The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-07-27

little thing but remember quite wei
the suddenness OF the fire bursting out
against the snowy night. Jimmy was
two weeks old that day. | can sec
mother now as she lay raised on one
elbow, telling father how 10 arrange
our stockings She insisted that one
of Jimmy's tiny socks be hung up
too. Father had just fastened II when
a sheet of flame swept up In front OF
the window. Mother had 10 be taken
three miles through the snOwstorm,
in open spring wagon, TO my grand
mothers home, which was also the
nearest place of refuge.
There she lay many wecks,and when
she became better was so near an In
valid that with one exception she had
never n well day
lIy childish eyes had seen her tall
and strong and beautiful; but that
image gradually faded from my mind,
as | became accustomed 10 n pale and
languid mother. performing what
seemed TO her the most essential du-
ties with visible effort.
She never rode on horseback or went
berrying or nutting with us again. She
was always glad To lie on the lounge
as long as possible and as we girls
grew older, gladly allowed us 10 at
tend To the housekeeping and sewing.
At last she did not get up until very
late. and then only TO lie on the couch
10y the window, where she would mend
n little. or read. or knit. We were
81 nI ltap tfrfl' "A
TO be nursed and petted. ! tempted
her appetite with daintlcs. and Eliz-
abeth made her the softest and lowell
est OF dressing gowns.
We refused 10 see that her brown
hair became grayer and her eyes more
sunkcn. We agreed that all she need
cd was TO be taken care of and have
no worry. AS for father. whenever he
came In from the farm work and
found mother dressed i'm certain soft.
pinkish, ribbon-ticd wrappcr,you could
see from his face that he thought she
was getting well. And one April day,
years ago she did get well.
l was I'm the kitchen that morning
preparing her breakfast. had broken
one new-lnid egg over the pretty.
golden round of toast. and had the
other poised above, when the door
opened. The egg slipped from my
1ngers. Mother stood smiling at me.
She had put on one OF the print
dresses of her lusicr days, and big
linen apron. She came up and kissed
me out OF my bcwldcrmcnt.
Il feel well, Narcssa!" she cX-
claimed. Think Of lt! Well! | am
going to help get breakfast Don't
you want some of mothers bscuitsY'
In moment | was no more than
any othcr little girl of seventeen.
Mother was there. | put the toast
and egg out Of sight and waited on
her. She was ms excited as child at
first bu. presently quictcd down to
serene enjoyment of her well day.
kept hugging her. 1t seemed too
wonderful To be true. We were I'm n
great glcc together over the surprise
we would give the rest OF the fam
lily.
| calri q breakfast in and mother
sat at the head OF the table for the
first time in years. \ look of sweet
satisfaction stole over her face rs she
glanced down the snowy board. The
cream biscuits were haky balls. deli
ciouSly brown. No one ever made
biscuits like mother. With "A smile,
she touched the bell. Jimmy was the
first TO rush in. Mammal" he almost
screamed. and then such hugglng and
kissing,
The next moment all the rest were
Joining in. Father was too happy to
eat. He took my place and sat 10y
mother holding her hand us il he ex-
pectcd ber to melt away.
After breakfast Elizabeth and |
wanted her 10 lie down and rest. hut
she only laughed at us. Instead, she
had us open all the shutters and let
in the beautiful, fresh spring sunshine
and air. Then she went from room
TO room. helping us put things to
rights, and gently suggesting improve
ments here and there. We spent
some time in Franks room, planning
new curtains and toilet covers. and
mother fingered in the garret. sorting
out herbs and exploring for garden
seed
When MI was in order we went out
into the sunshine itself and mother
looked over her flower beds. and said
what flowers she was going TO have
that summer. She showed us where
she meant to plant the moonfower
seeds and how the rose vines Should
be trained The Easter lilies were In
full bloom. and with the yellow jon.
Quils. bordCred the path TO the front
gate. A little creek runs through one
corner of our large yard. and the vio
lets grew there like weeds that April
50 big. so blue. SO tall.
We sat down on wide seat father
had made under group OF weepinl
willows. Jimmy was on the ground
lying against mothers knee. and Eliz
aLcth and | had our arms about her
She drew n deep breath of the heaven
ly air. There was n pretty color IL
her cheeks and her eyes were clear
You only noticed the scft waves o
her hair. not the gray In them. Eli7
nbe:h had thrown n blue knit thin
around her shoulders. and Jimmy ha
filed her lap with violets. Her eye
wandered over the green. flower
wrcathed yard. They passed the In
row OF naples lifting their flame-lik
buds in front sf the porch. and reste
or the wipSow OF the room that IN
held her n prisoner for so long. I'll
thin, white curtains fluttered out In
s,nn1eusa ninth wings striving to no,