The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-05-17
a Mothers
Story
By rrrA ELLEN FELINER

II HE afternoon sun sinking to rest
in the west cast for a moment its
brilliant and departing rays upon a
solitary farmhouse in the Berkshire
mills. then the bright glows faded
away; the sun disappeared behind the
mountain. and it was a soft, beautiful
twilight
Two women come out of the farm
house and sit down upon the perch in
the twilight-mother and daughter
The mother has an earnest. thoughtful
look in her face. which is fair still, al
though her hair Is snowy white. The
girl is beautiful truly, and her mother
is very fond and proud of her The
mother sits in a large armchair and
her daughter on the steps at her feet
AS the mother tenderly strokes the
abundant tresses upon her fair young
daughters head she questions her very
earnestly.
$50 my little lassie has had an offer
of marriage, and cannot decide what her
answer shall be? Ali Do not blush,
All ANAAaf III L nave huOhA jill dlOuE
how John loved you. though | have
been worried for fear you did not ap-
preciate his good heart and honest ma
ture. | was afraid you would hesitate,
dear. before you gave himIyour answer,
because he is only a farmer lad; but
John would be loyal and true TO his
wife; besides, he is a thrifty, indus
trious young man.
Il will admit Johns not stylish, or
what some would call refined, but it is
character. dear, one must look at, and
all the neighborhood knows Johns good
principles. We know all about that
young man from the city. and am not
denying but what he has been kind and
polite to you; but John loves you, and
a true, honest heart has John
You don't like the idea of farming?
Why, your fathers a farmer, childi
Was it not only this morning that you
were telling me how dearly you loved
your father. and what good man he
was? You think that a fathers occupa-
ton is different from husbands? Ny
dear little girl. one must be wise in
making a choice for life. Fine feath-
ers do not make fine birds. and though
John is rather plain in his looks, he
would always be proud of his wife You
say you are not sure that you love him
and that you may love that city young
man?
We'll, dear, win have to tell you the
story of my own love affair, a story you
have never known. l should not tell il
to you now, but it may help you to de-
eide about jain.
las you know, was born down in
the village, and was considered the vii.
lage belle. My father was a graduate
from Williams college, although he was
( poor and farmer. so | had better ad.
vantages in a way of education thar
most country girls, and was deemed
! quite accomplished When | was about
| your age. l, too. had a lover-he wa:
something like your John. Hewas rough
in his ways, a farmer, and often hi:
hands were soiled with honest work
which did not please my girlish fancy
then; but l lived to learn that it was
better to have soiled hands than a soileC
/ soul
But at IS felt as you 90 now. ant
knew that my lover was rather plair
and old-fashioned in his ways. Ont
| winter, just before we were to hav,
been married, some city young men Wis
tied our village and gave concerts anC
shows in the schoolhouse. Much to GU,
establishment they remained in tn,
village all winter, and one of then
boarded at our house. My mother wa:
dead then and father and l lived to
gether. The city young man seemed
to admire me very much, and soon
was listening to his fiattering speeche.
and forgetting my betrothed lover. M,
new admirer was making love to me
and vowing that he adored me h,
asked me to be his wife. He told m,
was too beautiful to pass my day,
1 in a dreary farmhouse. and that tn,
| man that l had promised to marry wa,
only an ignorant country farmer-anC
/, foolish girl that was, listened to hin
and believed him.
81 began to be ashamed of my love-
| and of my engagement and to look witt
great pride and edmiration upon NJ,
new lovers soft, white hands and hi:
stylish and expensive clothes. He wa:
very handsome and apparently refined
and believing him wise and good,
loved him and promised to be his wife