St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-01-25

| GU SsSSoS anu IdLu uO"n H6T DruSu Win
languid sigh. ..
"Tired?" Egbert exclaimed. May
We paint? Fannie and II"
Yes, if you'll clean the brushes
and put them away when you. get
through. Here are some lovely col
ors on the palette, all ready mixed
Don't talk too loud, you and Dimples;
mamma is not so well to day"
She passed through curtained
doorway into the next room, and sat
down by her mothers couch.
Did hear you say you were tired,
dear?' asked Mrs Shelton.
Yes. tired of this monotonous. in.
active life. / have been thinking all
day what a waste it was to spend SO
much money on my music and paint
ing. What good do they do me- since
| papa has buried us in this wilder
| ness?"
'The more alone we are the more
need Of resources within ourselves, "
replied the mother.
| Martha shrugged her shoulders.
Yes, know" she said, but it doesn't
suit re. have always thought there
was work for me in the world; but
/ will never find it here"
"a few years make great changes in
q place like this" said her mother
"Oh, mamma, your patience almost
vexes me. You talk of a CIV years as
| IL they were few days TIlst I sit
in tdleness and wait for the building Of
| railroads and schools and changes? I,
with all my energy and ambition?"
You are not sitting in idleness. To
comfort a sick mother. and make a
bright home for your father and broth
er is. better work than you think,
and your field of usefulness will widen
day by day. 1t may not be the field
you would have chosen; but do not
forget that What thou best canst I'M
derstand is just the thing lies nearest
to thy hand"
ooh. mammal" The curtain part
ed and Egbert bounded in; ooh, man.
ma, Fannie has colored a basket of.
eggs to take to the children up at the
poor house tomorrow; may go with
her? Please. mamma; / never have
been to the poor house"
1T isn't a proper place for you,
BERTHE" said his sister. Send the
children some of those painted eggs,
but keep away from there; you might
catch some disease"
mo, Marsie, / heard DR.. Brown tell
papa, only yesterday, that there was
no sickness there except a few cases
of-of-'Pullmanery l think he called
it; l don't know what that is. but it
can't be bad because papa said
could go If you and mamma were.
willing"
The curtain parted again, and lit
tie girl with large, shy eyes, and
cheeks that dimpled when she spoke,
came timidly in. Its nice and clean
up there she said, and they're al
ways 30 glad to see anybody"
II think Egbert may CO." said Mrs.
Shelton. Marie took long look at
Fannie. and her will relaxed. Sure
ly, if such sweet, wholesome little
creature visited the county poor house
1t could not be such a disgusting place
as she had imagined.
do you think they would care for
flowers, Fannie?" she asked; Il could
send few lilies and basket Of hya-
cinths, and also wagon full of plum
blossoms"
Encouraged by this sudden spark Of
interest, Mrs. Shelton SAID: Suppose
you go with the children, Martha? I
do not think you would regret it,"
Martha turned on her mother a look
of panied surprise.
"Oh, how can you ask it," she said,
and left the room in tears.
That shower broke up the clouds
and let the sunshine into her heart
again.
The Easter morning saw her seated
in the miller's little wagon, between
EgbRrt and Fannie, driving old .Dex-
ter Ito the poor house. A bent man
on crutches opened the gate for them.
The hall door stood open. but no
one was visible inside. A clGtter of tin
pans was heard in room at the other
end of the hall, and, rising above this,
a clear, bird-like voice singing: Come,
Thou Font of Every Blessing" TITS
Cherry singing and washing the
Dishes" said Fannie, and added, laugh
ing: "She calls them dishes, hut
they're only tin plates, you know.
Come right in, know the way"
AS they entered the bare, but clean
room where the girl was washing the
pans, she hushed her song and drew q
long, eager breath through her nos.
trils. "Hy'cinths!" she exclaimed
AN plum blossoms. Who's got 'em?"
Fannie approached her on tip-toe, and
held out spray of plum blossoms.
Cherry darted toward her. seized her.
and rubbed moist hand over the
laughing little face. Il knowetl it VISA |
you" she said; who else'd be br1uR. |
ing posies to the pore house?"
who else?" repeated Fannie, "why |
EaDert Shelton, and his sister, Miss
Martha. Here they are"
Cherry made her best how. Il can't |
see you" she said, 'but I'm obliged to |
you for comm"
I'VE heard you singing" said Mar
tina; your voice is beautiful"
That's what folks say" returned |
the blind girl with evident gratifica-
ton. 81 sing a heap cause they |
likes to hear me! know most all the /
songs a-goin'." 4
A flushed woman, with dough on