Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-05-12
SUSY FAXON'S LILY.
By Sacrificing It She Saved Grand
ma Ordway's Life.

by SdcTlQC1nB 1t one SGNG0 GIdA0-
ma Ordway's Life.
One fine September day the little
town of Hillbury, away up among the
New Hampshire mountains, was al
alive with preparations for the annua
county agricultural exhibition, more
familiarly called the county fair OF
cattle show. The wave of excitement
reached Faxon's Ledge, the remotest
corner of the town, when Mrs. Good
wins pony carriage stopped at Deacon
Taxon's gate.
why, it's Billy and my Sunday
school teacher!" cried Susy, shading
her eyes on the doorstep, and recog
nizing first horse and then driver in up.
country fashion. Racing down the
path, she greeted the lady.
Your mothers at home, my dear?'
said Mrs. Goodwin, as they went uI
the path.
"Yes'm, an she'll be real pleased to
sec you, an you c'n have all the but
termilk you want, for we churned this
mornin'- an'-an'-do you like rye pan
cakes?"
81 certainly do, and these hills al
ways make me hungry, and thirsty,
too"
I'm 90 glad!" returned the child,
laughing with pleasure. 81 made EN-
all by myself to-day, and Eben says
they're as good as mothers, an he's
goin' to take some to the fair. He's
goin' early with his steers, an then
comm back for Cynthy Ordway an me
an my lily"
"Oh, has your amaryllis bloomed in
time? How nice! You have shown il
to me. hope it'll take prize. Good
afternoon, Mrs. Faxon!' Mrs. Goodwin
added. as they reached the welI-woru
old milestone which served as a door
step, and gave her hand to the gentle,
thin-faced woman that came to meet
her. ''Susy and I are talking fair al
ready, and I'rc come to beg something
pretty for my table"
'Loohl here's my lily" cried the
child Susy pulled her teacher to a
bench outside the kitchen window,
where, among the fuchsias and ge-
raniums, rose the clear green blades
and stately blossom stalk of an am
aryllis, crowned with a cluster of in
tensely scarlet flowers.
Pm sure there will be nothing pret-
tier at the fair" said Mrs. Goodwin
and then, as Susy ran down cellar fol
the .buttermilk, the visitor turned tc
Mrs. Faxon, saying:
I'm tired of having nothing but
patchwork and pincushions and bread
and butter and cheese on the women's
table, aud | want to have really
pretty show of old-fashion, / things.
shall cover the table with mothers
white Canton Grape shawl to begin
with -"
"Sakss alive!' cried Mrs. Faxon.
And / have her silver capdIesticks,
a porringer of my husbands, and an
ivory miniature of Grandpa Hopkins.
And Mrs. Ordway has lent some blue
and-white blankets that her mother
wove, and they're under my carriage
seat now, with Mrs. Mason's andirons
and her fathers masonic apron. / told
her was coming here next, as | knew
you'd have some pretty china or some
thing. You're so nice and careful, and
so was your mother before you"
81 don't know as there's anything
you'd care bout" began Mrs. Faxon,
modestly Mothers chiny went most
ly to Mary Jane, she bein' the oldest;
but ! KEEP the silver snuffers tray
mebbe you'd like that?"
Certainly shouldl just the thing
to go with my candlesticks! But every
one shall know it's yours" she quickly
added, seeing a shadow steal over the
quiet face. Everything will be
marked whose it is, and how old, and
all"
$50 far as old goes" resumed the
minor voice, 81 s'pose my gold beads is
about as ancient as anythin'; they was
gran'ma's baby beads. But you wasn't
loolzin' for anythin' like that, was you?'
Nothing half so nice!' cried Mrs.
Goodwin, joyously. They'll be the most
interesting of all, and I'll guard them
like the apple OF my eye"
"They come to me cause | was
named for her, an so did the OF cradle
we was all rocked in. You wouldn't
want anythin' as cumbersome's that
but it's long sight older'n Maria
Mason's andirons ef do say it,"
Mrs Faxon, said the pretty widow,
clapping her hands, you're a perfect
treasured Let me see that cradle this
minute"
They all climbed the steep, worn
stairs to the sun-heated, herb-scented
garret, where Mrs. Goodwin found not
only the cradle, but brass warming
pan, three-legged table and perfo
rated tin foot-stove which used to be
taken to meeting before the days o1
church furnaces. All except the cradle
were, with much laughter, brought
down and slowed around Mrs. Goodwin
who drove gayly away, promising tc
send for the cradle next day. The last
thing she said was: ''Susy, be sure yor
bring your lily to my table"
Mrs. Goodwin's table was the center
OF attraction in the main hall, and ii:
mistress, as usual, the queen of the
day. But complete as was her triumph
and generously as the public appre
ciated her collection, her face was wist
full and anxious. Where were Susy ant
the amaryllis?
The Faxon family had been asti
since daylight. Eben was away to tn
upper pasture, to bring down his steer
and the little Holstein heifer whicl
were to win praises, if not prizes. fo
their master that day.
i've seen too much of hurrying an
worrying cattle in the heat of the day,
he said overnight to his mother. ''Pl
drive 'em in early before the rush be
gins, and then III come back for Gym
thy Ordway and Susy."
Susy was flying about, feeding he
chickens, helping get breakfast, an
packing pail of pic, cheese and dough
nnts for dinner.
''Or 'Babels roarin' awfully" sh
reported, on one Of her returns to tn
barn. DO you s'pose he's 1onesom
without the steers?'
Shouldn't WONDER" said her father
cor mebbe the springs dryin' up
Wisht I'd told Eben to look"
80 father, l never knew that sprini
to get dry!" said Susy.
mo, nor you never knew six week
o drought in September afore," he re
torted.
They laughed at the grim pleasantly
and old Zerubbabel, the king of tn
hill pasture, was forgotten.
House and barn were in perfect orde
when the parents drove off to the fair
and left Susy alone in the house t