Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-07-09
toes was. without any talk, dropped
quietly into hia hands

of-door duties which usually devolve
upon the master OF the house, but
which Lucy, in her loving eagerness to
spare her husband time and trouble,
had indiscreetly taken upon herself;
Mrs. Briant laughingly accused her of
over ofaciousness, quietly took them
out of her hands and restored them to
their rightful owner And all this was
done so sweetly by the amiable law
glver that neither party could gainsay
her, and the mystifled minister really
felt she was sustaining him In his
rightful authority. Indeed, he was
morally and physically a better, hap
pier and more useful man for the
healthy out-ofd door employments to
which her sagacious administration
had subjected him. He dawdled less
with his pen, and wrote better when
he did write.
BY the time Mrs. Brlant's visit drew
near its Intended close, the gentle lit
tie tactlcian had her leviathan pretty
well in hand; for though quiet in her
advances as the incoming tide, she was
quite as irresistible. Lucy. cheered
by her mothers presence and silent
support, and set free from the house
hold bonds that had so oppressed and
enthralled her, was herself once more.
She had regained her natural elasticity
Of step and feeling, and brought out
by her mothers judicious management
she had taken and worthily filled her
proper place in the parish rs the min.
listers wife, and was beloved and re-
spected in the congregation.
II have been thinking, my dear Mr..
Holland" said Mrs. Briant in her most
mellifluent tones, one day when the
soup she had presided over had given
him great satisfaction, that after l
leave you, Lucy had better have a sec.
ond girl"
Mr.. Holland looked up In blank sur.
prise, and calmly and sweetly the lady
went on:
Katie, though a good girl as fnr as
she goes, Is very inefficient She is
honest, but she Is miserable cook,
and very wasteful. But all such young
6iLAo alCt tiiCy Hdbl6 Null SIlOukn 10
keep q family. And the washes are
very heavy; gentlemen and babies"
she said, with a ripping laugh, make
great deal of washing, you know,
and Katie Is vary slow, and If you
have to put it out that Is very ex-
pensive. And then there is SO much
sewing to be done. | did hope we
should find time to make up your new
| linen before l left, but 1t is not cut
out yet, and Lucy will never get
through a dozen shirts alone. Poor
| girl! the parish and the baby make
| such heavy demands upon her time,
think she will have to put your shirts
out to be made" And with a few
pleasant remarks about the parish and
| the weather, she smilingly withdrew
| But the good seed had been carefully
| sown. The parson, though not over
| wise in general, was sharp and shrewd
where money was in question, and
knew the full value Of dollars and
cents. He took the matter into con-
sideration, nicely balanced the pros and
cons. He knew that Mrs. Briant, in
her quiet, lady-like way, had been
very efficient in his family; she super
intended the cooking, and under her
direction were prepared the savOry
meats that his soul loved. He knew,
too, that since her advent among them
his weekly expenses had been lessen
ed, not increased. He knew that the
liberal board which she had insisted
upon paying ever since she had been
with them amounted to half as much
as his salary, while her generous gifts
supplied many needs Of the little
household. He knew that she relieved
his wife of much care and labor; and
that her experience during the babys
troubles in the ivory business, upon
which he had just entered, had already
saved him the fatigue and expense of
many visit to the doctor; and all
these loving services were freely CIV
en-. On the other hand, If she left, all
this must stop. An additional servant
would cost him three dollars q week,
to begin with, and how much in waste
and discomfort? And as to putting
out washing and sewing, those were
bugbears of unknown expense which
he could not estimate. The parson
drew his conclusion--he was used to
that business; 'in conclusion" was his
favorite portion Of his sermon-so, in
conclusion, he requested Lucy to invite
her mother to become a permanent
member of the family; and Lucy, who
In her unselfishness thought dear
Bozzy did 1t all for her sake, could
not express her Joy and gratitude.