The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, February 02, 1901, Page 4, Image 4
THE COURIER. A i. i4 : LITTLE CHILDREN OF THE HILLS THE TIIANHFOBMATION OF ALBERT. IV UV MASTHa pierce. For The Courier Hearing a familiar obout one morning early in May, Mrs. Lee stepped out on the back porch. There was indeed the same shabby pony, but the boy who rode him! At sight of him she threw up her hands. "Who is this?-' she cried. "Do I know this boy?" Alfred grinned from ear to ear. His face newly polished with laundry soap, Ehone like mahogany. "I'm a diffVnt lookin' boy when I'm clean, ain't I?'' he cried gleefully. "Thought I'd s'prise you. You're so great on beta clean. Dad went to town last week, with the pelts and I made him buy me some soap Got a whole quarter's worth. White Rooehan! Is that good soap? You think?" "Yes," assented Mrs. Lee. "It is very good soap." "Look at these clothes!'' continued Alfred. "Look at this shirt! I've got another at the camp. I've got two; and a pair of over-alls, too! Feel o' that shirt. Ain't that a good shirt f'r seventy-five cents?" Mrs. Lee toak a pinch of shirt-sleeve betwaen a critical thumb and finger. "It is good warm flannel," she assert ed. "How do you like my hat? And my boots?' Alfred pursued, taking off the hat and surveying it with admiration and holding up the braes toed, red-topped boots for inspection. "Fine! fine!" ciied Mrs. Lee. "You are quite dreseed up. But why put on your hat? Are you not coming in to have some breakfast? I am just baking eome flannel cakes for Johnny, and the coffee is hot.' She laughed. Alfred wondered why. Alfred had arranged his hat to his satisfaction. It was a round shiny one. He had drawn it down until both his ear?, turned gracefully down, and stood straight out from his head. "Come in and have some cakes," urg ed Mrs. Lee, to her own surprise. Alfred seldom required urging. Mrs. Lee wondered that a new flannel shirt, a new pair of over-aUs thrust into the red-topped boots, and even the wonder ful shiny hat, should work such a transformation in manner. "I guess not." Alfred said shyly. "But why not?" queried the good wo man. "I want to git down to Orr'e before Jamie starts to school," said Alfred in a burst af confidence. "He's alius been pointin' bis finger at me and callin me dirty pig." "He's a naughty boy," said Mrs. Lee, indigt-antly, "to say such things to a poor, helpless child." Alfred grinned. "I guess this morn ing," he affirmed, "I'll be the cleanest of the two." As he galloped away he look ed back over his shoulder to shout re gret. "I'm awful sorry Johnny ain't up. I know he'd like to see these clothes." Jamie. In the afternoon Mrs. Lea and John ny went in the two wheeled cart to spend the afternoon and take tea with Mrs. Mclntyre, who lived four milts down the creek. The Mclntyres were a lonely couple, of middle age, recently married after long years of waiting for the wealth Robert hoped to accumulate, ranching. All his wealth consisted in a little log house, and a little herd of cat tle roaming the free range.But there was no happier nor more cheerful and con tented woman up and down the valley than Janet Mclntyre two years out from'Scotland. Her fresh, vsddy face, from which lbs gray hai was brushed back so uncompromisingly, was to the children of the Little Bear valley one of the most bpautiful ever 6een, though so utterly lacking regularity of feature and the softness of youth. She and Mrs. Lee sewed together con tentedly in the little west windowed sitting room. The golden afternoon sunshine streamed in and made a bright spot on the carpet. In the middle of this fpot the big gray cat purred con tentedly. All was peace and content ment but eeven-year-old Johnny was frankly bored. He bad looked at the pressed heather, and the gold clock un der the glass case. All he cared to look at were things which must be handled so carefully. He had failed in an amia ble attempt to play with the cat. The cat was a respected cat with privileges, and would not submit to have his tail pulled, or his fur brushed backward. Johnny tlattened his nose against the window and discovered Jamie Orr com ing in the lane. All his lassitude van ished, lie made one leap for bis hat and another for the door-way. Mrs, Leo rose