The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-12-05

I've had dreadful night, Ephraim,"
she SAID, almost crying. 81 dreamed
that all the cats on Joe's place land
there were dozens of them, too) had
broken their knees and were all going
about like kangaroos, and Lucy had
jammed both children into tho gate
post, and put tho top or tight, and
then set fire to it.
When we get the chores dono up
we IL drive over to see Abigail" said
her husband. "You'll finds things
aren't as bad rs you think. MatiIda's
going to spend tho day with Jane
Loomis, SO we'll have Abigail to our
Selves"
"Things may not be so bad, but Ma
tilda never made all that up, Ephraim.
There couldn't be SO much smoke with
out some Ii"C."
But Eph i'm only whistlcd softly
and went out to feed the calves.
w.
There was an odd smile on Miss A BIZ
gail's faco when her brother EDhraim
and his vito entered her kitchen that
morning.
go glad to see you !" she cried.
|"Someh0w ] was eXpect.np you So
Matilda has gone to see Jan -, has she ?
Take of your things and sit down by
tho stove. | suppose Matilda has told
you al about her visit, and perhaps
[ shall be bringing Goals to New
castle if | tell my story, but had
! such a lovely timo that I'm afraid
can't keep still. It's such happy
home, Ephraim 'Twould do you and
Sarah Jane good to see it, and do
wish you could go. And they wish so,
too; they sent AZ thousand loving mes
sagcs to you both. I've been in some
places where tho folks seemed to turn
all their blessings into worries, but
it seems as if trouble couldn't be u
trouble long after it got into Joe's
house, Tor before it knows what has
happened it has become blessing in-
stead
Now that's good.' said her brother,
heartily.
But Matilda says Joe isn't jolly any
more, and that he is growing old.
She says he is gray and wrinklcd, too"
said Mr.. Grant.
Ephraim was gray as a rat when
he was thirty (yes, he was, Sarah Jane(,
and Joc's thirty-live. And Ephraim
and Joe both bave the same trick Of
smiling up to thcir eyebrows and MAX
ing wrinkles doing it, AS for his
being jolly, he is something better
now, Sarah .Jane.n
| Matilda says he carries some heavy
burdcns," continued Mrs. Grant, in Il
despondent tone.
Most OF us do if we live long
enough, and don't insist Oh slipping
them of our own back onto somebody
clsc's,' replied Miss Abigail.
Hos got q helpless wife," said
Mrs. Grant, mournfully. "Sho's o. no
use whatever in the family that can
sec"
Did Matilda say ths - inquired
Miss y tirail 81 Nn,u l.
Jane, Joc's your only son. When he
was Il yonnGster yon thought he ought
to have everything he wanted, and, AZ
far us you could, you gave it to him.
and you kept right on that way as long
: as you had him at homo. 1t is natural
enough that you shouldn't want any
| thing to cross him now. but, bless you,
. II Joe Is going to have tho joys and
= comforts OF married life, he is bound to
! have the cares aud hurdcns, too.
c suppose you would like TO cover his
path with roses, but if you did there'd
: be some thorns among them, and Joe
would prick bis toes. Mrs. Amcs,
l, Lucy's mother, feels just the same
c about Lucy"
= " You ncc:ln't pity Iucy," replied
Il Miss Abigail "Shc's IL happy wo.
, man, with II husband who ud0rcs her,
u and those loving children. Yes,
Il know there is Il little grave under the
old elm tree, but Joe and Lucy says it
. has brought heaven nearer. They
. have had sickness, buS there arc worse
. troubles than that. Money is little
short sometimes, hut they manage {,
live very comfortably. Joe going tc
= give up his religion and stop going tC
church Joe says Lucy's life is the
> best sermon he ever had and besides
Lucy is going to church herself next
Sunday. She will go fright along now
| presume.
Pm sure Pm wonderfully relieved
that you look nt everything this way,
said Mrs. Grant. but why does Lucy
keep two girls and umuse herself with
painting instead OF doing her sowing p
Lucy found it much cheaper tt
keep the girl than to do + work her
self" said Miss Abigail. .ucy get.
good price for her pictures, and sell:
! all she can 40 to one atorc-kccpcl
, there. She paints all sorts Of thugs
. calendars, dinner cards, china. and 81
! on She wanted to tell Matilda al
l about it, but Matilda was downright,
; )itctul, got mad any time she hrar(
} o. saw painting, and she hurt Lucy.
feelings very much. Then Lucy helps
Joe IL great deal with his accounts"
" Matilda doesn't seem very much
pleased with the children" said Epl
rain.
"ThOso children are tho dcarc,i
brightest little things | ever know -
cried Miss Abigail.
Drcadfully mschevous, I should
say remarked Mrs. Grant, land poG
VOL brought up
Ephraim," said Miss Abigail
bursting into a hearty laugh, "do you
remember tho timo wo were having
protracted meetings, and there was /.
ncignborhood prayer meeting at your
hodsc, ana Joe sawed tho forc-logs or
the easy chairs, and then fitted them
neatly together? Deacon Potter sat
down first in one Of them. He was u
quiet, steady little man. and the chair
held up all right. Then Mrs. Bond
came in (shc weighed hundred and
sevcnty-iive pounds) and sat down
pulling and painting. with kind Of
bounce, in tho other armchair. Down
she came, and Deacon Potter gave IL
great start. and down ho came, too.