The Forrest City times., 1897-12-31

grlmty.
 Wouldn't 1t be better to come home to dinner?" began Mrs. Newbury, then broke off suddenly to exclaim in still greater distress: And you had to walk-both ways!"
 Il did," said Mir. Newbury, while Maud looked concerned, and Rob gave vent to a low whistle.
 Well, think that is case of neces- sity. It is too hard for you. You must borrow some money of somebody" said Mrs. Newbury, with decision.
 "Fiddlesticks!" said Mir. Newbury, his features relaxing with a smile. I'm not complaining. In fact, rather like it. Six miles day is nothing to kill man."
 "I'm not so certain of it." said Mrs. Newbury, doubtingly.
 Well, 1 am," laughed he. "All I'm afraid of is that it will give me such an appetite that the cupboard will go bare before the month is out"
 The first week passed quite comfort ably. With the homework to do Mrs. Newbury did not miss the sewing she couldn't do; the table was we'll set, in spite of the absence of meat and milk; MT. Newbury thriyed on his fresh air exercise, while Maud and Rob did the same on their exercise indoors.
 The second week was likewise fairly comfortable. To be sure, Maud allowed the nose of the coffee DO. to melt off, and the coffee had to be made in tin pail, but this itself didn't much matter, as the coffee itself gave out few days afterward. It was this week also. that Rob's rubber boots sprang leak, and he had to fail back on a pair of Mauds overshoes. Then some one asked Maud to give ten cents toward a certain char itable object, and thought very meanly of her for refusing. As climax the weeks washing was rained on soon after being hung out, and later froze solidly to the line. But these trials were of comparatively little moment, | and for the most part were easily en- dured.
 The third week began well. The hens, of which Mir. Newbury kept 20, responded nobly to the mild weather, | and their eggs were a welcome addi- tion to vegetable diet. But on Wednesday their feed gave out, and they must be supplied from the house. Other things gave out; apples, rolled oats, and, worst of all, sugar.
 Monday, Mrs. Newbury had an- | nounced that the kerosene barrel was empty, and after this the family made point of burning but one lamp at a time, and of going to bed early. Thursday it was decided that still further economy of kerosene would be necessary. So Mrs. Newbury and Maud prepared supper while it was day, and then sat in the dark till MT. Newbury came. The lampwas then lit, supperwas hastily eaten, and while Maud washed and wiped the dishes her mother made everything ready for getting breakfast quickly, for Mir. Newbury | had to start away before the sun arose. When Maud had finished the dishes, the light was extinguished, and till bed time the family sat around the sitting room fire, which shone through the mica in the stove door and made the room quite pleasant, though of course reading, writing or sewing were en- tirely out of the question. But they l could talk, and Maud could play on the piano for the others to sing, and all de- clared kerosene was an article one could exist very comfortably without. while to grope ones way to bed in the
  perceptive faculties.
 Well" said MT. Newbury. at the be- ginning of the fourth week. shall we back out?"
 No, don't!' cried Rob. Its going to be more fun this week than all the rest put together!"
 ''I don't think it would be right to-" said Maud. We promised"
 Its the hardest on you," said Mrs. Newbury, looking at her husband, with your long walk and cold dinners"
 You needn't back out on my ac- count" said Mir. Newbury. lin doing nicely, thank you!"
 Il don't want you to on my account" said Mrs. Newbury.
 "Then we'll grit our teeth and keep it up to the bitter end" laughed MT. Newbury.
 This last week opened with a tre- mendous snowstorm, followed by zero weather, and Mir. Newbury found his three-mile walk no pleasure excursion.
 The house supplies began to run low. What Indian meal, macaroni, split peas, rice and potatoes there were had to be given to the hens. But there was no animal food, and the lack of this, to- gether with the cold, had the effect of reducing the number of eggs to two or three day.
 And the butter gave out and the shortening. In fact, there was hard ly anything left of a substantial na- rure excepting flour and canned fruit.
 Saturday was rainy, and the soap box was empty, so the washing had to be done with small remnant of washing paWder and dried in tha atfio