The Pensacola journal., 1909-12-19

| fault that the home had been what il
was. Now that she was earning hel
own living and the child's, she had
I learned TO economic and knew how
I to make one dollar buy the amount
that double the sum had in fOTme-
days. Now that she had the bills to
meet she could realize something OF
| the strenuous efforts that her nus
band had made, and his bills were 50
much greater" she whispered.
Her heart was full and the tears
ready to overflow; it but needed the
sympathetic voice and the word home"
to bring forth the whole story. and
amid a storm of tears and sObs, she
/ told her friend of her ruined life
My dear child, your life is not
ruined It is useless to say anything
about what might have been; we Will
talk about what shall be, and then and
there a plan was laid, and the next
morning Frances left the academy to
prepare to go home by Christmas, If
1 have a home" she said, sadly
Mrs. Ellsworth wrote a long letter
to Frank LeveTall that day, letter
that caused him to bow his head on
fhis desk and, man though he was, the
tears Tained down his cheeks
God be praised! my loved ones are
alive. and she says in good time they
will return [ was Unkind and harsh,
but I have learned my lesson"
He could not wait to reply by letter,
but sent a wire saying, Am alive and
well. Bless my dear ones" and soon
Frances knew that warm welcome
awaited her.
h1FAwD Dc q nn1fIT-
dressed, pleasant-appeaTing girl rang
the bell at the LeveTaH residence and
when that gentleman opened the door
she gave him a letter of Introduction
from Mrs. Ellsworth, recommending
her as a neat, efficient helper, and en-
closed was a musical note that made
his heart sing for joy Just a few
lines and spaces with a few quarter
notes and one whole note with d rest,
all enclosed in a circle. At a glance
he understood.
He gave Anna Peterson the KEYS to
the house, saving, My wife viii be
home l. Christmas. Get the house in
perfect order for her." and Anna an
swered demuTely, III do my best,
sir"
The night before Christmas Frank
LeveraH was going home from his Of
flee thinking. tomorrow my wife and
baby will be home; how can / waite
He opened the door and there in
the hall stood his wife and baby
daughter. lie took them in his arms
and cried, MY wife, my darling wife,
With her head on his shoulder Frances
said. Ny husband. can you for, but
he stopped the words with q kiss.
None Of that, my love. 1 was harsh,
unkind and unjust" But there was
little time for explanations, for dinner
was soon announced-and what a din
ner for a hungry man! Delicate home
made bread. a beef roast, a dish OF
creamy potatoes beaten to a fTOth,
brown gravy. clear, amber-cOlOred hot
coffee, and dessert Of CUStaTd and
cake.
And what a sight for the hungry
eyes of the hitherto lonely man. a
beautiful, happy. exqUisitely neat wife
and a lovely child who ate her bread |
and milk with evident relish and who
shyly said Papa in answer to a whis- /
per from Frances.
As they were leaving the table Anna
entered and Frank said:
Anna, you have proven an excellent
cook, hut this was the best dinner yet. .
Everything was perfect
Frances stopped low over the child, .
pretending to fasten some button or
hook as Anna replied. I didn't touch
bit of the cooking. Mrs. LeyeTaI
came home soon after YOU left this /.
morning, and she cooked every bit or I
it today. bread and all and she dis
creetIy left the room.
After they were seated in the draw .
ing room and Frank had his wife on
one knee and baby on the other. with
his arms around both he said:
And so, madam, You have added
cookery TO your other accomplish .
meuts2"
Then she told him OF tho last four
weeks of practice in Mrs. EIlswOTth's
kitchen with that lady as teacher and
Anna Peterson as helper. i have not
learned il all. buL ! am gOing 10 keep
on learning until 7 become a skilled
hOUsekcepeT- I never knew the need
of it. dear, for You know / always
boarded. but Irs. Ellsworth proved 10
me that it is one of the greatest and
most necessary accomplishments.
md then this very peculiar man
said. But. daTlinE, viii such work
not make your hands rough and unf1-
for the piano2"
Frances laughed gayIy as she held
up her hands for inspection.
oh, you most foolish and inconsist- f.
enU OF men: I have worked a whole
month and behold, are they not white 7.
and smooth.
Then soberly. Music has Its place, ?
and a large on in our lives. but so
long as . man must eat 10 live. just 50 /
long must cooking occupy a still great /
er place than music"
We'll said. my dear wife-aud that
was a mighty good dinner You cooked /
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