The Somerset reporter., 1894-09-13
How the Meadow Saved Itself
By Mrs. ". F. Butts.

/ such a pretty stream IL il Was running
i through the low. green meadows, fht
/ swallows darted over it, and the sky
/ arched its blue vault above. The sun
shine visited it, the rain brought It's
diamond drops; but the glory OF The
/ little. JOYOUS stream were the golden
blossoms that every May spIang W
along its borders No doubt, the brooks
and the blossoms have a language. How
delightful it would be if We could under
stand what they say Perhaps some OF
us have learned the \, b, { of that
language: and, maybe. il we should keep
our hearts very pure and sunny and
open, this Kind of education would pro-
gress. However. We are At liberty Ia
Imagine what they say; aud | have no
doubt that the stream welcomes the
sunny flowers with many gush and
MARBLE of pleasure.
The owner of the meadow in question
was Alice Macauley, girl of twelve
years, " no lived with her brother four
years older than herself and little sister
Of six, in small house ON the edge of a
factory village. The meadow had been
given TO Alice by an old aunt Alice "for
her name" The aunt was dead, and so
was the father and mother of the M;cau-
lev children; that is, they had passed
from earth life to the world of spirits.
Alfred Maculey worked in the factory ;
and Alice kept house and took care of
the little Catherine, the pet and solace
of the fatherless children. The boy s
wages were very scanty for all the needs
of the little family. To be sure. there
was no rent to pay; but there were taxes
nd anI than "a door or I.
bill. Catherine had been very sick dur
ing the winter preceding the spring of
which | am writing. 1t was rather a
crusty old doctor who attended her; and.
when he sent in his bill he limited that
he should like it paid very soon. a
month later he had wayaid Alfred on
his way home, and had suggested a
mortage on Alice's meadow. ~ GU can
soon pay it of, he said; "you are young
and strong.
1t was at the end of bright spring
dav that Alice heard of the doctors
plan. She had been taught to fear a
mortage almost as she would wild
beast. In fact, it is a sort of monster
that swallows great farms, to say no.
thing of one little meadow.
Il won't let him mortgage my land
said Alice, who was very proud of her
real estate.
'.But what shall We do?" said Alfred.
at takes all my wages to pay the ordi-
nary bills"
I'VE must try to economize," replied
the sister. Don't you think we might
go without butter
'Perhaps we had better cut off the
milk supply" said Alfred. He was very
fond of butter, and Alice loved milk
dearly.
"Well," said Alice, "we will go with
out sugar, won't make another bit of
cake. Gingerbread is good enough
And shall study up about hens, and
see if | cant make the biddies lay more
eggs
"They would make nice addition to
our rather limited bill of fare said AL.
fred.
"Our bill of fare. Do you suppose |
shall cook them for us? They must be
sold, every one of them"
"What do you propose to eat?'
"Not much of anything till the doc.
tors bill is paid. II Cathie hadn't been
sick, it would have made great differ
ence."
Suppose she had died?' said Alfred
"rhat is too dreadful to think of" re-
piled Alice, putting the dishes that SHE
had been washing into the cupboard ant
rinsing her ish towels.