South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-03-20
THEINTELLlGENCER
FRIDAY. MARCH 20. 1879,
REcoMPENsE.

a letter from George. exclaimed els
ter Kate, coming IN from the pos
em ;e, and holding up for our. int nee
ton 9 large yellow envelope. Aue
addressed to mother isn't it Jimmy.
To me exclaimed mo, her, in turn,
laying down the blue sock she was
mendinRi and smoothing her apron
as though che were going to take ,h,
baby. Dear me.
Why, how queer! said Hattie. Drop
ping her book and looking at Kate
wonderingly. George hasn't writer
to any OF Us in an age. aud never to
me. What secrets brewing now, I
wondere
Maybe he and Mrly are comin Q
home on a visit, / said.
Not so early ia tie spring as this,
replied Hattie) ssgely. MilIy and
house cleaning can't be separated.
AT this moment, mother. who had
succeeded iu tearing Off the envelope
with eager, trembling fingers, and b ad
commenced reading the letter, sud-
denly twisted her chair around so az
to turn her face from US, cleared her
throat and wiped her eyes on the
corner OF her gipgbam apron.
Anything the matter, mother?
questioned Kate, anxiously, while
Hal aud | sat in wondering silence.
sThere was no answer for a moment,
then turning slowly towards us, she
held out the letter. saying;
Read it aloud. Kate /; Milly is ia
ken i'll with typhoid fever, and George
has witten for me TO come 10 them.
Dear child, L wish il was so | could
60.
Col echoed Kate. decinvely, OF
course you'll go, aad take one or us
girls ar,ng to help nurse, too.
But the work, my dear. How will
you manage?
Some way, said Kate. Let's see /;
the express goes at half-psst six. and
il is half past five now-,ust one
hour: Go and get ready mother.
and Cad and viii pack yous valise,
But your father
We will take care OF him, never
fear and he will be home before you
go. Hat, you are not 1T for CHI at
home except To run errands and keep
awake nights and you can do lha
there Get ready as quick as possi-
bic and help mother sue is SO excited
she will be sure to get her dress on
hind side before: and forget to lace p
her shoes.
My energetic sister had by this
time gathered tsgether their clothes,
and bringing the yalise from the
wardrobe, was packing them Into il
in O manner which foretGld their COM
ing out a mass of wrinkles, I, mean.
tine looking helplessly on. BY dint
of her earnest efforts they were
ready in season. and when father came
home from work, he found US hailing
street car to take them 10 the de.
pot.
Now, what Is to be done frstf in.
CURED Kate, after we had seen them
off, and had re-entered the house with
something Of the realizing sense oil
the responsibility We had undertake en-
Weighing ou our minds: There ia
supper to get, Of course. and-NelIie
can wash the dishes. That is all
isn't ite
| Mother said something about bak.
ing tomorrow, suggested, with {
vague idea that u Certain preparation
was generally made concerning the
bread tue evening before lis manu-.
facLure.
Tomorrow Well, let tom
ro~ take care OF itself said Kate, &c
promptly, that l Was ut once sIlenced
LIT as see what is for supper; light
be Jad cookies. float and cold beef
Very good. The clouds dlsperse anC
the sky Is most serene and fair. Sc
he table, Cad, while I make the tea
And now, while [ am doing that
if the re .der will take a little retro
spective glance over our lives up /,
this pr lat. he will no doubt. the bet
ter understand why 70 were so igno
raut of household affairs.
There was large family Of us
ten children in all; John, master
workman in one Of the m ecu ne shop
IN the f1urishing mauufac utiug tow
Of which We we're residents; MilIy
the MARI, d sister, and a general ia
write Kate and myself, twins bu
totally unlike, both in looks and DIS
position hattie, sludious girl {
Is Ross, boistrohs school boy {
: IA Nellie, delicate, potted chill
; Of IL and three little boys 10 a row
aged respectively 0, and 4, whor
We called Tip, Earle and Benny. An
mother did tie work for US sll.
don't knoT hoS she managed IL bC
sho did. Milly was the only OF
who had ever taken to housewor
and mother was one OF them domes;i
burden bearers who never considu
their burden so heavy but that tht
can adj another trhe.
Father had never been fortuna
pecuniarily and being anxious
give all their children a good oduct
lion, the labor OF saving Tor this 81
was added 10 their other toll Al
then. Ike many another good 81
q unselfsh, but unwise mother, she q
h lowed rs our own way, and Jpoil'
Q Us through indulgence; and 80
Il had often heard her say che Won
4 rather DO thing herself than take .