Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-07-31

WNSSSS\W buttonholes, sewed
MSSSSS$&~ straight seams on
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MNNN%MMWMN| pulled out basting
W\W\W threads, helped to
! "~ cook the meals,
washed dishes, swept floors and read
the news to her brother Geoffrey.
There had been time when the
Slater girls had looked upon Geof-
frey as a helper and protector
in the struggle with poverty, which
was the only legacy their parents had
left them. But that was before the
accident on the new schoolhouse,
where he was working. After that his
arms were limp and lifeless, his back
was bent and his eyes were bad, and
the poor boy, with the hope and
strength of his seventeen years all
blighted, became nothing but bur-
den to his faithful sisters.
There were good many times when
Tillie worked herself into the belief
that she was martyr. Then she
secretly rebelled against the hardness
of her lot; but, with the exception of
commenting on the condition of her
finger tips, she considerably refrained
from complaining in Alice's presence.
But when they took the baby to raise
she felt that she was justified in open
rebellion.
"It's downright shame, she cried
out, bitterly, when Alice brought the
little fellow home with her from the
funeral aud announced her intention
of keeping him. 81 declare, 1 won't
put up with it. Just as if we haven't
had hard enough time already with
out this happening. It's been moth
ing but work, work, work, all my life.
I've never had the time nor the money
to 60 to places and do things like
other girls. I've never said anything
about how I felt, for I supposed you
and Godfrey were suffering just as
much as I did. But when it comes
to saddling ourselves with other peo-
ple's children, I won't stand it,"
''But he's our own nephew" per-
sisted Alice, gently. "Our own SIS
ter's child. just before Clara went
she called me in and asked me to take
him and bring him up, andT I've got to
do it. Remember, he is an orphan as
we'll as ourselves, Tillie. If we don't
care for him, who will?"
II don't know" said Tillie, stiffiy
II suppose you can put him in an asy-
lum or an institution. That is where
other babies go when their fathers and
mothers die, and he's no better than
the rest of them. There's one thing
sure, we can't have him. One more
mouth to feed and one more body to
clothe means a good deal to poor folks
like us. And we need so many things,
now, too. Besides, who's going to
take care of him? A two-year-old baby
can't very we'll shift for himself"
eyes, know" returned Alice. '1
thought you could take him out for an
airing sometimes and look after him
little nights and mornings. Geof-
frey and I can manage to got along
some way during the day. Then va
cation will soon be here and you will
have lots of time to give him."
Take care of him nights and morn
ings and haul him around during va
cation! Yes, indeed, see myself do
ing it. I'll strike, that's what I'll do,
Alice Slater. I won't turn my hand
over to help about one solitary thing.
If you're going to burden yourself
with troublesome babies you'll have to
get along the best way you can. l.
shan't help"
Alice sighed and commenced to pare
the potatoes for supper. Tillie took
up her Latin reader and tried to study,
but somehow she could not concen-
trate her thoughts on the lesson.
Through the open door she could see
the baby sitting by the sewing room
window in the midst of some flow ering
plants that Tillie had carefully nursed
throughout the winter. He was bon
ME child, and he looked SO sweet and
pretty in his pink dress and white ruff
fed apron that even Titles hardened
heart was touched, aud the thought
was borne in on her mind as she
watched him that of all the flowers
blooming there the daintiest and fair
est was her little nephew.
"Why don't you kiss the baby,
dear?" said Alice, as she began to set
the. table. 'Don't act that way. Poor
little thing, he has been SO lonesome
yesterday and to-day without his
mother. Clara always spoiled him, I
guess. He'll get over it soon, but it's
pitiful now to see how his heart is
grieved for her."
Alice lifted corner of her apron to
her eyes, but Tillie turned her atten-
tion to the Latin reader once more and
refused to welcome the addition to
their family. She did not refer to the
subject again, but her actions gave
positive proof that the strike was on.
"Tillie's still sulking," Alice said
to Geoffrey one morning. after her sis
ter had gone to school without heed
ing the boy who had held out his
chubby hands and asked, in his baby
way, to be taken, too. "Theres been
m awful change in her. She never
does anything unless ask her to, and |
she seems to hate little Hiram. Tn
sure don't know what I'm going to
DO about it," aud the 19-year-old
bread-wiuner sighed.
Don't worry, Alive" said patient
"Don't pay any attention
10 her and her bad humor will wear of |
ater awhile. Anybody'd have to love
this child. It's contrary to human
nature to hold uukind feelings toward |
him."
But Titles bad humor did not wear
aff The strike was CON finn ed thron oh !