West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-02-17
Original story.
A WINTER DAY.
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up the snow white curtain. fastened
On ita small cluster of fern and
AUTUMN leaves, and stepped back
to survey her work.
Il wonder il anyone would sus-
pet that good-sized patch is
hidden beneath those pretty leaves (?
j wonder IL It will be nothing but
fa'ch. patch, all my days There
is Mrs. Steel, who doesn't work
half vs. hard as do, and she has a
new carpet and pretty Wallpaper,
while here have worked two days
I" make this room respectable.
lie carpet is all patched and
darned, the paper is faded and
shows many prints OF the childron's
fingers. and for lack of something
better | had to take the old red
Comfort, to make chsir cushion
and sofa cover. They look bright
and coy, L know, but blue worked
with white floss would have been so
much prettier One would scarcely
know the pictures In their new
frames of pebbles and pine cones,
but they are not so pretty ms hers.
Oh. well guess complaining will
do no good. / will just have to do
and bear. o, you sweet little
Hover, how you do brighten the
room / am glad you are not
patched too ~ and she placed her
one geranium where it would re-
ceive the full benefit OF the light.
II wonder where the children
are now? l am so afraid they will
let the baby get his feet wet. Oh.
hear them on the porch yet.
Now for the Kitchen. There are
the pics and bread to bake. and
the floor TO scrub, and am so tired
how! Fred will not be at home
Tor dinner, though, and / will lust
give the children piece of bread
and butter"
She paused a moment TO replace
rug, and then went on into the
Kitchen. and. despite the many in
terruptioms of the children. a,
four o clock the bread was baked
and wrapped in white linen cloth,
and the pies were cooling on the
pantry shelf. There were golden
ones made Of Pumpkins that she
mad raised with her own hands.
and mince pies that were enough
to tempt the appetite Of a Catholic
Lent. Not a poor mans pie,
surely, but Fred was so very fond
OF them and she always tried to
have some at Christmas time.
Then there was plate of dough.
nuts for children. "They do not
taste like mothers though" she
said. as she placed them on the
shelf. 81 wish / had one of hers
now"
The kitchen floor was as white
As'two hands with soap and brush
could make it. The few pieces Of
tInware hung over a clean news.
paper, and the dishes she had
brought from home glistened in
the old-fashioned cuppord
"There, am done at last ! Now
1 will have just half hour to read
that delightful story l have beer
wanting so much to read all day.
She had Just settled herself il
the rocking chair. and oecam,
rightly interested IN the story
when a small voice said
MAMA, will You tie my shoe p
The shoe is tied, and she ha
just found he place when the sam
voice asks again, "Mama, hoy
long is it til 'Tismas ?"
"Only a day yet, beside to-day
Now, don't bother me any more. ,
"Well."
She has not read more than
dozen words when another voic
says, II wonder II Santa Claus
ever spanks his babies, or has h
got any, mama 20
II do not know"
Didn't the Minister say on
day, at Sunday School, that on
hands warn't made TO strike eacI
other with? ?"
"Yes."
"Well, what do you spank n
FOR, then OF did God make YOU
hands 20 spank with 2"
BY tbs time she is so deeply in
terested she deigns no reply.
"Say, mama, di1 he ?"
81 do wish Won wonld ne oniet