Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-05-07

was having one of her gloomy spells,
and was looking at all created things,
herself included, through the bluest
kind of spectacles.
For several days she had gone about
the house with dull aching ut her
heart, n cloud upon her brow, and Il
querulous twang in her voice, until her
husband-kind. f0rbearing man as he
was--began to lose patience, while
Bridget, in the kitchen. muttured al
most audibly that "A saint from hlven
would find herself clane bate out wild
trying to place her"
Mrs. Longman was not by nature q
bad-tempered woman: on the contrary
,he possessed many noble and comment
liable qualities, but her spirits were
not equable: she would have her
gloomy attacks, which. had there been
looked upon in the light of an affection
worthy of sympathy, but as it was,
even the most lenient of her friends
characterized them by the name of
dumps" which. though Webster con-
dennis it as not being an "eleS""t
word, was in his Opin'"-- i"i'e SUI"
enouob Ia o-r-.ess the state OF her case.
Her family might have been rem
dered miserable by her dependency
had they been of the material capable
of being made miserable, but as it was,
each one accepted the visitation in his
or her individual way. Mr.. Longman
stayed out of the house all he could,
Bridget contented herself with her
prayer book and beads in the comfort
able kitchen, while the two boys. who
were too young to go to school, except
in fine weather, amused themselves in
their playroOm in the attic. or in Bird.
gets domain, where they were always
welcome.
The short November day was draw.
ing to close, and although the little
gilt clock on the mantel had proclaimed
it to be only o'clock, it was getting
too dark for Mrs. Longman to sew any
longer upon the little cloth suits she
was languidly mending. so laying them
aside she wandered aimlessly into the
kitchen, where Bridget was folding the
newly ironed clothes from the rack by
the glowing CRATE
"Mr. LOngman will not be at home
until this evening Bridget" she said
"business will detail in him down town
so You may just set up anything for
the children; do not feel as though
could eat anything; everything tastes
alike to me and nothing tastes right"
What the reply would have been will
never be known, for at that moment
there came a resounding knock upon
the alley gate, and throwing an old
shawl over her head Bridget hastily re-
spOnded to the call.
at is two boys, ma'am," she said. re.
turning almost Immediately, "and they
have come to party here"
"A nartvw nchnnd Mus T s..
establishment; "whO in the world told
them there was party here?'
Il don't know, ma'am; will 20 and
ask them" said the willing maid. who
apparently would rather have got wet
''%B rhingg them in out of the rain, Bird
GET called Mrs. Longmen from tho
door, until we find out what it means
"Of course" thought she to herself
'it is mistake, but what possessed
them to come to the alley gate?'
Bridget came in. followed by the
boys, who had been in the meantime
Joined by third and who, nOtwlth
standing the soaking rain. We're not Rs
wet as might have been supposed. 0w.
ing to their having piece of Oilcloll
around them, which upon inspection
proved to be Old carriage curtains
Sewed together, while the last arrival
spOrted gentleman's old swallow-tail
dress coat. which made a useful. if not
very handsome, overcoat for the fes
iye-seeking lad. They did not appear
to think it expected of them to remove
their dripping hats and stood eyena
the good fire and Mrs. Longman with
cOmplacent smiles.
You say you came to party said
the lady; have you not made mis-
take?'
"Oh. no, ma'am; this is the place
your boys told us. We went to the
front Of the house and took the NUMBER
as soon as we sold our papers, and here
it u.s." said he of the swallOw-tail. tax
ing scrap of the margin of a news
paper from his pocket and showing the
number, sure enough, in magnificent
proportions.
Mrs. Longman was bewildered.
You say as soon as you sold out
your papers. What do you mean"
"Why, you see, we are newsbOys
ma lam, every one Of us. and we 'dailies
could get off earlier. but the Evening
Telegram and the Bulletin and the
Herald and the News will be along as
soon as they can hire somebody to cry
for them. and they are going to pay
them with something from the party
If you please, ma'am," with an air OF
cheerful confidence.
Mrs. Longman could not restrain q
smile.
go to the attic, Bridget, and call the
children down." said she. Take of
your wraps. boys. and dry your feet
and we will see what can be done"
Bridget soon returned with the de
linquents.
Boys, how did you happen to invite
company without telling me. so that
could be prepared for them?" said their
mother, gently but gravely.
"Why, we did tell. mamma, don't
you remember? We told you that Mr.
Reisinger told our class last Sunday
that we were not doing much good in
the world If we invited boys to feast
who had plenty to eat and wear, and
who could invite us in return, and he
said we ought to invite poor boys tC
whom such things were treat. He
said Jesus loved the lame and the
blind, and if we wished to be like Hin
we must do as He did. So Johnnie and
me told all the newsboys we met &c
come to party here tonight and bring
all the lame and blind boys they could