The Newtown bee., 1897-07-02

inqulriDgly from the empty bread-clott
to her daughter.
"Oh, mother! AS live, do believe !,
She opened the oven door slowly, and
with the air one might be supposed to
wear going to their execution. The
bread was almost in blaze, and blacker
than any hat you ever saw, or any Chloe
that ever lived.
This was the climax OF misfortune
burnt bread was the deacon's particular
aversion, the eating of which he always
considered by him worthy of an indei-
nitely greater patience than the incom
parable Job ever possessed.
Before this new evil all Iother troubles
'paled as stars before the sum-" and for
a while Mrs Heyworth's sorrows were
swallowed by the trembling question,
"What will father say?"
Deacon Heyworth's days work was
done long ago, and he sat, as usual, in
his easy chair, with his feet upon the
fender. The evening was cool-jnst cool
with his paper and apples, and glass OF
cider beside him, he prepared to enjoy
himself to the full. His wife sat near
him with busy fingers; her work was not
yet done-would never be, she often
thought, YEARLY, until her hands and
feet and heart were still in death.
The corner clock struck nine, and the
deacon laid aside his paper. Mira Hey
worth's opportunity had come at last,
the moment she had waited for anxious
Iy. "Something must be done. Oh, if
only l could say something to convince
him! His heart is kind and good enough,
If only it could be got at-kind o'like
green moss, and shining shells under the
water when it's frozen over-easy
enough to be got at when the ice breaks
and floats away"
"Fatherr' she commenced, desperate
ly, college begins next week."
Eyes, know I" and the deacon's voice
expressed slight irritation.
"Willie does want to go so bad, pears
like it's shame for the boy to be dis
appointed" Q
The deaGon's face became flint.
"I've explained to William my reasons
for not letting him 60 to college. told
him he could not go, and when I say a
thing mean it; I've set my foot down -"
Eyes yes l know, but do wish Ma
than, you wasn't quite so swift at set.
tin your foot down. as you always say :;
it's mighty aggravatin' sometimes, for
you never pretend to ask me what l
think of such or such things, and for all
I'm so quiet like, and don't say any
thing, feel it nevertheless, and I've be-
gun to wonder when my time'll come ~
The deacon gasped, and his wife,
throwing away her last remnant of
timidity, continued:
"We've been married now nigh onto
twenty-five years, Nathan, but | can't
remember the time when I ever set my
foot down that such a thing should or
should not be done!"
She paused moment, with the scarlet
staining her face like some bashful girls,
and her husband, watching the new
light in her usually dropping eyes, STAN
mered out, with fast-expiring dignity:
"I-I'm surprised. 1 am, Hannah;
am surprised"
'Thas's very likely" answered his
wife, meekly; tive are always surprised
Ii a person ventures an opinion different
from our own, and suppose you are all
the more surprised at my attempting a
thing I never did before; but it's gone
on and on, until [ can stand it no longer,
Nathan, and l must speak. I've worked
long and hard for you, now, more'n
twenty years. Many and many's the
night I've gone to bed too tired to
sleep, and it pears like never get rest
ed any more. Mary amt stout, you
know, and all the bruat of the work
comes on me. look old and feel old to
be only forty five and it's the hard work
that's done it; hired girl would have
been mighty help and blessing some
times, but you never seemed to thinl
about 1t, and never grumbled any, for
loved We all the same; but sometimes,
when I've thought it all Overland I've
| done it hundreds and hundreds of times
lie teches mighty close to be always sci
| aside like nobody at all, and have my
wishes and opinions continually TALKED
against, for never forgot that I'm you
wife, Nathan, and have an equal right
with you, to say what should Or should
not be done!"
Her voice trembled for moment, blu
the deacon's amazement was too grea
for words, and she hurried on:--
"There was never better children tina
ours for smartness or work, and any
body'il say SO that knows 'em; but be
cause they'll mind every word that 20
say, and never grumble when you eros
Il 'em, doesn't make it right that 20
should deny them every privilege an
enjoyment.
II Young folks always banker after fur
and 1t don't make them any better Chris
ltians to be always quieting than dow
when they are laughing or singing the
merry songs. There's Thomas, til
/ boys heart is set on going to singin
. school he can sing more songs now tina
ii ever knew in all my life, and he take
80 natural like to the notes and tunes
don't see why you can't let him go N
than, for 1t would only do him good, he
, always so happy when he's singing, ar
, God knows sorrow comes soon enoug