Warren sheaf., 1892-08-25

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'akssor@ atksssoe:- .azs,,- least, I h ave
~@sIaLes never been
able t o fl n d
,ut when Mrs. Snively began to keep
boarding house. Though she had a
house full of lodgers who paid we'll,
She was always poor and did all of the
work. cooking, sweeping and the rest Of
t. / have heard guesses concerning a
:eparted Mr.. Suively, who did not
neither here nor there.
The night before Mrs. Grant had told
Ter that she proposed to spend the next
lay with her daughter in neigh boring
7illage, and would Mrs. Snively have
an early breakfast, so that she might
catch the train? (The train left at
nine, but Mrs. Grant was nervous).
Strangely enough, old Mr.. Grumpy had
informed her that he also would be
absent on the morrow. being invited
20 dine with friend, and would she
iced his parrot in his absence, precisely
at noon?
Then at breakfast, early breakfast,
young Mr.. Lovclace had said in very
nesitating way with rising color, that
ne had an engagement, oh!-er-that
ne would not be there at dinner, would
be elsewhere, that is, in fact. Fur
thermore, Mr.. and Mrs. Gowell and
their three children were observed
making preparation for departure
about ten o'clock, aud when Mrs. Snlve-
~ venturrd to ask them their plans
she learned that they proposed to drop
IN on the minister's family at dinner.
And wouldn't they be surprised.
That left no one in the house but old
Miss LIE Croix, and she was confined to
her room with rheumatism, so that
Mrs. Snivcly washed up the breakfast
dishes with strange feeling of leisure.
Thus she soliloq uized:
Lets see. What's to-day? Day be-
fore yesterday l made bread. Or was
it yesterday? Yesterday. So to-day
Saturday and to-morrow's Sunday
Let's see. Last March a year ago, it's
fourteen lasting months since I've
been inside a church. (The hard
working little womans memory was
not good, but this was undoubtedly
truc.) How good it would be to- hear
the benediction again, Now unto
him who is able to keep and to see
them take up the collection, so pleas
ant like. And let's see. How does
Coronation start?" and the cracked
voice quavered through the grand ole
tune, as the dish-wiper polished the
cAinaware.
''Ill go to church tomorrow, Provi
dence permitting and nothing hinder.
ing. Now, for the first time in four
teen months, have chance to get E
days work ahead. We can have a cod
fish dinner tomorrow. How can man
age NOW? Chicken l can warm up in {
minute. And pie, too" Here Mrs
Snively's meditations entered a sacrec
realm into which do not dare follow
her.
What busy hours succeeded, prepar.
ing for the expected church-going on
the morrow! She swept and duste6
and tidied up the house for Sunday, be-
cause ''the folks wouldn't be back till
too late to muss things up again, thanks
be to goodness!' People in passing
looked at her very queerly as she beat
her rugs out of doors and washed the
parlor windows. II suppose l am a
sight to behold" she confessed, looking
down on an indescriba BILE housekeeping
uniform.
There were not quite enough potatoes
for Sundays dinner, so she went out to
q large garden back of the house.
garden in which the thrifty woman did
most of the work-and dug a peck OF
her very best. Didn't folks ever see
,a.woman handle a hoe before?' she in
dignantly soliloquized, observing how
people in the street stared at her and
turned around to look back at her
laughing rudely. Mrs. Snively felt
lonely and ill-used as she tugged the
basket back to the house and began tc
prepare the Sunday potatoes.
She took up her dinner on neat tray
to rheumatic old Miss LIE Croix, VIII {
must have felt particularly cross just
then, for she snapped out: who's beer
making all that racket about the house
this morning?"
THE folks were all away, and I've
taken the opportunity to get little
ahead in my work." faltered forth
meek Mrs. Snively. ''I'm sorry l dis
turbed YOU"
Huh! You'd better make your apol
ogies to the Lord" grunted Miss LIE
Croix, taking up the prayer book which
lay beside her reclining chair, and in
which she always read before eating.
Mrs. Snively thought that a queer re.
mark from Miss LIE Croix, but bowed
herself confusedly out of the room, car
rying Miss LIE Croix's vase to fill it with
fresh flowers. When this was done,
and Mr.. Grumpy's parrot fed, ''Now,'
said Mrs. Snively, "lll do my market.
ing for Sunday, and then cook what
can all ready for tomorrow"
So she put on her marketing garb, a
uniform only less wonderful than her
mense basket on her arm, sailed forth.
1t was a beautiful summer day, and
strangely quiet. "How pleasant it is
chirped Mrs. Snlvely to herself, land
how every one smiles at me. This is a
cheery world after all, if I am for
lorn old woman in it. How finely peo-
ple are gstting to dress. I'm sure
don't sts low they afford IT.. haastsred
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