The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-03-07

and the house duties, but-would hei
With quickened sense of its uncer-
tainty, she decided to make only
call and then return home.
1t was nearly noon when she ar
rived there, being some ways out of
the town, and stepping softly inside
the door she listened.
There was no sound, and going to
a window looking into the side yard,
she saw Ned sitting on the steps
reading, while baby Lii was playing
in mud puddle near by. The air
was quite cool, but she had no wrap
on, and her little sun-bonnet was
hanging half off her head.
The chickens were slowly making
their way down the street and Moody
was uttering plaintive lows as if with
hunger. CHANGING in at the kitchen
she saw that the fire was out and
nothing at hand to rekindle with. All
this she took in at glance and then
opened the side door. Ned sprang
up with a cry of surprise and Lii
with one of joy, as she ran towards
her mothers outstretched arms, but
the next instant she began to cry in
earnest, 81 is tole, mamma"
Mrs. Mason did not speak, she only
held Lii tight and looked at Ned so
sternly that he cried out, ooh, NAM
ma, 1 did not think it was SO late or
so cold. TIL start the fire right away
and" but his mother stopped him
with gesture of command, "Go and
feed Moody, will attend to the fire."
she said.
This was soon done and hurrying
back, he was dismayed to hear his
mother down in the cellar splitting
wood. while baby Lii, warmly wrapt
up in blanket, was crying hoarsely
in her crib.
ooh DEAR" began Ned, II am 80
sorry. I wish Aunt Lucy had not
given me that new book, I"
"Please do not make any more ex-
cuses," said Mrs. Mason, coming up
with the wood, a handkerchief thrown
about her right hand. "Make fire
and put on water to heat, and then
run as quickly as possible for the
doctor; perhaps we can wrad off the
Group yet" The doctor came ere
long and for many hours they worked
over the little sufferer, and presently
she slept, breathing softly.
Ned had been sent to bed, long be-
fore, but he could not go to sleep.
He kept listening to the footsteps
down stairs, and thinking, oh so sadly,
"What if Lii should die, what should
I do? And if she did not, what then?
Was he always going on this way,
forgetting to do things and making
his mother so anxious7 Oh, he would
try, indeed he would" and then, just
then, he did the best thing, the only
thing he could do that would really
help, he lifted his heart to his heav-
enly Father for strength, and then he
slept.
When he went down stairs early
next morning, he found, much to his
surprise, a young woman getting
breakfast. "Why. Mary JONES'" he
exclaimed, "who told you to come?
Who let you in7"
"The doctor stopped and said Mrs.
Mason wanted me few DAYS, till her
hand got we'll"
"Her hand" asked Ned in surprise
"What ails that7"
"Oh, didn't you know, she hurt it
chopping wood last night, when you
was out, doctor said, and hit a nerve
or something, and that she must keep
it still SPELL"
"Oh dear, oh DEAR" cried Ned,
''that's another thing; what shall 1
doi"
$50 out and see if you can find
some eggs for breakfast" said prac-
tical Mary Jones, 81 can't find one in
the pantry; your ma said you'd know
where to look" Yes easy to look but
hard to find, for the hens had de-
serted their trust as he had done and
no one could tell where they had
taken up their quarters. Then baby
Lii began to cry and with tremb-
ling heart Ned went in to see her.
He found his mother feeling very i'll,
her hand panied her, and she felt sick
all over. She told Ned to go for the
doctor again and give Lii to Mary,
but though much better she was
fretful, and not knowing Mary cried
for her mamma, so when Ned return
ed he took her out and amused her.
He did not once think CT looking
into the new book.
He was dreadfully anxious now
about his mother, for the doctor look