Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-10-23
VOLUME VIII,
THAT CITY BOARDEt;
why tho Mordons Are Glad They
Took Her for the Summer.

fhplS CoHJ HOluc III inc WIlOle county
than tho Mardon cottage on this bright
summer morning The swaying
branches Of the gnarled old apple tree,
beside the opeI kitchen door, held full
many feathcrcd warbler, whose mu.
sic, fresh and sweet, seemed calling all
to rejoice,
But the mistress of the little home
needed not the invitation. These sum
MGR mornings were very trying to her,
In more ways than one. The kitchen,
although picturesque to the beholder,
was decidedly warh and uneomforta
BILE; there was an ironing and some
baking I'd attend to; besides dinner tc
prepare for tho hungry haryestcrs.
only one pair Of hands to attend tc
all this; no wonder feel tired. Plenty
of men in the field, but no girl to helr
in the house If were girl again,
believe"
A loud shrek from baby interrupted
her soliloquy, and hastily making her
way to the sitting-room, sad trial OF
her patience awaited her. The little
boy, on awakening had, grasped the
tablecloth in order to gain his some.
what unsteady feet, and frightened
by the havoc he had made, screamed
Justify.
"0h dearl almost time to begin pre-,
pairing dinner; will this child nevef
stop crying?"
At last after many efforts on the
mothers part, Freddie ceased frctting,
and establishing his b&byship on the
floor with basket of playthings, Mrs.
Mardon started for the kitchen and
was soon busily engaged in the prosaio
work of preparing vegetables.
"Milly, | have letter from Mr. Col
burn; he wishes to send his daughter
here for few months. He will pay
well for her board and we need the
money. | want to begin laying away
something to buy farm for Steve; he
would be good deal steadicr if he had
something Of the kind to look forward
90, think"
A look of impotence, blending into
sorrow, came into the wife's face. To
her the prospect of a boarder was any
thing but pleasant and ut the mention
of Steve her heart was filled with a
sharp pang, the keen sorrow which a
mother feels Us she realizes that the
hopes which have for years sustained
her, that of her son taking an houored
and useful place in the world, are to be
dashed to the ground.
'NNell, | had better write and tell
her to come. Her father says she didn't
want to go to the seaside with the rest
of the family. She is pretty particular,
and you better fix up the spare cham.
Der, guess"
81 will do the best | can, but there
Is so much work to do now it seems
impossible for me to do more. But
suppose we must take her to board"
"Why, of course, Milly; ready money
isn't so plentiful that we can afford to
miss the chance of making a little ex
ira when we can"
He was soon on his way to the field.
Alone with her thoughts, Mrs, Mardon
INDUCED in some bitter reflections,
The prospect of u fastidious young lady
boarder was anything but pleasant tc
the weary, overworked wife and
mother
Frank is so anxious to make money
he thinks of nothing else. If he had
been different, more lenient with
Steve's boyish pranl1s, it would have
boon better. Perhaps if | had spent
more time talking with him and en-
couraging him he would have been
steadicr; hut I've always been too tired
TO take the time when my work was
done, and now the children seem grow
ing away from me. Meta is determined
to keep up an intimacy with the Down
ings, and Tom Downing is not the man
should want her to marry. lam sorry
she went to learn trade, for her work
takes her around too much, and need
her help at nome"
Light footsteps were now heard and
the subject of the mothers reflection;
entered, fair-haired, laughing girl Of
eighteen years.
Dear! how warm this kitchen is
Do hurry with the dinner, mother
Father is coming with the men from
the field and I've got to get back a.
soon as l can"
Dinner is ready, daughter. Cam
you help me little?'
81 have got to sew q ruffle in my
dress. Where is Lizzie? should thinl
she might help; she has nothing to de
but go to school, while | am at worl
all the time"
Lizzie hasn't come from school yet
think can get along now very well,
and the foolishly indulgent mother
hurriedly dished the food as the me
entered the kitchen.
Naturally selfish and incident, Metz
shirked all tho household tasks posi-
BILE She was not utterly heartless, bu
so accustomed was she to seeing he
mother Mt work, that it seemed quit,
the proper thing to have her assume al
ohS NOlh duN iNOpphoiplliNNs ~ Nd'
seldom that Mrs, Mardon required any
service of her daughters, and when this
was the case, important duties usually
demanded their attention elsewhere
To be sure she had entered a feeble
protest. when Meta wished to learn the
dressinakers trade; told her she need
cd her help at home, but in the end the
girl carried her point 1t was natura
she should want to earn money to buy
the pretty dresses, the thousand anC
one triflcs in which young girl de
lights, so the mother reasoned.
The guest chamber was in readiness
for the expected occupant by the mex
evening, and was as inviting as clean
illness and simple, dainty furnishing
could make 1t.
Meta was to go to the station for tn,
guest, an errand which she performed
with alacrity.
1t was twilight when Desiree Colburi
reached the farmhouse and, as sht
went directly to her room, the family