The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-08

liS IcH 1OAh cNL1iE
that Mary Wyatt had become Mrs. Amos
Forsyth until just before her dea1h.
more than thirty years later, there had
never been a break in the correspondence
save when the sisters were together. At
last there had come an ANXIOUS Monday
evening when no letter reached them, ana
later q few hurried lines from Mary s son
John, with whom she had lived since hs
wife's death, telling OF the illness OF his
mother, then a telegram saying that all
was over, and finally that desolatIng gap
that can never be bridged.
Il suppose you have a letter Tor me-
said Miss Letitia, as Lucy came in with
the Monday evening mail.
1T is for Deborah this time
THAT is very strange. 1t Is Johns turn
to write to me"
Miss Deborah opened her letter and gave
an exclamation oil surprise.
Il hope there is not any bad news?'
Lucy asked anxiously.
No. They are all well. John is propo-
sing to bring all the family on to spend
the summer with us
Upon my word, that's very cool.' ex-
claimed Miss Letitia. 1T is very strange
he did not write to me when 1t is my
turn, and | am the Oldest she added.
u suppose he wrote to me because l am
housekeeper. You can answer the letter
If you like"
q have enough letters of my own 10
answer, thank you. / should think Els
Their would nave the sense to see that 1t
may not be convenient for us to have
TWO grown people and two children and
a nurse and baby to spend the summer.
she has, and Miss Deborah read an
extract from the letter.
Esther tells me we are althOgether too
big a family now to infiict on you, and
as her ather's house IS not large enough
to receive us she proposes our going to
Mrs. Homer Newhalls boarding house,
but l told her my aunts would feel deeply
hurt if we didn't come to them. OF
course, if for any reason it is not conven-
lent, you will let US know frankly. |
long to have you all see Mary. She s
beginning to walk and take notice, and
yesterday she electrified me by saying
papa"
John is a perfect fool over that child"
Miss Deborah observed. MARY IS thirteen
months old, and ought to AVE said papa
weeks ago; Lucy said papa and mama
when she was nine months old, and John
himseIf-and boys are not usually so for
ward as ~girls-began to talk when he
was
For heavens sake spare US those rem
iniscences,' said Miss Letitia. What are
you going to write to John?"
'Oh, [ suppose they will have to come;
but what on earth can we 40 about Mr..
Gray l don't see. Jack and Lily will
tease him outrageously, poor creature, and
he is used to such a placid life"
4 declare, Deborah, l believe you put
the cats comfort before that OF your own
family. l am used to a placid lie, too"
Miss Letitfa remarked.
you can protect yourself. If tie baby
were only a little younger I shouldn't
mind so much. but as soon as a child Is
big enough to walk it is big enough to
get into every kind of mischief. Dear.
fascinating little thing, l long to see
her, but l would rather see her at the
Instance of Mrs. NeWhall's boarding
house."
Then why don't you have the courage
of III convictions and say so to John?'
"LetItiai' Lucy cried reprOachtuliy.
You wouldn't have the heart to let them
go to a boarding house when we have
four spare rooms!"
1--WE can manage the room we'll
enough" said Miss Deborah. I'VE can
give them the three south rooms open
ing together"
$50 you are planning to have me move
out of my room?" Miss Letitia asked.
why l thought you could move into
mine, and 1 would take the little room.
1t would be SO much more comfortable
for them to have connecting rooms and
an open fire."
Miss Deborah had known her sister for
more than fifty years, and her faith IL
the inherent unsefshness of human ma
&.z 49, 49, -&.JI
make a proposition of this kind.
"Letitia would never be happy in any
room but her own,'' said Lucy, who had
knocked her head against her sisters lin
~itations too often not to recognize them.
Its no matter if they don't nave CON
Meeting rooms. The nurse and the baby
can be across the hall"
Il am very sorry about poor dear Mr..
Gray" said Miss Deborah, rcverting to
her pet. Il know that naughty baby
will pull his tail and make him very
unhappy, and as for Jack and Lily
John Is a dear fellow Miss Letitia
interrupted, but like all men, he is sell
fish. 1t never occurs to him to look at
things from any point of view but his
own"
They were coming, actually coming at
last. Miss Deborah had gone to me sta
ton to meet them, and Miss Letitia and
Lucy were waiting IN the parlor, which
was gay with a wealth of roses arranged
IN bowls and vases by Lucy's skillful
fingers. 1t was not often that she was
allowed to follow her own taste entirely,
even in small things, but the others had
been so busy witt larger decisions that
they had left the cutting and arranging
of the flowers to har
My dear, you have a real genius for
fixing flowers" said Miss Letitia. She
always recognized perfection when she
saw it, but her praise was given so rarely
that her words brought a glow to Lucy's
heart.
At last there was a sound of wheels on
the gravel, then came a gay laugh and
a shrill voice voice called out. mr..
Gray! What an awfully funny name for
him. l thought he was a person when
Aunt Lucy wrote about him first. Hi,
Mr.. Gray, you needn't be so scared of
me. Hullo, Aunt Lucy,' and Jack
rushed into the room, closely followed by
his sister Lily. Next came John, carry
mo tho hnh u rpttl u 80,