Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-02-11


of-door duties which usually deyolVe
upon the master of the house, out
which Lucy, in her loving eagerness TO
spare her husband time and trouple'
had indiscreetly taken upon herselr'
Mrs. Briant laughingly accused her OF
over ofliclousness, quietly took them
out of her hands and restored them TO
their rightful owner. And all this was
done so sweetly by the amiablt law
giver that neither party could gainsay
her, and the mystihod minister really
felt she was sustaining him In MS
rightful authority. Indeed, he was
morally and physically a better, hap
pier and more useful man for the
healthy out-of-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. 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 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 as the min
listers wife, and was beloved and re-
spected in the congregation.
Il have been thinking, my dear Mr..
Holland" said Mrs. Briant in her most
mellihuent tones, one day when the
soup she had presided over had given
him great satisfaction, that after
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 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, u
she said, with a ripping laugh, make
great deal of washing, you know
and Katie is very slow, and If you
have to put 1t 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 1 left, but it 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 an6
cents. He took the matter into con
sideration, nicely balanced the pros and
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
ed, not increased. He knew that the
liberal board which she had insisted
upon paying ever since she had beer
with them amounted to half as mucf
as his salary, while her generous gifts
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,
troubles In the ivory business. upo1
which he had just entered, had alread,
saved him the fatigue and expense O.
many a visit to the doctor; and al
these loving services were freely Civ
en-. On the other hand, If she left, al
this must stop. An additional servan
would cost him three dollars a week
to begin with, and how much in vast,
and discomfort And as to putin,
out washing and sewing, those wer,
bugbears of unknown expense which
he could not estimate. The parse,
drew his conclusion-he was used t,
that business; I'm conclusion" was hi
favorite portion of his sermon-so. II
conclusion. he requested Lucy to invit
her mother TO become a permanen
member Of the family; and Lucy, VIII
in her unselfishness thought dea
Bozzy did it all for her sake, coul,
not express her Joy and gratitude.
And now you know the reason tn
Reverend Boswell Holland resemble,
st. Peter. Don't Yon see2 LIZ hnd