and looked out. She 6aw Jamie Orr throw hiB bridle rein over -the gate post, and approach the house. "How do Mis Lee,' he said in a gentle little voice, out of all proportion to his bulk. (He was rather a fat boy.) "Will you tell Mis Mclntyre, mamma said I could come to play awhile?" Mrs. Lee nodded brightly, and th two bojB went away together to con struct miniature ditches, watering imag inary acres of Alfalfa, and to quarrel vociferously over their water rights, aft er the pattern o! their fathers. At half past five they came in. The two women were in the kitchen. Mrs. Lee Bat at the window, still sewing. Mr6, Mclntyre moved briskly about, preparing the evening meal "for com pany.'8 Jamie sat down on the kitchen step. His reddish hair, wet with perspiration liy in little streaks on his forehead. Bis gentle blue eyes had an expression of melancholy which gradually spread iteelf over hiB fat freckled face. He sighed heavily. "Well, Mis Mclntyre," he said, "I guess I'd better be going if I'm going to get home in time for supper." "Aw. Are you sayin' so Jamie dear?" said Mrs. Mclntyre, absently. "Did ye have a good time plain?" "Yessum," said Jamie. "Any way," he pursued, "I don't s'pose I'll get home in time for supper. It'll all be et up, before I get there. Maybe mam ma'll Bave me some though," mourn fully. "She will that," said Mrs. Lee. "Trust a mother to look out for her boys." Jamie cast a scornful glance at Mrs. Lee. "I don't s'pose mamma'U have any thing very good for supper,' he pursued. "I didn't hear her say anything about it." Mrs. Mclntyre turned as if an idea had just struck her. "Jamie, lad," she said. "D'ye s'pose your mother would be car in' noo, if ye stayed and took a bit o' tea wi' me?" Sunshine beamed from Jamie's face. "She said I could," he said bashfully, "if you asked me." "Well, then you'll just stay." said Mrs. Mclntyre kindly. Jamie rose with a sigh of intense re lief. "I guess I better go and put that horse in the barn," he said. Looking back as he went down the steps he ad ded cheerfully: "I s'pose, eeein' they's company you 're goin' to bave hot biscuits and black b'rry jam. I know you most alwajs do.'' "Did you ever?" said Mrs. Lee, laugh ing, as Mrs. Mclntyre answered gayly: "Yes, Jamie, I will that." mi il ! )LHBS- IEdited by Miss Helen G. Harwood. i TllCIIIIM CIMMHMMMM CALENDAR OF NEBRASKA CLUBS February 2 & 9. Fin de Steele c Am. history Seward 4 TVs. c. Prominent women of Cen't'y.Norfolk 4, Matinee Musicale "Hours of a day".. Lincoln 4. AV's-c. Am. history Omaha 5, Ws.c. Schools :..., Wakefield 5, Sorosis, Physical culture Lincoln 5, Century c, Egyptian history Lincoln , New Book Review c Miscellaneous. Lincoln 7, Lotos c Victorian Reign sLincoln , Self Culture c Am Fiction St. Paul 6, W's. c Social reforms. Minden S, Round Table, Sociology Crete S. History & Art c., Ger. & contemporary Scientists eward It, Ws.c. Philanthropy ork n, 20th Cen. c , Miscellaneous Pawnee City je, v-s- c, Fr. history Columbus The Woman's club met Monday after noon, January 28tb, at the University chapel. The program was in charge of the music department. Mr. Willard Kimball explained the construction of the pipe organ and also gave a short re cital. Persons not members of the club were admitted for the nominal fee of twenty five cents. At the Century club on Tuesday aft ernoon, January 22nd, Mrs. George E. Haskell Tead a paper on the "Conquests of Egypt by the Hyksos or Shepherd Kings,"' and Mrs. McCreery on "Egyp tan Monuments, Temples and Tombs." The meeting occurred at the home of 3frs.Uindman. German Opera was the topic of the last meeting of the music department, Juauary 18th. Mesdames Hall, Warn er, Fisher, Easterday, Fleming and Mies Young lectured upon the Bubject. . The art department of the Woman's lub met Monday, January 2lst, in the dab rooms. Mrs. Hodgm m read a pa per on the Pre-R lphaelitee. Mrs. Hibner read a paper on ' Shaka pere" at the meeting of the literary de partment of the Woman's club Thurs day afternoon, January 21th. The Lotos club met last Thursday -with Mrs. Henry E. Lewie. A program of miscellaneous topic and a discussion of plans for the remaining eight meet ings of the year, filled the afternoon. The committee on reincorporation of the G. F. W. C, is, Mesdames