The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-08-26

" e18 e e; <: s: i; s'S I;
N.Y. least, l have
%As n ns,s 70 0 seS
out when Mrs. Snively began to keep
y boarding house. Though she had a
house full of dodgers who paid well,
she was always poor and did all OF the
work, cooking. sweeping and the rest Of
IT. I have heard Ruesses concerning a
departed Mr.. Snively. who did not
carry his debts with him, but that's
neither here nor there.
The night before Mrs. Grant had told
her that she proposed TO spend the next
day with her daughter in neighboring
village, and would Mrs. Snively have
an early breakfast, so that she might
catch the train? Crhe 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
TO dine with a friend, and would she
feed his parrot in his absence, precisely
at noon?
Then at breakfast, early breakfast,
young Mr.. Lovelace had said in very
hesitating way with rising color that
he had an engagement, oh!-er-that
he 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, and when Mrs. Snive-
ly ventured 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 Snively washed up the breakfast
dishes with strange feeling of leisure
Thus she soliloq uized:
Lets see. What's to-day? Day be-
fore yesterday | made bread Or was
1t yesterday? Yesterday. SO to-day's
Saturday and to-morrow's Sunday.
Let's see. Last March year ago, its
fourteen lasting months since I've
been inside church. (The hard
working little woman's memory was
eafe.v HOW eooa'it w5sldb TO- u, near is
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 old
tune, as the dish-wiper polished the
chinaware.
"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
days work ahead We can have a cod
fsh dinner tomorrow. Row can | man
age now? Chicken can warm up in a
minute. And pie, too" Here Mrs.
Snively's meditations entered sacred
realm into which do not dare follow
her.
What busy hours succeeded, prepar.
ing for the expected church-goinp on
the morrow! She swept and dusted
and tidied up the house for Sunday, be-
cause "the folks wouldn't be back TIL
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 I am
sight to behold" she confessed, hooking
down on an Understandable housekeeping
uniform.
There were not quite enough potatoes
for sundays dinner SO she went out to
a large garden back of the house-a
garden in which the thrifty woman did
most of the work and dug peek Of
her very best. "Didn't folks ever see
a woman handle hoe before?" she in
dignantly soliloquized, observing how
peop2e in the street stared at her and
turned around to look back at her
laughing r(tdely. Mrs. Snively felt
lonely and in-used as she tugged the
basket back to the house and began to
prepare the Sunday potatoes
She took up her dinner on neat tray
TO rheumatic old Miss lie Croix. who
must have felt particularly cross Just
then, for she snapped out; WHO'S been
making all that racket about the house
this morning?"
"The folks Were all away, ard I've
taken the opportunity to get little
ahead in my work" faltered forth
meek Mrs. Snively. nm sorry | dis
turbed YOU
Huh! You'd better make your apoi-
ogies TO the Lord" grnnted Miss lie
Croix, taking up the prayer book which
Law beside her reclining chair, and in
which she always read before eating.
Mrs. Snivelv thought that queer re-
mark from Miss lie Cioix, but bowed
herself confusedly out " the room. car
rying Miss lie Croix's vase TO fiji itwith
fresh flowers. When this was done.
and Mr.. Grumpy's parrot fed. Now"
said Mrs. Snlvely, mn do my market
ing for Sunday, and then cook what |
can ali ready for tomorrow.
SO She put on her marketing garb,
uniform only less wonderful than her
housekeeping attire, and with an inn
mense basket on her arm, sailed forth.
1t was a beautiful summer dav. and
strangely quiet. How pleasant it is"
chirped Mrs. Snively to herself land
how every one smiles at me This is A