The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-09-21

ing ABOUT II, you are too oiu W 70 vi hN
ing here alone in this way. Sister Han
nah and have talked it all over, and we
think that the thing for you is to live with
us. We've both got a nice comfortable
room and you can stay part of the time
with me aud part Of the time with Han
nah can she, Hannah p
"Yes, you can, mother; and the sooner
you make up your mind to it the better,
for, as Sister Martha says, we're not will
ling that you should 90 on living here alone
now that father gone Little old Mrs
Raynor looked helplessly and appealingly
into the faces of the two large and deter
mined looking women before her. IF they
noticed the half-repressed quivering of her
lips OF the appealing look in her dim eyes
they gave no sound of relenting on that
account.
Hannah and Martha had ''made up
their mind and when they had once
done this they were not to be moved by
quivering lips and quivering hearts They
really felt that they were doing the wisest
and best thing for their mother by insist
ING upon compliance with their wishes
The old lady had been widow for two
years and had lived alone in her comfort
able little home ever since the death of
her husband. Her daughters had for
some time been telling her that she ought
to give up and live with them But
the old lady did not take kindly to this
suggestion.
1--WE KEEP house ever since the day
was married" she said. in gentle opposi-
ton to her daughters plans for her ''I' We
always had home o my own, an it don t
seem as if [ could give mp now an 90 an
live any place where | wouldn' be free to
do as I've a mind to. | know that I
shouldn' be happy outside my own home. "
But Hannah and Martha had said that
this was all nonsense, " and they had now
decided that their mother should sell her
comfortable little house and spend the rest
of her days with them. She knew that
she would be treated as child in the
home of either of her daughters, and their
ways were not her ways. She knew that
she would not have the free use of her own
small income but that Hannah and Mar
tha would insist on directing her expendi-
lures She had pension of S12 month
and if she sold her home, which had been
an inheritance from her father, Hannah
and Martha would expect to take charge
of the money.
Her daughters were married to prosper
ous men, and they had large and snowy
homes in which their mother had never
They kept servants and lived in what they
proudly felt to be "style,' and their
mother had always lived in the simplest
way, and had never been happier than
when busy in her own cozy and comforta
bic little Kitchen And Hannah had said
"A woman Of your years ought to keep
out of the kitchen and be dressed up nice
and tidy all the time, with a dainty little
cap and pretty white apron.
Il don't know what in the land / do
if | couldn't gel up of a Monday an do
my own little wash, and my own ironing
on Tuesday. And | cant tell the time
when | ain't baked on Wednesday and
cone to the sewing circle and ladies' prayer
meeting at the church in the afternoon
and had someone in to tea with me as often
as once week Then don know what
should do if | couldn' make up a lot o
Jelly when currents get ripe, and can and
preserve all summer | ain half as lone
some livin' alone here as I'd be in either
Hannah's or Martha's house. Oh, |
cant 90 there to live | can give up
nv own home and my own ways, | can t,
| can't -
And vet Hannah had said when she and
Martha were about to depart, ''Now, moth
er, you can just make up your mind that
you are going to give up and ceme and live
with Martha and me the first of the year.
We will come over then to help you break
up.
She was still sitting in the kitchen with
her gray head bent to the arm lying on
the kitchen table, when there came a
knock at the rear entry door. Rising
hastily she went to the kitchen sink and
quickly bathed her eyes in cold water be-
fore opening the door.
"Why, Jared p she said when she had
opened the door and found a short, stout,
kindly looking man with eyes as blue as the
sky and twinkling with CHEEKY good hu-
NOR, standing on the little back porch.
"Td an idea it was Philena Moss. She
said that mebbe she would come over today
and get my copper kettle to do some pre-
serving in. Come in. y
at amt hardly wuth while, for I've
so little time to stay. 1 thought TX just
come over and see if you didn't want me
to come over some day this week and gath
er that tree O. Baldwins for you. They
ought to be got in soon, and you can DO
it. Or, anyhow, you amt going to do it
while am around. Gittin up in the top
of tree and pickin' apples ain t no fit
work for woman
"No. it. isn't, and was thinkin' that
I'd have to get someone to pick my apples
for me on shares. It's very good of you,
Jared, to offer to do it, and III pay you,
"Stop right where you are, Huldah =
exclaimed her caller with fine show of
Indignation. FWhen the time comes that
Jared Hawkins want pay for gathering
tree or dozen trees of apples for the
widow of his best friend, he will let you
know. IF you want to see my dander rise
and hear me use language unbecomin' to
a Methodist in good, reg lar standin', you
go on offerin' to pay me for pickin them
apples. Can't man who has known you
from the time you was knee-high to
duck an who used to drag you to school
on his sled when you was in your A B Cs
an who beaued you home from singin'
school later on, an who stood up with you
an Hiram Raynor at your weddin' offer
to-why, Huldah, you been cryin' an
you look as if you were goin' at that sort
o foolishness again. y
eyes, have been crying admitted