The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-11-08
CHE USED to say that she had no;
known we'll day since the Christ

CHE USED to say that she had no:
y known well day since the Christ
mas Eve our old house burned down. |
was little thing, but | remember
quite well the suddenness of the fire
bursting out against the snowy night.
Jimmy was two weeks old that day. |
can see mother now as she lay raised on
one elbow, telling father how to ar
range our stockings. She insisted that
one Of Jimmy's tiny socks be hung up.
too. Father had just fastened it, when
sheet of flame swept up in front Of
the window. Mother had to be taken
three miles through the snowstorm, in
an open spring wagon, to my grand
mothers home, which was also the
nearest place of refuge.
There she lay i'll many weeks, and
when she became better was so near an
invalid that with one exception she had
never well day.
n My childish eyes had seen her tall and
trong and beautiful; but that image
radually faded from my mind as I.be-
ame accustomed to pale and languid
hothef, performing what seemed to
her the most essential duties with visi-
bic effort.
She never rode on horseback, or went
berrying or nutting with us again.
She was always glad to lie on the
punge as long as possible, and as we
iris grew older, gladly allowed us to
ttend to the housekeeping and sew
G. At last she did not get up until
dry late, and then only to lie on the
ouch by the window, where she would
end little or read. or knit. We were
lly too happy to find her so willing to
= nursed and petted. I tempted her
>petite with dainties, and Elijah
ade her the softest and loveliest of
ressing-gowns.
We refused to see that her brown
tr became grayer, and her eyes more
rnken. We agreed that all she had
,eded was to be taken care of, and
We no worry. As for father, when
he came In from the farmworlk
psi found mother dressed in certain
IT. pinkish, ribbon-tied wrapper, you
Id see from his face that he thought
,was getting well. And one April
years ago, she did get well.
was in the kitchen that morning
w airing her breakfast had broken
on aew-Iad egg over the pretty, gold
'ound Of toast, and had the other
ed above, when the door opened.
egg slipped from my fingers.
other stood smiling at me. She had
ut on one of the print dresses Of her
'sier days, and big linen apron. She
le up and kissed me out of my be-
IN erment.
Pl feel well, Narcissa!" she ex-
owe ed. think Of It'll Well! am
Win to help get breakfast. Don't
bes Ill want some of mothers bis
I la moment was no more than any
7 r little girl Of II. Mother was
I he'e. put the toast and egg out OF
and waited on her. She was as
1 n, ed as child at frat, but presently
m, ed down TO serene enjoyment Of
well day. I kept hugging her. 1t
sy1ed too wonderful to be true. We
IN great glee together over the
'se we would give the rest Of the
y lily.
ID tirried breakfast IN, and mother
aE the head Of the table for the first
IN years. A look Of sweet salts
~ Ton stole over her face % she
y 'osd down ths snowy board. The
eam biscuits wsee Aaky balls, dsh-
Hsly brown. No ono ever made BIS
s like mother. With a smile, she
ned the bell Hrsmy was the first
fush In. "1fsnmAi" hs almost
eamed, and tAn snnA hugsang and
ashgl
no next momsst "A the res6 were
nng in. Father was too happy to
He took my place and sat by
mar, holding her hand ~ II he Ak
ned her to melt away.
Aqsr breakfast Elizabeth and I
ned her 70 lie down and rest, but
only laughed st ua Instead. she
us open all sMS sAutters and let in
beautiful. frssh spring sunshine
ar Then ne wvnt from room TO
o. helpinp m INIT fhinpa Ao richks