Year: 1859

may take little more money, but look at tho
comfort and satisfaction which il affords. and
which would be lost without il? Whe so poor
az he who has no comforts and joysl But /
Know what you mean. You would be prudent
and saving, and so we will be- and vet we will
have some comfort, too -


The table was soon cleared away, and then
Nate proceeded TO wash her dishes After this
she sat down and conversed with her uncle, and
tor two hours she tertained him with accounts
OF her swn and her parents experience. Whom
bed time came she found her cot ready for her,
and though she was thinking how she could
better it. she said nothing She put her arms
about her uncle's neck, and having kissed him,
she said


Good night, uncle. God bless and keep
you" =


And then she took the candle and went
away to bed, leaving the old man to find his
way by the light of the fire.


How those words hung in thcsld man g mind
How strange and sweet they were, and how
many long years had passed since he had heard
such words before. His thoughts went back to
the time when his mother used to kiss him at
bed time, and for the while he had forgot the
long, dark years that had passed. away since
those boyhOod days.


The old man went to his bed and dreamed
lie dreamed that he was a boy once more. and
that his mother was with him, to care for, and
to love him. ...


In the morning he was aroused by the notes
OF sweet, blithe song. lie started up and lis
tened, and he heard the same beautiful song
which his mother used 10 sing in her happiest
moments. lie arose and dressed himself. and
shortly afterwards Kate eamo in. She had
built hre in the old fireplace out in the
porch, and the coffee was already made She
greeted the old man with a happy smile and
another kiss. Her checks wore all a-glow, and
her face presented the very picture of health
and happiness.


A breakfast of dry toast and butter, coffee
and few warm biscuit, was soon on the table,
and as the old man sat down that shade upon
ms face grew softer still. After breakfast.
Kate arose and put her arms around his neck,
and said


Now, uncle, that you have got female in
the house, you ought surely to sleek up a little
enough Tor comfort at any rate. In the first
place we want just seven panes of glass set.
Now go to the glazier and have this done at
once, for you know your own health and COM
fort will be enhanced thereby" |a.


"Ies-well-I have been thinking OF this
some time, Kate; but it costs too much.'


Never mind that, Uncle Absalom Let Us
first have those things which are absolutely
necessary to our health and comfort, ar d then
we will examine our funds, and if we are likely
to run short, we can ecOnomize in something
else"


$50 we can" said the old man; and thus
speaking he left the house.


And all that forenoon Kate worked briskly
about the house with mop, and soap, and water.
so that when Absalom came home he was
astOnished. The floor was clean and white. the
Fireplace neat, and the new windows let in
such quantity Of light that it seemed like a
new room. Kate got such dinner as she was
able to pick up, and the afternoon she spent in
mending some Of her uncle's old clothes. He
came in towards the middle Of the afternoon
and she told him she was out of -four He pro-
posed getting two pounds, but she finally made
him see that it would be to his interest to get
barrel 1t came hard for him To pay out six
dollars for barrel Of -four but he did it, and
while he was about it, ho got a po and of tea
pound OF coffee, dollars worth of sugar and
some other little things. These he had sent
home, and when he came tO sit down to his
supper OF light warm biscuit, and taste the
fragrant tea, he really confessed To himself
that he was gamer by the money thus far ex-
pended.


Thus matters moved on for a week The old
man watched his niece's every movement, but
he could see nothing wasted Every crumb
was cared for and saved. and he was surprised
to see what excellent dishes she prepared out
Of nothing.


TO BE CONTINUED