Middletown transcript., 1907-11-30


dow as they were stirred BY the
light morning breeze.
The sun just rising filed the
room with yellow glow. Ordi.
narily this wss the signal for the
rising Of Phoebe, but this morn-
ing she lay and watched the
shadows. She had awakened
with a heavy feeling of despon-
dency.
| declare for it she exclaimed
to herself, I've a good mind not
to get up at all. ! AIM t Of any
use in the world-an old maid,
living here alone. Seems as il
everybody else had somebody to
do for-parents or husband or
children or relation of some kind
at any rate, somebody they're
necessary to and who'd miss 'em
if they should die. But me II
don't suppose any living being
would shed tear if | should die
this minute. l shouldn't be
missed any more'n one of the
rocks over in the pasture"
Phoebe stopped short in her
monologue to listen. A faint
"meaow came from somewhere
below.
Coming, kittie, called Phoebe,
and was out of bed before the
words were out of her mouth.
It took her but a few minutes
to dress, and then she tripped
downstairs, for Phoebe twas
quick-motioned if she was forty.
She let the cat in, STOPPING to
take him in her arms for a mo-
ment and pet and talk to him.
You've had to wait so long,
Peterkin, / think I will give you
an extra good breakfast, she
said. The cat rubbed against her
and showed his affection in all
the ways possible to a cat, and
when the saucer of food was set
before him, purred loudly as he
ate.
'Tisn't as late as I thought,
Phoebe said, glancing at the
clock. guess there'll be time
to work in my garden a while
before / eat. So with sunbonnet
on her head and trowel in her
hand, she picked her way along
the marrow path through the
dewy grass around to the tiny
front yard, where she fell to
work busily, and where the sweet
peas, alyssum, mignonette, and
other flowers seemed to brighten
and smell sweeter as she loosen
ed the earth about them and
plucked up stray weeds.
At half-past six there was a
rattle of wheels, and the milk.
man drew up at Phoebe's gate
with sharp word to his horse.
Everything bad gone wrong that
morning. One Of the COWS had
kicked over a pailful of milk,
breakfast hadn't been ready on
time, he had been cross to his
wife and children, and had for
gotten his pocket. book and had
to go back and get it.
Phoebe had heard bis wheels
when he was yet a quarter of a
mile away, and when he sprang
out, in hurry to make up for
lost time, she was standing be-
side the wagon.
I thought you were a little late
this morning, she said, so /
brought out my pint measure.
You can pour the milk right out
from the can, and not have to
come into the house either. An
uncommonly nice day, isn't it ?
Phoebe had a very pleasant
voice and smile, and when the
milkman ratified on again, having
been delayed hardly minute,
somehow he didn't feel nearly as
irritable as he had a few minutes
before. He wished he hadnt 1
been so cross with his wife and
children. He decided that he
wasn't so very late, after all.
and he began to look about him
and notice how fine the day was
Phoebe had hardly cleared
away her breakfast and made
her three small rooms tidy, when
there was the sound of chiIdren's
voices, and a knock on the front
door.
Oh, Miss Percival. will you
please give me some flowers for
the teacher ? spoke up one of the
children eagerly when she ap-
peared.
Bless your hearts, yes was
the hearty response. There was
a snip shipping of Phoebe's scis,
sors, and when the troop passed
outof the yard with happy faces,