The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-30
THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE

BY Gertrude smith.

There comes those dear children over
TO sec me. Hold up your skirts. Althea
You'd ought to have gone Ground by the
road this wet morning"
"wiifred insisted on coming this way. q"
Althea answered. laughing
II love to come BY the zlg-zag meadow
path over 70 Aunt Roey's." said the young
man. and taking on his hat. he made a
low bow to the little woman standing I'm
the doorway
"of all the happy ones I ever saw. !
do believe you two are the happlestr' said
Aunt Roey. looking down at them with
shining eyes.
We're come over TO breakfast" said
Althea.
"oh. have your That il nice. I can
give you stra wberrles and cream and toast
aud some OF Toodle's eggs"
Dear little TOodle doesn't know wha,
a blessing she IT," laughed Wilfred.
III she doesn't Il isn't because Aunt
Roey hasn't told her" said Athea. she
talks 90 everything about the place. Why,
she even talks TO the clodki'
There. there. Aithea. Don't tell all
my foolishnessl Take wilfred on into
the front room. and IN call you In a few
minutes"
when the two were alone IN the long,
sunny parlor Wilfred took Althea's hand
and led her to the piano
Il had been bought By Aunt Roey ms
special inducement 10 the young people
/ who lived across che meadow. Since
Altheas engagement 10 Wilfred BWyton
the instrument had brought the little lady
q pleasure she had never hoped for.
II was not difficult 10 read the story OF
these two. Althea was country maiden
and when presently the little brown house
/ echoed with wilfreds rich barltoae you
knew beyond question that he was no or
binary musician.
Aithea turned on the music stool ana
looked up at him as the song came TO an
end.
"Oh, I long 20 have mother and the
girls and Aunt ROey hear you sing in a
hall. as ! did last winter They hayen {
really heard YOU yet. you know"
1T wouldn't mean as much 60 them ne
hearing me here. dear" Wilfred answer
e,l kissing her. Il sing only simple ma
sic here because ! am singing for their
pleasure. You understand the other. but
| they do not"
That IL Just why I love you" said
Althea. with emphasis. you never have
/ tried TO impress them one biz with your
| importance.
Il have no Importance 20 impress them
| with. Aithea." Wilfred answered. laugh
ing. There was a time when a man
who sang as well as do would have been
| known the continent over but now there
are many who sing as well. and who live
/ as well on the income from their talent
as we shall live. and there was n time
and not long ago. when II would have been
impossible TO have found a girl like Althea
Winthrop In the wilds OF Northern Mich.
| igan."
oh. well. I've not always lived right
here. I've been away 20 schol" said Al
thea.
breakfast Is ready" said Aunt Roey
/ opening the door Such a treat as you
have been giving me. dear boy"
'You'll get made over. more than's good
for you. with Aithea. I'm afraid" said
| Aunt Roey, when they were seated at the
breakfast table 1T runs IN our family
TO make everything OF our own. I read
In some hook once that musicians ana ar.
lists needed some one 20 be kind OF severe
| whh them. OF they were apt 10 grow lnzy
and not be very good pTovidsFsi''
II guess that Il correct" Wirfred an
swered. laughing. Every one who makes
n living with talent needs a spur OF
some kind. As n class we are not first
rate business men"
II came into this house thirty years ago
IN the same dream OF happiness you two
are IN now. My story Is told and your
has juss begun. Sometimes think n
young people could have little tria
/ come 20 them along with their nrst hap
pincss they would be stronger 20 meet
/ what may come to them after. but. don't
| know
"A trial has come to Us in our first hap
/ pincss. Aunt Roey." said the young man.
/ IA last feel II almost more OF n trial
/ that I can go through. Aithea r. very
I brave. She seems TO think We have love
/ enough 20 bear up under II. some way"