The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-30
A SATURDAY STORM.
By Elaine Cartwright.

Tt was Saturday morning, and De-
borah Hunter worked briskly to get
her domestic matters arranged in time;
for she sacredly observed that beau
tiful New England custom of having
| everything in order by sunset, and
spending Saturday night in peaceful
preparation for the Sabbath The
morning hours soon slipped by; the
sunshine reached and passed the noon
mark on the kitchen-fioor; and having
done until there was nothing more to
do, she put on clean frock, braided
up her dark hair, and with her great
basket of freshly irOned clothes beside
her, sat down to do her weekly mend
ing.
On the green grass, before the kitch-
en- door, sat Deborah's three children,
Mark and Ruthie building mimic hOus-
eS for the entertainment of their baby
brother; and ever and anon, While she
worked, sewing on buttons and darn
ing rents in tiny pinafores and chubby
stockings, the happy mother glanced
toward them with tender, gllStening
eyes, singing to herself in a subdued
voice:
THE Lords my shepherd, I'll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green, and leadeth me
The quiet waters by"
After awhile the children wearied Of
their hOuse-building, and had a race
with pussy up and down the garden
walk; and then Mark ran in eXclaim-
"Oh. mother! motherI do let US go.
down to the wOod-lOt and get some
flowers to dress the house for Sunday.
Won't you, please. mother?
''Wen, bring BABY in, and get Ruth
The boy obeyed with alacrity; and
lifting Ruthie on her lap, tied the little,
warm shoes on her fat feet, and put on
her Tapping sunbOnnet.
Don't go far, Mark; and take good
care of Ruthie."
yes, mother; I always do take care
of her-dOn't I, Ruthie?'
Ruthie assented by a nod of her flap
ping sunbonnet; and, taking up their
flower basket, the children started off,
hand in hand, Deborah hearing their
prattling voices and merry lau5nter
long after they had passed from her
sight She resumed her song and her
sewing, pausing now and then to ad-
minister an admOniti~n to baby, who
was exploring the depths of the clothes
basket, and making Intellectual efforts
to bite off every button that came in
his way By the time the sun had
reached the outer edge of the door-siIl,
she had overlooked the last garment,
and rose up to put her basket away.
Then, with baby tOddIing after her,
she went into her chamber, and open
ing a large chest, odorous with rose
leaves and lavender, proceeded to lay
out the Sabbath apparel, and to put
fresh sheets on the two beds, her own
and the low trundle, where Mark and
Ruthie slept. Nothing now remained
to be done but to boil the tea-kettle,
and spread the supper-table beneath
the grape-arbor: and she returned to
the kitchen and glanced at the retreat
ing sunlight with a sign of satisfac-
ton. 1t had left the dOor-siIl, and was
slowly creeping over the green sod
without The sight of it brought
warm light to her eyes, for it was
precious dial, and now marked the hour
which had for years brought her hus-
band home from his little schOol-hOuse.
Smiling to herself, she fingered a mo-
ment to watch it, thinking how slowly
it seemed to move in the early days of
her marriagehood; and how swiftly it
glided, now that her hands were full
of cares.
While Deborah stood thus, smiling
and watching the sunlight. muttering
roll of distant thunder fell on her ear;
and fastening out to see from whence