The Newtown bee., 1896-09-11

the west The air was sultry, With [ smell of rain in it. ( ''Ita goin' to be 8 storm,'' Mrs Smith remarked. ''I'm kinder glad, if it hain't z g. hard one, for somehow it's dretful hot and close. I" feel nigh about tuckered { out I'd go to bed right away if it wu'n't fur the children's supper. Then there's the COW to milk. We'll, anyhow, I've got that carpet down. with 8 back waro glance into the room where the sunset glory, streaming in, vied with the bright hues of the carpet.
 She was more tired still when bedtime arrived. Leander came home Jagged out and cross as he could be. He want ed fire kindled for cup of hot coffee, he kicked the dog, scolded the children l and grun bled that he had to turn the | cow out into the pasture. Martha did not think it wise to exhibit the carpet to her husband that night, though to be sure she longed to reveal it's glories to some one.
 ''Maybe some of the ladiesE call tomorrow" she said to herself as she, blew out the light and crawled into bed. :'The minister's wife said she was comin' some time this week an it's Friday to- morrow. Mrs Nelson kinder talked as though she might drop in, too, the day took her over tbat cottage cheese. l thrill yelling up in her tired heart. II 1 hope she will, for my carpet beats hers. Hers isn't anything but ingrain. o dear, what differance it does make to feel that you've got something decent on your parlor floor! Then them muslin curtains put up look white and fresh, and the two tidies and bead-maU and the gilt bound Guide to Holiness and the plush alum. Tomorrow I'll pick a big bunch of sweet peas and mignonette and put on the center table, an, Tll"- but in the midst of her ambitious plan ming the poor, weary woman fell asleep.
 It was 8 troubled slumber, however, one broken by fitfuI starts and tossipgs that occasioned drowsy grumblings from her lord and master, worn and spent after day at the "business mems pie nic" "They say woman's tongue is never atll " he growIed.
 ''What ails Marthy? Sech tumble as she's goin' on about, Brussels an 'matchin breadths, an 'wimmen folks callin, Anybody'd think she was gittin' ready to give 8 reception"'
 Alas! poor Martha was preparing something elac. When morning dawned
 sine was in a high fever, and Leander
 was forced to tumble out of bed with unwonted alacrity and hurry for the , doctor, When the physician came he , looked very grave, ''Overexertion," he
 said, "and some other complications. She's very sick woman" He re- majned there all the forenoon, watching
 faithfully, doing his best to aid the struggle with life against death. By noon q frail, tiny baby had come into the world, given few feeble walls and then died, Neighbors came in and offered help, The church women,
 with kind, plying faces, went softly about the house, making things comfort able. They listened sometimes with abated breath and aching hearts to the rambling words of the sick woman, which revealed to them Marthas longing for friendliness and sympathy, for at- tentions that were not patronizing. They learned how she had winced under snubbings, neglect. They realized how she had hungered for sweet, si8terlY charity. It was all very pitiful! Even her little vanities and petty ambitions seemed sacred now,
 Have you seen my carpet ?' she would call out in voice of shrill gee. Il worked awful hard to get it-awful hard But it's real pretty! It ain't common pattern. It makes me think of grand fathers woods in autumn-with the maple and hickory leaves scattered all arount. It's BrusseIs-not ingram, mind -an' I earned it myself. It was very hard work, The sewing it an tacking it down was hard, too, didn't feel very well, you see, an things tired me so l! Dear me! it seems as though some one was distinguishing right into my brain!" The voice grew fainter and Martha sank into a dull slumber that was almost stupor. When she awoke she was calm and conscious, but the doctors face was still more grave.
 She turned her white face toward Le- ander, who, limp and helpless, sat with his face buried in his hands, and she said, "I'm glad things look kinder decent B batting his arm. "I always thought that if there was to be -a-a funeral in the house I'd like to have things de- cent. An the carpet is all down square an neat. It looks nice, doesen't it?