Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-10-22

Tof< sis TO look after my three
rooms and see that they are swept and
busted"
II understand" replied Mrs. Peter
son. THE rooms and arrangement
suit me perfectly" she went on, as
they started downstairs again, land
l shall begin to move tomorrow. 1t
will be so nice to step round and not
always be running into somebody. And
now Mr.. Peterson's sister is living with
us. Well, good day. The things will
begin to come after tomorrow. Good
day" Theodore Foster stood looking
after her moment then he went into
the empty sittlngroom and took the
large Apartments to Let" notice from
the front window. He carried 1t up
to his own room. 81 hope it will be
a long time before | have to see YOU
again. he told it as he put it in his
desk.
1t was the first time for Il month
that he had felt really happy. Dur
Ing that time he had tried to get
tenant for his house. but had been ,n-
able to find suitable one. 1t had
been horribly lonely coming home at
night to cold. echolng house. But
now he would have the Petersons
there, and he looked forward to the
day after tomorrow with JOY. He
used to know Joe Peterson. but he
supposed he wouldn't see much Of
him, as Joe was away from the house
all the week. There were the chill
dren, too. He was fond of children,
even If he was an old bachelor. Then
he remembered that the children must
be nearly grown up by this time. Well
young people were almost as good as
children.
1t was the next day. while he was out
taking his constitutional, that his
friend EversOn saw him and crossed
the street to talk to him. so you
have got the Petersons?' he said, af-
ter they had walked some distance to-
gether. "Well. there's only one thing
about them that You won't like"
whats that" questioned Mr.. Eos
ter.
"Thelr piano"
"Oh, l don't mind piano practice rs
some do" said Theodore easily. In
fact. l rather like it,"
you haven't lived with the Peter
sons yet" said Everson sententiously.
You wait little. It's a terrible old
piano. / could get more music ont of
n brass kettle and tin pans. It's all
out Of tune, too: and. worst of all,
they keep banging away on it all the
time. It's something awful! There
are three girls who take lessons. and
they keep the old thing going about
nine hours a day" Theodore's face
had heightened during this descrip-
ton. what makes them keep such
IN antiQuity?" was asked.
well, you see they are rather poor,
and they can't afford new one"
Theodore walked moodily along af-
ter his friend left him. Then sudden
ly his face frightened. ~ can arrange
matters all right" he said, and went
on more briskly.
The next morning there was consid-
cradle grumbling from the two men
who moved the PetersOns belongings,
because Mr.. Theodore Foster insisted
on helping them.
He was especially troublesome about
the placing of the piano. He insisted
on having it on the very end of the
load, and tied it with his own hands
When the horses started he trottpd
along beside it, and they reached the
house at the same time. 1t was raw
morning, and the men We're putting
blankets on the horses. when sudden
" there came jangling crash. They
hurried to the back of the van and
found Theodore looking in horror and
lismay at the very badly smashed pi-
lnO.
ITS all my fault" was all he man.
aged to say before torrent of abuse
and oaths loud and deep overwhelmed
him.
Theodore went and told Mrs. Peter
son about the accident, and after he
had gone loud wall rose from the
three girls, but when the household pf-
fects We're moved in and the Petersons
went to their new home,
there. In the drawing-room. was n
beautiful brand new piano awaiting
hem.
They all stood in the doorway and
stared in amaZement.
"Mr. Foster had 1t sent" Aunt Sarah |
Peterson explained. She had been
here attending to that end of the
moving. "He said that as it was due
10 his carelessness that the other was
he should take the liberty |
IF replacing 1t by this one" Maud,
he eldest girl. went and tried the in
strument. Isn't it beautiful?' she
,ried rapturously.
Time went on and the girls practiced
Their aunt also took ad- |
vantage of the chance to play, so that
Theodore had all the music he want
I'd.
One day Theodore asked Maud to |
90 with him to the piano shop.
Il want you to try them ALL" he said,
and see If there is one you like bet
Ter than the one at home"
Maud tried them. NO" she de-
,lared, "there isn't one so nice"
by the way, won't you play that
new waltz for me?'
She seated herself at the nearest in |
strument and began to play. When
she had finished she looked around, hut
Theodore was not beside her. as she
lad supposed. Instead she saw him
1t the far end Of the room coming to-
ward her with piece of paper in his |,
hand. When he reached her he passed |
her the paper. "A birthday present. |
my dear; l believe 1t Is your birthday
today"