Year: 1868

Is 1t possible exclaimed Mrs. Granger
The ch ldrcn tried to lopk SURPRISED, but
were simply puzzled,


He had will enough while he lived any
way, said tie boy at last.


That's true Harvey. He never meant
we should have dollar of his property
but he was SO strong that he put off set.
Ting his affuirs from year to year. lie
thought death wouldn't dare come for him
till he was ready, and he made an appoint
ment with Squire Perkin for "Wednesday
last. just one day too late. NV mother
was his only child, and am here SO il
all comes to me.


her eyes. The children were more out
spoken in their emotions. Oh father, are
you rich !! Won't you buy US lots OF
things both exclaimed at once.


l am rich enough to be comfortable hut
not to spoil you. Ii anybody Isl to be spoil
ed it is mothers turn first. Tomorrow
is Saturday, and have promised Perkins
to be at his place early in the week. 1t
seems hest that he should take out letters
of administration, but he wants to consult
me about the house and furniture and
some other things.


Is the house one that we shall like to
live in asked the mother.


| don't know dear. Ineyer was inside.
but it looks grand and gloomy. In any
case we shall stay here until the spring
now, chicks. go and finish up your playing
fer the night. Your mother and want to
talk over business matters, SO that our
minds may be quite at rest


The children left the room, and Mrs.
Grange: closed the open front of the stove,
which till t is time had revealed glorious
gimpses of the warm heart of the maple
log.


o Lucy, why have you shut in that
splendid prospect | was going to put
out the lamp, that we might enjoy it more
fully.


We shall want the lamp. because you
have papers to look over. and while we
have our backs to the fire it may as well
burn little more slowly. You have long
since forgiven me for saying i'll little
things.


That was in the Cd times when we had
only little things to save. You know
was always prudent on a large scale; mine
was only IL homeopathic profusion; the half
dimes slipped through my fingers, as yoA
said just now. always felt that to dwell
upon such trilles was narrowing to the
mind, and don't mean to do it any more


The narrowness of your mind was never
caused in that way, returned Lucy. smiling,
but the smile covered something like sigh
The wind had risen as the sun Went
down. All night long it piled the thick
falling SNOW in s!apeless drifts, and moan.
ed over the trouble they would cause. T!'e
morning was cry and bitterly cold. 1t
was rather late whel Harvey Granger,
neither gray nor cold, left his loam with
the kindly purpose of luilding g fire in
the kitchen stove. In the excitement of
the night before he had omitted to prepare
kinllings as was his wont, and he could
find nothing that was not more or less
damp. lie used match after match in
lighting feeble flames that smoked and
sputtcred and went out


Light IA lamp, Harvey said his wife, who
watched him from the open door. 1t saves
matches wonderfully in damp morning.
don't care for the matches. Didn't tell
you wasn't going to have my mind mar
rowcd by petty savings after this.


But really. Harvey, there are very few
matches in the house, and if We are to be
snow bound We must be prudent till the
roads are open.


Just so my dear. There goes the last
one in the box. and l don't grudge it a
particle. for | think l have started fire
at last.


just then a wild blast swept down tn c
chimney, rushed through the stove pipe
and out at the open door, putting smoke
and cindcrs in the good humorcd face of
the speaker. Then the wind died with il
sigh and the newborn fire died within
Granger turned toward his wife with look
of comic despair.


Tell me where to find another match
and I'll light lamp, mama, said he
meekly.


There are few left in the parlor.


Never match, my dear. There was
but one last night. and happend to drop
it in the stove after the fire was kindled.


Then don't believe there is one left in
the house. Lucy rose as she said this. aud
throwing shawl over her night dress, join
ed her husband in searching in possible
and impossible places. In vain.


This is no joke, said Hervey, at last,
We are indeed matches pair. Get back
to your nest, while | look up somethin !,
edible and then start for the station
What's the bill of fare for breakfast ,
Here are several covered dishes.


This is baking day, replied Lucy, rue
fully. There are beans in soak for dinner.
and batter stirred np for huckwheat cakes,
and bowl of yeast to raise the bread;
aud that's about all.


Well, YOU can't eat raw beans, or buck
wheat batter, and beg you to let the yeast
alone. as | don't want You to rise. There
must be something more on hand.


There is nothing in the house, Harvey.
except a few fragments under napkin in
the pantry. hardly enough for the children


She was quite right. The entire stock
of edibIes in the menagc was barely suth
cient for the two young mouths now ready
forii. Granger divided the food between
the children. bade them get into their mo-
theirs bed for warmth and society. and
then protected by OvercOat and gloves and
armed by a wooden shovel, he set ont
to break his way to the station. The dis
tance was quarter of a mile. and he bade
his wife feel no surprise if he did not return
in an hour. The mother told stories and
the children thought it great fun. asking,
with touch of their fathers hcmor, if
that was the way rich folks always lived,
At length when the hour was fully expired
the boy. wrapped in his mothers shawl.
went to look for the good mans return.
He was just in time. Granger was at the
door, changed almost beyond recognition,
Covered from head to foot with snow,
partially frozen and wholly exhausted, he