The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-03-27

and strawstacks were favorite deposit |
tories. and Beth and | did love to slide
down those great, clean, conical piles
Managers and haymows where we loved
to jump, calf pens and dog kennels al
ways yielded bountifully and gave us
no end of fun. Strikes! Such things
were unknown. Those hens knew that
they were born to lay eggs, and there
was jubilant cackling going on all
day somewhere on the farm. 1t was
always Easter with those hens.
"After the egg hunting Beth and l
buried ourselves in the kitchen for the
remainder of the day, with pots, pans,
kettles and dyestuffs. 1t wouldn't have
been half an Easter to us without col
ored eggs. Logwood chips produced
beautiful purple, onion skins a yellow
tinge. For variety we sometimes stuck
bits of beeswaX on the shells, which in
these places remained white and gave
the eggs a spotted appearance.
"From mothers box of pieces or
from some neighboring mothers box
ured calicoes, reds, blues, green's, ETC.,
colors that would run She sewed
bit of cloth round each egg, then we
dropped them into boiling water, where
they remained few minutes and came
out with the figures and colors of the
cloth stamped upon them. Artistic Gre
atoms these We're. We expressed our
joy by dancing around the room, then
laid the eggs separately on platters and
exhibited them to admiring friends.
ooh, Beth, Beth! It's twenty years
or more since you went away, and I'd
give the world for a glimpse of your
sweet face under that pink sunbonnet
now was the cry of the mans yearn-
ing heart. He bowed his head upon his
hands and for a few moments seemed
lost in thought.
The March wind whistled and Shrek
ed without, emphasizing the silence
within.
Sarah" resumed Mr.. Harris, rising
suddenly, "I'd like to have John aud
his sister spend Easter with us. What
do you say"
"Why, yes, of course, with all my
heart"
"We'll have them come, then, and
We'll give them all the eggs they can
eat for once. Don't believe they ever
saw hens nest in their lives"
Tie next day Mr.. Harris interviewed
his office boy.
John" said he, "who looks after
you since your aunt died?"
"My sister Alice, sir"
"How old is she?" -
"Going on twelve, sir"
"Well, want you and Alice to spent
the day with me tomorrow. Come tt
"a Central avenue. We breakfast a
; o."
"Thank you, sir" replied John, hi
: eyes fairly sparkling as he thought o
. the good news in store for Alice
: "Well bred, if they are poor" wa
. Mr.. Harris mental comment as JOIN
: and Alice appeared before him tn
next morning.
: Their fresh young voices and cheer
faces charmed him, and before the da
was over he had fully resolved to adop
the orphans.
lneN HuNeu Al ItldtlNC tliol thN
. know Of" he said. 81 can never b
!. young again, and Beth can never con-
! back to me, so I'll bring them here
!. and We'll have a new Beth and Davi
|. growing up in our home. Cousin 81
!. rah and have lived alone for fiftee
I years, and we're getting bit rust.
|. but these young people will brighte
|. us up. They'll put new life into L
|. and fill the old house with joy L
|. take them out on the farm next sun
|. mer and show them what hens nest
!. and haystacks are like. Well hay
/. Easter every day in the year"
|. That night Mr.. Harris had a Ion
|. talk with his "homekeeper," as
|. playfully called his cousin Sarah, son
|. ten years his senior, and the result VIZ
!. that John and Alice found hapI
I. home and warm hearts to care II
|. them. and all because of sweet mem
|. ries of happy childhood and a lovir
! sister Retb