Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-10-10

Deen DONG with your mOlner, SlIiiSs
1t is not only that she is warm ard
tired, but what has brought this Old
look? You are only 40, Margaret, and
should be a comparatively young
woman"
The days went by. Mrs. Dillon's
comfort and pleasure was sc deity
ministered TO that she could not be
grateful enough to the brightfaced
girls whom she was learning to love.
The only drawback to her enjoyment
was her disappointment regarding her
sister.
What was wrong? Katherine did
not doubt her sisters love. But the
hours of companionship she had look
ed forward to were few and unsatis-
factory. Mrs. Daley spent the great
est part of her time in the kitchen.
When not there, she was silent, her
daughters evidently not expecting her
to take part in the conversation. She
seldom went into society, read little,
and was really behind the times
Mrs. Dillon gave the matter much
thought. She saw that the girls were
much surprised when she expected
their mother to take her rightful
place both at home and in the society
of the little place. 1t was not easy
to tell where the fault lay.
A month passed. September gave
place to October and the air grew
crisp and in~vigorating.
"A week more" Mrs. Dillon an.
nounced one morning at the breakfast
table, "a week more of pleasure.
Then We must decide which of you
is to go with me, and must HE me
away to Chicago to provide a suitable
outfit for myself and my companion"
it was the first time she had direct
ly mentioned the matter. The color
deepened in each girls cheeks, hut
they made no reply, They hsG all
grown very fond of their aunt, and a
winter with her had many attractions.
The week that Mrs. Dillon had men,
toned went by. They were again al
the breakfast table when the southern
trip was referred to.
81 shall start on Thursday" Kath.
crime said. Now as to who is to &C
with me-
She paused and redectively stiryGd
her coffee. Girls, | hope you W. Il
all be satisfied when l tell you
have decided to adopt your mother
No II spoke. The canary trilleG
gayly, a passing wagon ratified along
the street, and Mrs. Dillon finished
her graham gem with apparent rel,
ish. Then she went on:
II mean it, girls. | don't know
whose fault ii is, but there is some.
thing wrong in your home. Instead OF
being your friend and c~onfidante, in.
stead of being petted and care for,
instead of enjoying the Indian summer
of her life, your mother is a kitchen
drudge. More than this-she is fast
approaching a broken-down and love,
less old age. She may be as much
to blame as any II / am going ia
make one effort to bring sunshine into
her life. l shall take her to Chicago
and purchase her a supply Of suitable
and dainty clothing. Then / shall
carry her to the south for the winter.
She shall rest, read, enjoy pretty
things and bright people, and be loved
and petted. In the spring she shall
come back to you-if you deserve
her"
"Oh, Katherine, don't" cried the
mother. 81 couldn't leave my girls
alone, and besides | would rather they
should have the pleasure"
Aunt Hester Main, my housekeep
err, is to come and spend the winter
here was Katherine's cool reply
About your going, let the girls speak
for themselves"
Another pause. Then the latent
nobleness of Margaret Dailey's daugh.
ters asserted itself.
Beatrice arose and went round tc
her aunt. I'VE want her to go. Thank
you, Aunt Katherine. You have taught
us a lesson, and we needed it."
Bernice added: 1--WE will try to de
serve her when she comes back"
Gladys caught her mother in hel
arms. Precious little mamma! We
do love you, even if we have been 81
careless"
Mrs. Dillon's programme was car
ried out. The lesson was, as Beatrice
had said, a needed one; but, like
many such, the learning Of it was no
pleasant. A quiet winter at home
sharing the duties that had been tot
long relegated to the mother, contrast
ed sharply with the pleasures eacl
had confidently expected for herself
They missed and longed for the ger
tie. presence they had so little priced
The mother and aunt, happy in eacl
other, yet anxious for the real we
fare of the girls at home, knew tina
a womanly care for the happiness O
others was being developed in the ma
ture of Margaret Dailey's daughters
The reform was a thorough one. Il
the spring the mother went back t.
be the real mistress of her home an,
the loved mother of her proud daugt
tiers.
Il
Swiss Naval Wars.
References to the Swiss navy ar
usually ~jocular; but it is none the les
a fact that ships of war once f1oate