Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1901-04-18

THE COTTAGE
word of sympathy which made them
doubly welcome. \ hint as to cooking
or sewing or coming to church regular.
ly was taken kindly from the good
lady. One day Aunt Mary said she
was going on rather a longer drive
than usual and asked the children
whether they would like to come with
her.
"oh, yes, Aunt Mary. Where is it we
are goingg"
ITO village far away there among
the hills. 1t is not very good road for
This and That, but never mind, 1 am
anxious to take you. There is some
thing to see there which may do you
good" .
Something to see. What, auntie?
Tell u.s."
mo. We will wait till we get there
IL was put into my head that 1t would
be good sight for certain little girl
| know who came crying to me this
morning with a thorn in her finger and
said she could not let Susan take it out
for she could not bear PAIN
Nellie blushed. She knew who this
little girl was. After dinner they set
off, Aunt Mary putting in basket
which was full of many good things.
the children We're sure. Nellie and
BERTHE sat behind, as Ben was wanted
to drive. The road was bad in one
part, and Aunt Mary thought This and
That would need a stronger arm than
hers to hold them in going down the
hills. 1t was a pleasant drive over n
wide common at first and then down n
sandy lane which led TO valley be-
tween two sloping hills. Behind the
hills, whore the mountains shut i'm n lit
tie lake, lay Deep Glen, Aunt Mary's
country home. a pretty little village
nestled here, but they went on and on
till they came to another narrow lane,
up which This aud That must climb.
Here BERTHE and Nellie got out and
walked with Ben. who climbed up the
steep hedges for brier roses and strag-
Cling honeysuckle and gathered the
children quite a lovely nosegay. Get
ting up the hill was a long business.
for This and That were allowed to rest
many times. Ben putting a stone be-
hind the back wheels and going to
praise and pat his fayorites, as If they
were performing great feat by drag
ging the light weight of Aunt Mary
and the basket carriage up the hill.
The top was gained ut last. and two
or three cottages stood just beyond.
Before the first Aunt Mary stopped. A
little white headed boy playing in the
road waved his cap and then went run
ming up the patch to the cottage door
calling out to some one within named
Mollie. Mollie proved to be tall girl
of IL, who came out smilingly to greet
Aunt Mary.
How is Patty today, MollleT
Much as ever, ma'am. VIII you
please TO come in? Mothers gone down
to Farmer Jiles' for days work."
answered Atollie.
Aunt Mary got out of the carriage,
and. giving BERTHE the basket TO carry,
she said they might follow her into the
cottage. 1t was n tidy room they en-
tered, but no one was there. Aunt
Mary seemed to know the way. She
opened door at one end of the kitchen
and said, Il may go up, suppose, Mol
lieY
"Oh. yes, ma'am," said Mollie, who
was trying to keep Bill, the white
headed boy they had seen in the road,
from pushing up against the children.
Patty will be rarely glad to see you.
It's been bad day with her"
BERTHE and Nellie climbed up few
steep stairs after their aunt and enter
ed little low room with n sloping roof
where I'm a small bed lay a little girl
with thin, pale face and large, dark
eyes, which in spite of the dark rings
round them and the sunken hollow
cheeks beneath had a bright express
sion.
We'll, Patty, my child" she said as
a little. shrunken, thin hand was eager
ly stretched out, "how are you today?
l have brought two little friends to see
you. Put the basket down, BERTHE, and
come and speak TO Patty"
BERTHE obeyed, and he and Nellie each
took the sick child's hand in theirs for
II moment and then seated themselves
9n one wooden chair which Mollie
iusted, while Aunt Mary took the
other.
Il am so glad to see YOU" said Patty.
1T has been bad day. but | am better
now" she added brightly, land / can
talk to you now, ma'am. oh, like TO
see that little boy and girl so much!'
Patty's eyes rested on her little visitors
with a sort of earnest admiration very
touching.
II have brought you some .strawber-