hands occupied
with mending, when Meta came home
with the announcements:
There is to be a picnic at Long
Grove. Where is Miss Colburn?"
''Out in the orchard, 1 think She
was kind enough to get dinner to-day,
because I had a headache. She is a
dear, thoughtful girl
why, how strange! never
dreamed that she knew how to do any
thing of the kind"
Meta made her way to the orchard
and announced the picnic.
eyes, it will be very nice; we shall
all enjoy it, imagine. 1t will be a
fine change for your mother; she looks
as if she needed recreation.''
Mother? Why she never goes to
picnics!' And Meta looked her aston
ishment.
why not?" with smile.
"Well, she doesn't care to go-that is
I don't think she would care to go,
she is always SO busy, you know" said
Meta, with some confusion.
II know she is busy, but we can all
help her more than we have done.
Many hands make light work, you
know, and I am sure she will enjoy
going"
'But mother is so set in her ideas.
There will be a number of people there,
and she never wants me to go with any
body she is so strict"
my good times are always shared
with my mother; I should not enjoy
them unless they were"
If Meta admired anyone it certainly
was Desirec Colburn, and it was with
glad heart that Mrs. Mardon listened
to her daughters urgent invitation;
from whence it was inspired she knew.
In the busy days which followed Meta
and Lizzie were brought to see their
selfishness toward the patient mother,
and this was accomplished so quietly
by the example and well-chosen words
of the guest that they hardly knew how
, they came to a realization of their er-
rors.
The picnic passed pleasantly. Miss
Colburn joined in the different games,
; and it was tired but happy group who
. took their way homeward.
"Well, did you enjoy the picnic?''
was the question Desiree asked, whcr
. she was alone with Meta.
81 never had SO good time in my
; life"
r 'Then your pleasure was not marreC
, by your mothers presence?"
"Oh, Miss Colburn, I suppose YOU
, think l am the most selfish girl in the
, world feel ashamed when l thinl
: how treated mother"
, mot so very selfish but LITTLE
!. thoughtless, perhaps. Time yet t.
, make amends, Meta"
o The summer passed all too soon
: Little by little Steve's attention wa
> attracted by what was going on during
! the home evenings The evenings a
y the store were given up, to his mother
d delight. A literary society was forme
\ and the vOunp man became n member