The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-11-08


pioring for garden seed.
When al was in order we went out
into the sunshine itself, and mother
looked over her hower-beGS. and said
what flowers she was going to have
tLat summer. She showed US wker.
81" meant to plant the moonhower
seeds, and how the rose-vines should be
trained. The Easter lilies were in fu,.
bloom. and, with the yellow jonquils.
bordered the path to the front gate. 4
little creek runs through one corner
of our large yard, and the violets grew
there like weeds that April, so blue, so
dig. so tall.
We sat down on wide seat father
had made under group of weeping
willows. Jimmy was on the ground,
lying against mothers knee, and Eliza
beth and | had our arms about her.
She drew deep breath OF the heavenly
air. There was n pretty color in her
cheeks, and her eyes were clear. You
only noticed the soft waves of her hair.
not the gray in them. Elizabeth had
thrown blue knit thing around her
shoulders. and Jimmy had filled her
lap with the violets. Her eyes wandered
over The green, tiower-wreathed yard.
They passed the tall row of naples lift
ing Il cir tlame-like buds in front Of the
porcl. and rested on the window OF the
room that had held her prisoner for so
long. The thin white curtains tluttcrcd
out like immense moth-wingS striving
TO beat closer to the sun. She seemed
to fall into Peasant rtverie, from
which she reused presently and turned
to look far across the land to the tre-
mCndous incurvc of the mountain. then
vei.ed in tremulous young foliage.
Lower came the cleared lands and
arabic fields. Around one of these IA
thcr and Frank were building a fence
that day. We could see them as they
worked.
Papa ought to be here" said Eliza
beth, "but he is always working"
"Ah. we are such poor people," said
mother. smiling, "and have been such
a drag-such a good d-for-nothing,"
"lou'rc good for everythinr,"
cried Jimmy, Indignantly, patting her
hand as it rested against him.
Elizabeth and | said nothing. We
just held her closer
| had never noticed before how cx-
actly Elizabeth looked like mother.
Only Younger. of course.
Darling" | said. "why don't ! look
like you, too? 1t doesn't seem fair
"Why, had to have fathers girl"
said mother, so sweetly that | was for
ever reconciled to my gray eyes and
fair hair.
We sat there awhile longer, making
plans for the summer and drinking in
the fragrant air and flower perfume.
81 feel like girl again" said mother,
so strong, so full of life! Everything
is going to be different and better, girls
little boy. Mother has come back to
YOU 'N~'
"But mother mustn't overdo herself
on he first well day." said Elizabeth,
as we went back to the house.
After our lunch-dinner had been eat
en-, father had TO go to town on some
business that could not be neglected.
else ! am sure he would have stayed by
mother all the afternoon.
mo, you must 60" she said to him.
81 will'not be hindrance to you any
more"
but don't tire YOURSELF" pleaded fa-
thcr.
81 don't feel as II I could" laughed
mother.
Such happiness leapcd into fathers
eyes! at is miracle!" he cried.
After watching father ride away,
mother kept Frank by her for a little
talk. She let him go back to his fence
building reluctantly. II want all of
them right here" she said, "hcre, with
in reach of my arms"
She leaned her head on her hand.
We feared lest she become sad while
rejecting how we were not rich enough
to let love keep US away from work.
But our mother was never morbid. She
soon turned to us brightly.
"Lct US while away the lonesome
time" she said. 81 know my bureau
drawers need arranging"
These bureau drawers had always
been one of her absorbing pastimes.
and we had always accounted it
privilege to be allowed to delvc In them
with her. Each drawer had its own
charming hoard. Mothers tongue
raced as she turned over the long-un-
handled treasures. We chatted togeth-
er like three schoolgirls. We knew
about everything, from the tiny silver
bound prnyerIbook that had been
reat-grandmother' to the ruby ear
rings which were to be mine some day.
But we liked so much to hearit all over
again! We could not pile up high
enough the proof that the mother OF
our childish days had come back to us.
1t seemed to US as II rose long with
cred had been uplifted TO dewiness and
youth. We bad read of such magic.
We only remembered that the rose had
been renewed. We forgot the end Of
the story.
snow for1 the dress!" I cried, as we
L.