The representative., 1895-01-23

Hear them pity my pain and need now
tlat | am dead. Only yesterday food was
refused me. and the very space l took up
the earth grudged mel shirk,
they said
| was a snirk by birthrieht. My father
and mother knew no more about work than
the crickets. Heartily they carried out in
their lives one gospel teaching: TAKE no
thought of the morrow. From FAR back
their ancestors had lived SO, bequeath to
each succeeding generation a larger family
and a smaller Inheritance until it came
about that my mother had little more than
enough TO clothe her; and my father Just
sufficient income to house and clothe and
feed with yearly decreasing lavishness-but
never decreasing cheerful conteat-the al
most yearly increasing brood of boys and
girls that frollicked arornd his warm
hearthstone and over his few grassy, sun
bright meadows.
We learned to read and write in desultory
fashion as the whim seized US. Schools were
far away, but the house was full of books.
Everyone of us could dash off accom-
panment on the patient piano to the songs
we picked up from chance corners and the
ballads we learned from Martha. who. with
her old-fashioned young daughter Patty
served and ruled in the ease-loving house
hold, or from Thomas. Martha's man."
who cared for garden, meadow and wood
house and the fat. stocky little mare and
the thoughtful-eyed COW, his wife did
pants.
Occasionally my brothers would take a
fancy TO go with Thomas on his wood sled
and assist at the wood cutting. and often
they worked in his neatly ordered little
snop and at his forge-for Thomas was a
cunning workman in wood and iron and
our small estate was in great measure in
dependent of all outside assistance; some
tmeS also they dug and planted in the
garden under his direction. The girls. too.
amused themselves by helping Martha in
the great pleasant kitchen with its deep
windows where the climbing roses swayed
in with the breeze. Here they and the old
fashioned young Patty gathered much use
fui knowledge under the supervising hand
and eye of Martha, and the sunny room
rang with song and laughter.
BuI Tor me work had no charm; down by
the stream on the root-Seat under the old
oak / sat for hours fishing. or lay on the
grass in the shade of the trees beside the
house watching the birds building the
squirrels springing about; or, when the day
was at its hottest and the birds silent in
the heat, the soft white filmy clouds drift
ing over the blue
once, l remember, a thought of our
future seemed to come to my father as
a cloud shadow passes over a sunny land
scape. We were in the wide porch that
warm, bright autumn afternoOn-a square
table stood there on which were coffee ana
father near her half reclining on bench
that ran along the side. his cup of coffee
on the corner of the table, ana his maea-
zine in his hand.
Suddenly said our father, looking around
on us: What is to become of these chill
dren,'
Were all right answered one of the
boys; I'm going all over Europe. | shall
travel as the German workmen do, and
work in every town i come to-
nrl' a.
Thomas is teaching me- have learned
to snoe a horse already"
I'm going. too said the twin Thomas
is teaching me TO make boxes and shelves
an! | can saw wood now
I'm going with them said the third
81 snail be a gardener: Thomas is teaching
me TO make plants grow-I can make gar
den beds now"
.! shall make cake and bread and can
dies laughed one of the girls: Martha
is teaching me. l made this cake
Il shall sit on the door stone and sing
and fairy prince Will come bv on a
beautiful white horse, and he will fall in
love with my song and carry me away to
his palace and make ME princess" And
the golden voiced child looked dreamily
out over the meadows.
Our father and mother looked from one
to another with a half sad smile. Then
they looked at each other. "To think,
said my mother that all they know thew
are learning from Thomas and Martha,
We have taught them nothing"
I'VE know nothing to teach them" re-
piled my father. II never learned any
thing"
Nor L. she said thoug1tfully But"
said my father, rOusing himself here is
one who has said nothing, and he turn
ed to me. What will YOU do?"
Nothing, / answered. Il shall live inst
as You do, and fish and read anl lie on
the grass, and ride on the pony Thomas