The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-07-27
By ELIZABETH PRICE.

ssCome in, Harriet" called Mrs.
Dinsmore, adding as her daughter-in-
law entered, "I can always tell your
rap-it is so decided"
The younger woman looked pleas
ed. 81 have often thought that a
persons character was manifested in
almost all their actions" she said,
and I believe can say without con-
ceit that have decision of character. I"
eyes, Harriet, = was the demure
reply: :,
Mother, shall have to be out all
day. Marketing and other errands
will occupy the morning and as I am
chairman of the refreshment commit
tee for our Woman's club tea this
afternoon / will take lunch down
town. / have instructed the children
to 90 from school to sister Caroline's
so as not to disturb you.
''The maids will attend to your
lunch and anything else you want.
Just ring for Jane if you need her.
She will go out at 2 o'clock, but after
that Bridget will answer your bell.
Have you everything to make you
comfortable for the dayl" and Mrs.
Harriet adjusted the cushions on the
luxurious couch and drew down a
shade to soften the light.
Eyes, thank you. But isn't there
something can do for you? Mend
| ing or darning or busting 7" The
old lady's tones were wistful, but
Mrs. Harriet smiled indulgently and
shook her head. ''No, indeed, mother,
Benjamin and / didn't bring you here
to make drudge of you. Your life
work has been we'll done, and you de-
serve a complete respite for the time
that ie 1aft fn vni1 Xoss dosa,t iooi<
very strong of late, and are losing
your color. Benjamin must get you
a tonic. Don't think of trying to
work-just rest and read or knit and
enjoy yourself. Goodbye"
''I've been useful woman, and 10
be suddenly transpIanted from home
where l did everything to one where
can do nothing is-torture. Callers
are not encouraged lest they excite
me. My grandchildren are kept out
of my room though I have assured
Harriet they wouldn't disturb me.
But she only smiles and says / don't
realize what noisy little creatures they
are. AS if I cared When Bennie
lived at home he was always needing
something done for him, but if he does
now never hear oft. But then he's
such busy man I see very little OF
him-which of course is nobody s
fault and I ought to be ashamed to
mention It. w
s.I wonder if couldr't find little
dirt to clean up. I'm going to take
the whisk and try. Maybe Jane didn't
sweep under things" But the quest
was fruitless for Mrs. Harriet had
herself superintendent the cleaning.
So Mrs. Dinsmore turned her atten-
ton to her own wardrobe, but not
button was missing-not a rent or a
rip could be found. IT might have
known it." she said with patient
little sigh. my clothes were all
spick- and span new after came here,
and I've done nothing to hurt them.
don't exert myself enough to loosen
tape if it hung by single thread
and I'm aching and tingling to work.
want broom or churn or a table
full of dishes to wash. They think ]
couldn't do it--how father would
laugh at such an. idea. He knew
whether / had outlived my useful
ness.
.'I wonder if things look as they
used to at home. The vines that
shaded the back porch and the holly
hooks along the stone wall. It's
nearly time for the day lilies to bloom
now unless the tenant chickens have
scratched them up, which they proba.
bly, have. Oh, how I hate this lace,
I've knitted yards of it already and
don't suppose Harriet will ever use
it. I'd rather have piece of ging'
ham and my old sewing machine thar
all the touics ever brewed."
Mrs. Harriet would not have com
planned of lack of color in her moth
er-in-law's cheeks had she seen hel
then. Her face was glowing and hel
step showed no feebleness as she pacet
back and forth and held rebellion:
communion with her thoughts. "I'n
wicked-I am and never thought
would be-" she exclaimed aloud
"Father wouldn't know me for th'
wife he used to say he'd never seer
out of patience. But I've held in 81
long must speak out at last. Ant
to think it's my own dear boy Tn
raging about and his good wife, jus
because they try to be considerate o
me. Truly,the human heart is de
ceitful above allthings and desperatel,
wicked. That's me-deceitful ant
wicked after getting the credit o
being a Christian for 40 years. I
must be all for the best-no doubt
need this discipline, but don't wan
| it, no / don't. I've tried to max
myself see how it would have been
were left alone and penniless, bu
even that doesn't seem so awful as !
ought to.