The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-11-25

wish IL big, big y, will marry until men
learn how to treat their wives with as
much consideration as they do their
horses"
| Father" said Lefty after the letter
was written, twill you sit with mother
and let ne 90 with John to the villagep"
"NO; I've got other things to do"
| "But, father, we must have some help
In the house. Mother needs more care and
better care than l can give her now, with
so much to do and four hungry men to
feed"
"Now. don't go to pretending that you
have hard time. Don't l send the heft
of the washing awayp'
PATTY merely washes the heavy cloth
ing, father. / have to iron them all And
when bake seven loaves of bread on Sat-
urday, and Monday finds not even crust
In my pantry, you must know
| II know nothing, nothing, only that
going to college has made you too fine for
farmers daughter"
| "No, father, never that, but too fine,
hope, to see my mother suffer. And while
we have her want to do all in my power
for her.
"While we have her Why, your mother
| isn't very sick. It's only the newfangled
complaint, and folks never die of it.
| Lefty choked back the tears.
| Father, please let me go with John.
should not ask for help If did not need
1t, for her sake
''Shant HEAR to it, shan't hear to 1t l
Mother'll come out all right" said Mr..
| Moore as he strobe away.
| 1t wanted but two days of the time
when the turkeys were due in Boston, and
Lefty was seated in the kitchen with a
large turkey in her lap, from which she
was carefully picking the pinfeathers.
| 1t was past midnight when she put
down the last bird and bathed her tired
fingers. Sam had crept off to bed long ago.
Elijah was snoring loudly above stairs,
and John alone was faithful and helpful
Mr.. Moore, who had been DOING near the
fire, reused himself to say:
| "Pack the wings close, John, and, Lett,
be sure you make the bill out carefully and
put the weight of each bird down in my
book. I think I'll go to bed
Lefty recorded the number of pounds as
John weighed and then made out the bill
In due form. 1t was pleasure, weary as
she was, to hold the pen. Suddenly an
odd fancy came to her.
John" she said, 81 am going to put
something under the wing of this big fell
low just for sport"
"All right, Miss Lefty, If you can get
any fun out of all your hard work, just
you do it..
| Lefty pondered for moment and then
her pen flew rapidly over the paper.
| "Here is the nonsense, John:
| 'Whoever finds, oh, may he read
Some other lesson here than greed.
My maiden fingers long to trace
| Some nobler work, IL broader space;
But fate is harsh, and here l stay,
Picking my fowls from day to day.
| Eat this o friend, and think of me,
I'll E. MOORE.
"Brookdale, N. H"
| "Why don't you put the name out in
| full?" asked John.
"Oh, it does not matterl We shall new
or hear of it, but it comforts me to find
that can even think of nonsense"
| Thanksgiving came and went.
| Lefty spent most of the day in reading
| to her mother after the dinner had been
cared for. The old minister came in and
brought her note from one of her college
friends. They did not forget her or neg
| lect her.
In the evening Lefty played games with
Sam, for she wanted the boy to have pleas
ant memories of his home in the days to
| come.
| JeCcllDeF anu All tH6 Hills Wero
crowned with snowy white
Lefty had moved her mother to her own
room away from the noise, and there she
looked from the windows upon the coun-
try beyond her home-the country which
she had never had time to enjoy
| 1t was bright, sparkling winter morn
| ing when Mr.. Moore came in one day to
| speak with Lefty. She was standing at
the table ironing dainty little bedgown
| of her mothers. She was not u girl given
to tears, and yet more than one had fallen
upon the garment
Her mother had always been creature
of gentle mold. She was one of an old
| Massachusetts, family, and no hardship
| could ever make her coarse or unrefined.
| 1t was a comfort to think that she had
been blessed with such mother, and the
| girls heart ached when she thought of her
passing away so young.
Her father did not notice her fearful
| eyes. He was too much interested in the
news he brought.
Lett" he said hurriedly, "there's
handsome turnout coming over Long hill,
and it's city one, too, some one coming
| to drive a trade of some sort suppose,
and you'd better spruce up bit"
Eyes, father"
| Iak6 Oh UHub CDcCh girl, anu
don't let 'em think that my daughter isn't
| as good as the best of them"
Lefty threw the apron aside and looked
at her swollen right hand. 1t panied her,
but she had not thought of it before. AS
her father went out she recalled with
shame his miserly habits, which prevented
| them from keeping a cheerful fire in the
| sitting room or parlOr
She had not time to moralize much be-
| fore the door opened and a tall, handsome
man entered with her father.
"My daughter, Mr.. Langdon, Miss
Moore" her father had said, and Lefty
raised her eyes to greet those of man
whose every look bespoke refinement.
With a true housekeeper' instinct Lefty
remembered after the first greetings were
| over that her larder was in excellent con-
| dition, and also that it would cheer her
dear invalid to SEQ such a man in her
| home.
| She made no apology for her work. 1t
| was given her to do, and 1t was well done.
A good man would understand that
Sam and the stranger were friends at
once. He had business interests near