Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-02-08
The Broadening
of the Hacketts.
hY MARY n. MIIchrLL,

q OF the Jackets.
BY MARY E. MITCHELL.
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Guess you're right, 'Melia." said
Mr.. Hackett, laying down his knife
and fork, preparatory to long draft
of fragrant coffee; "but don't see
how can manage it, noways, this
years. I've got my last instalment to
pay on the meadow lot next week, and
It Will take every cent can spare.
Well have to put of being improved
till another time
Amelia Strengthened up with an air
of conscious capability, which brought
= faint tinge of pink into her usually
pale cheeks. The children gazed at
her respectfully, all but Bobby, who
was naturally irreverent and who Sc
cretly held all school teachers cheap,
not even excepting his own sister.
Il will see to the expense, father"
she replied. 1.-THE school board pays
my way and am going with the Far
mington teachers by train. You can
drive over in the three-seater and that
will save car fares. Then mother can
put up lunch, SO that al the cost
will be admission tickets, and l have
saved enough to pay for those. 1t
does seem like too great an oppor-
tunity to be neglected"
We'll, then. dear heart, SO it does!"
raunNnaod Mrc uoCHatt TO Tot.
TVS plump first out of the mug which
It was rapturously churning the milk.
tits real smart of you to lay by ali
that, and never word. I'm proud
Of you 'Melia!"
Amefia's face deepened into rose
red. 1t was pleasant to have her eff
forts appreciated. She did not be-
Srudge the money. 1t never should
be said that she instructed other peo-
pies children. and neglected her own
family's intellectual welfare. Never
theless, her salary as village school
teacher was meagre, and this had
been little in the nature of sacri-
nee.
II suppose we can leave Totty at
Lefty Rich's for the day." continued
Mrs. Hackett. The prospect of filing
big lunch basket which would be
SQUAT tustne sdemsnds of the hungry
Hacketts, and of caring for restless
family during hours of sightseeing,
did not just then appeal to her. But
her life being built, like that of most
mothers, on the plan of self-forgetful-
ness, she said nothing of the kind.
There is to be model kindergar-
ten for children" answered her
daughter. 81 should like Totty TO
have the advantage Oh it."
well, If we're going ito take day
off," remarked Mr.. Hackett, pushing
his chair away from the table, A
guess we've got to do bit of hustling
now. Robert, you can go at the on
ions, and il they aren't done better
than the beet bed you loafea over yes
terday, not step Will you go tomor-
row."
It was vacation time, and when
Amelie had dutifully helped her
mother with the mornings work, she
wandered out of doors, to the edge of
the orchard slope and sat down on
the soft grass. The world spread out
before her, broad and beautiful, but
1t was the world of the country, and
Amelia's soul longed for more.
Wetson was lonely little village,
apparently overlooked by anything
which limited of progress. Even the
railroad made detour, as if to ig.
more It., and established the nearest
station at Pennington, four miles
away.
It was at the Pennington Academy
that Amelia had been reused to long
for Culture-that elusive idtal al
ways, in her mind, to be spelled with
q capital She had tried to awaken
the same interest in her family; but
while they were proud of her, they re
NAMED sadly content with the simple
humdrum life, which included no lit
erary or artistic aspirations.
Amelia, smiling under the apple
trees. shook her head dolefully as she
thought of some of fler endeavors and
their subsequent failures. The very
Christmas before she had given hel
mother prettily bound book of es
says. which was warmly received. II
now occupied proud position on the
center table, its leaves uncut.
Her gift to her father had been a
photograph Of Botticelli Madonna
Mr.. Hackett thanked his daughter
with what heartiness he could sum
mon. and confided to his wife that il
seemed kind of heathenish and un
natural into the bargain" AS fol
him, he didn't want any prettier pic
ture than that" waving his hand to
ward the window framed view of roll
ing meadow lands and upland pas
lures, all adrift with snow and fleck
ed by the shadows of the swiftly
passing clouds. No. Amelia,s famil,
were certainly not DESTROYS of cul
ture.
But" thought Amelia, their idea
must be broadened by the fart"
The annual fair had always bee,
held in distant part of the country
too far away to be even considered b,
the Hacketts. This year severa
counties united, and were holding a
Plimpton, fifteen miles away, tn,
greatest exhibition ever given in tina
part OF the state. Besides all the &C