Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-11-16

appeared with the dining-room girl,
while Hester came from the warm
kitchen and dropped into chair on
the cool back porch. Hester Sand
always spoke of it as che stoop," or
rather as my stoop," for with the ex-
ception of an occasional service as
playhouse by the Walgrave children.
1t was used only as a passageway, or
for Hester's resting place.
Vines of cinnamon climbed the lat
tlce straight to the eavestrough on
one side, while over the other dropped
the sweet wild honeysuckle. The path
down the yard and the steps were
always swept clean, not weed daring
TO be willful on Testers domain.
For many years she had been head
cook and housekeeper at the Wal
graves. They all thought great
deal of Hester, Mrs Walgrave often
Rsserted-which meant that they APP
preciated her worth as faithful
servant, and finding she needed neither
vigilance, nor much direction, gladly
shirked responsibility, leaving Hester
complete mistress over the back part
of the house.
The evening air, sweet with the
breath Of honeysuckle, played CRATE
fully about the cool retreat. Upon a
shelf within reach lay little box
with wool and crochet hook, but she
did not take it. Her hands. usually so
busy, lay idle in her lap, while she
looked out toward the crimson western
sky. She was thinking, in her simple
way, first, that she was thankful for
that nice porch, where she might knit
or rest when at leisure-surely back
porch was blessing. Then the
thought sprang into her mind that she
had never in her life known what 1t
was to sit on front porch.
To lounge at leisure with family,
gowned daintily and richly, what lux
ury! But such things were not for
her-neither the first nor last The
few whom she could in any sense des-
ignate as family were her nephew, his
wife and children, who managed to
make way with many of her hard
cdiHtu uoIdiS Will tlc uoou iuuIbcI'
of-course serenity Sometimes she
thought they did not appreciate what
she did for them, but then, she rea-
soned, one could not be selfish with
ones own relations, and it WIS com
fort to think that some one would be
sorry when she was gone.
That brought her to the sermon Of
last Sunday on the Importance of in
dividual life. Hester was conscientious
In her attendance at church at least
once week. She had had her girl
hood ambitions, but hard fortune had
driven her from one place to another
until years ago she thought hersel
lucky to secure home with Mrs. Wal
grave.
If one, seeing upon Hester's table {
copy of Harper's Monthly or of TIL,
Ladies' Home journal, uttered an ex
clamation of surprise, she would re
mark: "Well, one doesn't need to DIR,
up and blow away because one hap
pens to work for living"
The minister on that Sunday hat
sought to impress upon his hearers The
necessity of a helpful spirit and higl
endeavor, no matter where their line
were cast. Hester turned the subjec
over and over as she slowly rocked, he
eyes on the painted west, and hersel
no uncomely picture among her vines
with the sunset glow lighting up he
Rray-streaked hair and plain features
What had she done, what was sh'
doing to benefit soul in this world
She could think of nothing outside o
the humdrum, patient bearing of every