The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-12-28
JACKS HOUSE

|9b EalII assuming house-like pro-
portions: but Content watched its dai-
ly growth with a wonderful light of
satisfaction in her brown eyes. She
could see it plainly from Aunt Prissy's
little shop window, looking down the
quiet road and across n field white
with daisies; and she loved to watch
the sea of bending blossoms, and whis.
per softly to herself, "The path that
leads to 1t Is all pure white"
"Growin finely amt it?' said Miss
Prissy, cheerily, busting and arrang.
ing the bright silk handkerchiefs,
skeins of yarn, boxes of needles, jars
Of candy and the rosy checked apples
that decorated the show window, even
while she looked beyond them at the
new building. ITS goin' up slick as
a new pin"
Eyes, yes" returned Uncle Joachim
shaking his head; '1f there only don't
come hard wind and blow it over, or
a heavy rain to food the cellar, or
somebody set 1t a-fire, mebby. There's
no tellin'-never no tellin' in this un-
certain worldr'
La, Joachim" said Miss Prissy,
nimbly mounting the counter and pur-
suing conversation and q splder-web
together, Eve hain't had n drop of
rain this three weeks, and it's Just
what were needln'. AS for winds,
'twould take something moren COM
mon to blow such walls as them
down"
81 don't know bout that-don't
know" answered Uncle Joachim. un-
convinced. 1T blew a pretty smart
breeze last night, and could feel our
house shake. Thought very likely our
roof would be carried away afore
mornin'-more'n likely. l went up to
the garnet to-day and tied a rope to
the raiters and then hitched the 9TH
er end fast to the old spinnin' wheel;
but it's doubtful If thatI save it
doubtful"
Content laughed softly, but Uncle
Joachim heard it.
Don't make fun of solemn things.
child; don't never do that" he said. re.
provingly II knew a nan once that
ridiculed the idee of any burglars ever
breakln' into his house, and the very
next day his brother had his pockets
picked. A good many folks have n
good 'many things happen to 'em, and
it's best to be prepared"
Well commented Miss Prssy.
briskly, Il must say fort, I'm bout as
well prepared for pickpockets as for
anything | know of. Nobody d make
much out of my pockets, unless they
was sufferin' for n pair of steel-bowed
spectacles and an old brass thimble.
There comes the mail" she added. as
rusty, dusty horseman stopped at the
door. Content ana nell tend TO ii,
Joachim, dear; you're feelln poorly
to-day, l know, and you'd better sit
STILL
He had no idea of doing anything
else; but it was n pleasant fiction of
Miss Prissy's that brother Joachim"
was always just about to do something
useful and energctlc-a belief that had
never died out in ell the twenty years
that she had taken care of him. Faith
er, mother, sister all We're gone but
these two ana the sisters orphaned
. child, Content n bonny, winsome mai
den, who had come like sunshine to
the quaint, quiet old house.
Uncle Joachim sat in his easy chair,
with gaze that wandered afar Off.
mourning over the hills that were not
leveled, the valleys that never would
be filled up and the mountains that
wouldn't come TO Mohammed. He had
OF notl, 20
ing to do the daily work and bear the
little daily trials, because he was hold
ing himself as sort of reserve corps
against the terrible calamltes that
never came. But Miss Prlssy's keen
and kindly eyes could, fortunately, see
nearer home-even to the sewing of
buttons on brother Joachim's coat,
the mendlng of rents in his linen, and
the necessity of providing for three
meals day. So she whisked about,
always busy, worked and planned,
turned and darned; made over her
dresses wrong side up and inside out,
c0ntrived neat caps out of nothing,
and collars out of what was left. She
took care of the small store that was
also the village postofiice, and looked
4fter the diminutive garden besides
dil the whole family grateful, and in.
nocently plying any poor lone wo.
men folks that hadn't any man to help
or perfect 'em."
The arrival Of the mail was always
a pleasant little ripple in the days
still current, and Content and Aunt
Prissy sorted the small bundle with
some good natured guessing and neigh
borly sympathy-hoping this for Mrs
Grey was from her sailor boy, and
that the one for Deacon Cole would
bring good word from his sick daugh
ter Content was listening with deep
ening color meanwhile for a step thai
was sure soon to come.
''Any letters for me, Miss Prissy p
asked Jack HOward's clear, hearty
voice.
mot one," answered Content, laugh
lpox nm into fha hl.to ayae That 1ia no