Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-07-22

OI-uOOr uuueS winch usually QeNOlVe
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 of1ciousness, 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 mystifed 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-ofdoor 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. Briant'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 az 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 30 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 filed her
proper place in the parish as 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 u,ost
mellifuent 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 n
Katie, though a good girl as far as
she goes, is very inefficient. She Is
honest, but she is a miserable cook,
and very wasteful. But all such young
girls are; they waste half enough to
keep a family. And the washes are
very heavy; gentlemen and babies
she said, with a ripping laugh, make
a great deal Of washing, you know
and Katie is worry slow, and If You
have to put it out that Is very ex
pensive. And then there Is so much
sewing to be done. l did hope we
should find time to make UP your new
linen before l left, but it Is not Gu
out yet, and Lucy will never ger
through a dozen shirts alone. Poo
girl! the parish and the baby max,
such heavy demands upon her time,
think she will have to put your shirt
out to be made" And with a few
pleasant remarks about the parish ant
the weather, she smilingly withdrew
But the good seed had been carefully
sown. The parson, though not over
wise in general, was sharp and shrewt
where money was in question, an(
knew the full value of dollars ant
cents. He took the matter into con
sideration, nicely balanced the pros ant
cons. He knew that Mrs. Briant, IL
her quiet, lady-like way, had beer
very efficient in his family; she super
intended the cooking, and under hel
direction were prepared the savory
meats that his soul loved. He knew
too, that since her advent among then
his weekly expenses had been lessen
liberal board which she had insisted
upon paying ever since she had beer
with them amounted to half as mucl
as his salary, while her generous gift!
supplied many needs of the littl,
household. He knew that she relieved
his wife Of much care and labor; ant
that her experience during the baby's
troubles in the ivory business, upor
which he had just entered, had already
saved him the fatigue and expense Of
many a visit to the doctor; and al
these loving services were freely Civ
en-. On the other hand, IL she left. al
this must stop. An additional servan
would cost him three dollars a week
to begin with, and how much in waste
and discomfort? And as to putting
out washing and sewing, those wer,
bugbears of unknown expense which
he could not estimate. The parsor
drew his conclusion-he was used t.
that business; "in conclusion was hi
favorite portion Of his sermon-so. ii
conclusion, he requested Lucy to invite
her mother to become a permanent
member Of the family; and Lucy, WHIT
in her un~selfishness thought deal
Bozzy did 1t all for her sake, coult
not express her Joy and gratitude.
And now you know the reason til,
Reverend Boswell Holland resemblet
st. Peter. Don't you see? He had
"wife's mother" in the hOuse!-Wav
erley Magazine.