Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-08-31

lotty nau just packed up 10 nave
her frock pinned together she had
burst of all the buttons. Mrs. Redd
wiped her hands on her apron aul
fumbled with a big pin.
"lhere! | can't do anything with
it, my hands are so soft with the
water. Run along! | guess you'll
hold together somehow She gave
her daughters fat little body gentle
push.
"Let me pin it, Totty," said an an,
guINr woman who appeared at the
oren door with n shawl over her head.
Good morning, Mrs. Conant," said
Totty's mother, "Yov've got your
clothes out early"
81 haven't got many to-day guess
that'll do, lofty" She wove pin in
md out at the back of the little girls
apron, and bestowed a kiss on the
back of her plump neck.
est, down, won't you, Mrs. Co,
nant?" invited Mrs. Redd, Hospitality
wipins off a chair-seat with corner
Of her apron.
'Ihank you, but I can't stop.
Just ran in to ask you if you'd heard
about the minister. "
Good land, mol nope there isn't
anything wrong about himl" Mrs.
Redd stopped scrubbing.
"Well, there is, though. He is in
peck Of trouble. 1t seems he had q
lot of money in Portland bank, and
it's gone and detaulted, or something
of that kind don't know Just what
they call it. Anyway, he lost every
cent, and it's what he was going to
educate his children with. The church
had to cut down his salary this year
on account of hard times, SO he's
pretty bad off,"
"You don't tell mel How'd you
know about it?"
81 was up there washing yesterday,
and Lefty told me- She's got to leave
when her months up, for they can't
afford hired help now. Mrs. Day
looked white as a sheet, but the minis
ter was real calm. Lefty said that
when the news come it was awful.
Mrs. Day took on, but the minister
chlrked her up all the time.
"'Tain't as if we were separated,
says he, I'VE can bear it together
But the children 7 says She
" They'll have to be all the bright
er and better, says he. 1T may be the
best thing for them to have to strug-
gle.' Then he smiled, though Lefty
said he looked kind of teary about
the eyes. Well, I'm sorry for him /"
"So'm l." said Mrs. Redd, smashing
the water again vigorously. "NIortal
sorryl The minister's a good man,
and with those eight young ones to
bring up and Mrs. Days bad health,
it'll go hard. I never shall forget
what he did for me when Redd was
taken"
'Landl There's my husband, and
me a-gaddingl What in the worlds
he home for at this hour? Well, good
norningl" and Mrs. Conant went
away in hurry.
Mrs. Redd went on with her Y ork.
She finished her washing and hung the
clothes out in the fresh breeze. She
made neat her little house, ard had
;he frugal dinner ready for the, raven.
1us children who came from school
md play to devour it. But size did it
III with an distracted air, az if her
mind were far away.
When heInoisy crew was once more
icatteredLthe older children gone
pack to SCHOOL, the little ones safe in
he back yard-Hhd' the aiter-dinner
work was out of the way, Mrs. Redd
repaired TO the living.room, and de.
iberately sat herself down to think.
She snt long time, her hands fold.
ID in her lap, hor face twisted in
Iarying emotions. Finally she arose
lecisiyely, and went to her bare little
bedroom.
She put on her best gown, black
cashmere, thin and old, but neat as
brushing and careful mending could |
make it; then, with reverent fingers,
lie took out lec Sunday bonnet. 1t
vas straw Of antique shape, and its
CIV limp bows of rusty Grape bespoke
Ter widowhood.
She went out the front door, lcck-
ng it after her and putting the key IN
Ter pocket,
"Mammyl mammyl Where You
loin'?" shouted Totty's sturdy little !
ungs.
"Never mind, mammy's baby Stay
n the yard and BE- good girl.
Iammy'il be back pretty SOON"
The soil summer sky was very blue
overhead, the air was full of sweet
cents and sounds, and the afternoon