Warren sheaf., 1894-03-08

a bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked woman;
woman with the look of one who can
both plan and accomplish large things.
"Well?" she questioned.
II want dinner early" he said. 'I'm
going to town this afternoon. Abner'll
be here, too. set him to plowing in
the south lot this morning"
But, Dick, you're not going off
without cutting the wood?' called Mol
ly, as he took up the gun he had stood
against the fence, and, whistling to
his dog, sauntered across the field.
"Dick!' she called again; but he did
not turn or look back; and Molly,
catching up the baby girl that was
clinging to her dress, ran lightly down
the steps and around the corner of the
house to the wood-pile.
There were several big logs that Dick
had hauled from the woods just after
New Years, when he was turning
over new leaf" Against the saw
horse idly leaned the ak and the saw,
like old cronies that were trying to
wink at the gudeman's sins of omis-
sion. But not stick of wood ready
for the stove was anywhere visible.
"Well," said Molly, 'I'm sorry, but it
must be DONE" The song of a robin
futtered out upon the air-such a tri-
umphant burst of melody that the
baby clapped her hands and laughed.
"Oh," said Molly, little Robin sings
as If he was glad to get back home
again, doesn't he, Jessie?"
Such wonderful morning it was!
Everything seemed to be rejoicin g in
the new awakening of nature Far
off, in the shadows of the woods, and in
some sequestered fence corners, Molly
could see the snow-drifts that still
fingered, as If 10th to leave such
glad, beautiful earth.
But there was work waiting to be
done, and only one pair of hands to do
it They were strong. resolute hands,
and Molly hurried back into the house,
setting herself to the tasks before her
with the deft fingers and wise fore
thought that always seemed to work
such miracles in her homely world.
Little Jessie followed her about, watch
ing with grave, sweet eyes while her
mother skinned the cream from the
long row of shining pans in the milk
room and prepared the mornings
churning. Then, while she churned
and the little one quietly amused her
self, Molly planned the days cam
paign; or, rather, reinforced her cour-
age for the attack already planned,
with reasons that seemed to her both
strong and just The churning done,
Jessie was at her side begging to be
rocked to sleep.
laying the bright head against her
mothers hand, that she had taken in
both her own.
Molly drew her rocking chair near
the south window, and. with Jessie
cuddled close in loving arms, crooned
softly to her sweet old hymn that has
soothed so many childish hearts:
Hush. my dear, lie still and slumber;
Holy angels guard thy bed"
1t was not a part of Molly's wisdom to
deny herself or her child the exquisite
pleasure this afforded. Whatever might
be said in support Of the theory and
practice of disciplining the little ones
to forego this ''coddling," Molly's true
and tender mother heart was it's own
law glver, and with reverent joy she
tasted daily of this cup of blessing; the
purest and sweetest that life could ever
bring. She knew that she had never
come so near to Heavens bliss as this.
She knew the same ecstatic Joy that
Mary felt when she cradled in her arms
the infant Christ. And, in all the years
To come, when never again that sunny
head could rest upon her breast, there
must always remain this blessed re-
membrance. Though, like Paul, she
might be lin perils often" aye, though
even 1.-THE sword might pierce her own
SOUL" no deepest sorrow, no sharpest
trial, could ever rob her of this sacred
memory.
When Jessie had fallen into the
sweet, undreaming slnmber of child
hood, Molly laid her gently upon her
bed, and, opening the door into the 3,
ran quickly up the back stairs into the
attic. From the crossbeams overhead
hung great braided punches Of sweet
corn. kept for seed. The air was redo-
lent OF pennyroyal, mint and sweet
fern. Molly crossed the large, unfin-
ished room and stopped before pile Of
ax-helves. They were OF seasoned
hickory and showed careful workman
shin. Dick had hewn them out dusAqg
some OF the stormy winter days In
tending to sell them at his leisure. He
had shown not little pride in the sue
cess Of his work, and had exhibited
them many times to admiring friends.
A.About as good job. ] guess, as those
hammers Of Maydole that they cry up
so.n he said sometimes feeling that by |
this unusual e6oI< And accomplish