The record-union., 1893-10-14
church and l hav'nt been to confession

church and hav'nt been TO confession
since Eastero
full when ye do go. Well, l must take
the baby in to dress it for dinner. Don't
worry, Daylia. dair, Pll never stale what
the mississ akchilly nades. But a dollar
now an then or spoon or fork can
sell or somethin' fancy to chair up me
ould mudther tits little sin an do me
duty in all else"
L was amused and amazed at the same
time and yet was not angry. Such an
utter absence of principle, coupled with
such affection and filial DEVOTION marked
her as SUi generiS, and as one not to be
judged by ordinary standards. Like the
vicious characters in the plays OF Wych-
erly and Congreve, which Ella III his
charming essay ION the Artificial Com
edy of the Last Century" declared did
not offend his moral sense because they
seemed a world of themselves almost as
much as fairyland," so Mary AIMS,
shall l not say delightful, turpitude
struck me as thing TO be condoned If
not encouraged.
walked softly away, forgetting that |
had come to get an egg to make cake, ana
that sister Ellen was waiting for one be-
fore beginning operations, and hurried
into the kitchen. Cousin Prudence was
stoning some raisins and sister Ellen was
just on the point of coming out to hunt
me and the eggs at the same time.
WELL" said she, where have you
been 2" AS nearly as l could l gave
them verbatim report of the converse
ton, and eggs and cake slipped out of
their minds for the rest OF the day.
Its outrageous-ly funny" said SIS
ter.
''It's pathetic" said Cousin Prudence.
1.-The covered basket covered a multi
tude of sins,o said sister.
We sat and talked the matter over and
tried to get virtuously indignant, but it
was useless. The bizarre side only ap
pealed to US, and we could almost hear
our moral senses creak as they warped.
Just before dinner Cousin Prudence
looked into her bureau-drawer and found
that the money had been replaced.
In the evening George came home from
a trip down East" and was soon in pos
session of the news. We all felt proud of
him, tor he was very angry and wanted
her arrested as soon as possible. Sister
Ellen thought such course in such
case would be unavailing.
"Well, bundle her off in the morning."
said he.
Sister demurred to this also. "Who will
milk ?'' said she.
"Sell the cow" was his answer.
But, George, the cream"
"Well, Ellen, if you want to pay for a
few daily spOonfuls Of cream with a
weekly or may be semi weekly invoIun-
tary contribution of silver, lace jewelry,
ETC., Pm going to dc. without coffee and
oat meal, for l can't afford it. And
what's the matter with Della learning to
milk ?'
George, I wish you wouldn't use such
common expressions"
"Why, Ellen, what's the matter with
what's the matter? Is this better? Do
you question the feasibility of Delia's be-
ing taught to manipulate the udders ?"
George, you are ridiculous" said sis
ter Ellen. Then she continued, I'VE have
Delia's word for it that if Mary Ann goes
she will go too"
"Ah, hal" said George, "and so, for
sooth, because Della could not live with
out her thieving companion, and copar-
cener, too, for all l know, we must smile
on her offenses and post notices all over
the house and grounds, Beware of pick
pockets ,"
AT this whitening blast Of sarcasm on
the part of the usually silent and phlegm-
attic George sister Ellen gave in. Mary
Ann was promptly called in. accused of
the various thefts, and told that her serv-
ices would no longer be required. This
by George.
she did not cry. She said: "Ah, ma'am,
Pm sorry ye found it out. I'd not have
worried ye for the world"
George granted. Sister Ellen tried to
look stern. but made what in theatrical
parlance would be termed "a miserable
tiasco." The baby crept up to Mary Ann
and hugged her ankles, and l Uttered,
Cousin Prudence was not in the room. so
she did not make any exhibition OF her.
self, as l am sure she would, as her sym
pathies were all with "poor Mary Ann"
As we had expected, Della soon came to
tell us that she would have to 90 with
Mary Ann. AS it happened, their month
was up that evening, SO George paid them
both.
AS we separated for the night sister
Ellen said to me: ''Oh, dear, Pm so
sorry found out that Mary Ann stole.
Pm sure we'll never get two such girls
again. 81 should hope not" said George,
which was disagreeable. Sister quite
properly took no notice of his remark
but continued. "And the COW? We will
have to sell her." Later Mr.. Wells
agreed to milk her for so much week.
so George went on taking oatmeal and
coffee as usual.
Next morning Mr.. Wells drove up with
his team, for Mary Ann, it seems. had |
engaged him before she went to bed. |
George very considerably kept out OF the |
way so that nothing unkind was said to
Mary Ann. When she with Della |
walked down the path to the buggy
the children followed her, clinging weep
ing, to her skirts At this evidence of
their affection her eyes filled with tears,
and 1 think Cousin Prudence saw some |
what dimly just then. She went up to
Mary Ann and handed her an envelope, |
which she afterwards confessed con-
tanned the two $40 bills, at which |
George said he never saw such an I'M
moral lot of people as Mary Ann and |
the rest of US were.
Sister Ellen capped the climax of the |
strange occurrences, for just as the buggy |
was about to start she. having run into |
the house, came out and down the walk |
with library book. Said she:
MARY Ann, would you just as soon |
take this book back. It's due to-day. And |
you might send one back by Mr.. Wells" !
Certainly, ma'am, an what shall |
it be?"
Sister Ellen thought minute. "'A
Hazard of New Fortunes" said she.-
Chas. Battell Loomis in New York Even |
ing Post.