Coroejia C. Fairbanks, Indianapolis; Lucia E. Blount, Washington. D. C; M. E. Traut man, New York City; John T. McNeal. Denver, chairman; Mary L Lockwood, The Columbia, Washington, D. C. The Arche club passed the following resolutions, regarding the admission of colored clubs or delegates: Whereas the colored women's clubs are not asking for admission to the state federation: and, whereas we con sider this question of vital importance to the unity of the north and south in our General Federation, we are opposed to our state federation taking any action in the matter. The second biennial of musical clubs will ba held in Cleveland on April 30th, and May 1st, 2od and 3rd, 1901. Also the music federation of which Mrs. Ed win F. Uul of Grand Rapids is president, and which has grown remarkably since the first St. Louis biennial, will soon hold its convention. At the first board meeting Eince the last election of officers of the Connecti cut ftate federation the report of the committee, appointed some two weeks ago to study the matter of equal rights in the guardianship of children, was heard. An effort will be made to pre pare a bill and obtain its passage in the next legislature. According to the ex isting law a father can do with the child according to his pleasure or conveniei -e, even to giving it away, no matter what the mother's feelings or wishes may be. The Forum club of San Diego, la!., has accomplished great things eince its organization in 1895. The object of the club is to promote culture, literary and social intercourse. Perhaps the most enjoyable feature of the Forum is its club house, the apartments of which conaiat of a lecture hail, reception room, tea room and dressing room. The lec ture room is used entirely for club meet. ings. The reception room possesses a small library, magazines, daily papers and writing material. The tea room finished in Delft blue is always open and is found to be a most welcome place. The club has two regular meetings, the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. The first and third Wednes days bave been devoted to informal re ceptions, but during the last year cur rent topics have been introduced tn take the place of these. In December the club celebrated its fifth, "wooden, anniversary.' The PlaBtic club of Philadelphia has begun to exert much influence in the east. The exhibition this jear will con sist of miniatures, a loan collection of paintings, silhouettes and colonial car meats. Among the members are Mies Cecilia Beaux, Miss Alice Barber Steph ens and Mias Blanche Dalaye. The calendar of the Cozy club of Te cumseh, bound in violet, has chosen for its subjects during the year, "Study of the French people" and "Topics of the day." The officers are: Mrs. Harris, Pres.; Mrs. Sullivan, vice P.; Miss Ella McCrosky, sec; Mrs. Bouton, treas.; and Mrs. True, libra ian. Under the topic of "Study of the French people" several papers are devoted to French historj, another subject of interest "Character istics of the French people" and "Home life in France" which is the source, of coure, of national characteristics. Two afternoona are given to French art. French women, history, literature and institutitiouB are also studied. " The subject "Topics of the -day" ex plains itself, for most of the -problems that are of interest today, especially to women, are chosen. It is always en couraging to find a Nebraska day amonj: club programs. It signifies state ia triotism and state patriotism will sooner or latr evolve something for the benefit of a locality which is necessarily 6tate improvement. The toasts offered for this day are "The clubs," "Early days in Tecumeeh," "The garden spot of Xc braska,' "Nebraska's backbone," and "Things that foster our state pride ' The program for January 1st was a re caption. The Falrbury Woman's club was we I attended last week and nearly ever) member waB prepared with a practical rec'pe of some kind. Miss Gellatly san,' Astbrore accompanied by Trotere by Mr Perry on the piano. "Hints to youcs housewives" was ably handled by Mn Sarbach, and we could but wish that a'l young housekeepers and all who cot - 0 3 j 3 2frxKxKr 1 FRH ICE GREHM And Dairv 60. Manufacture of thn Rmut n pol ity of plain ana fancy Ice Cream, Ices. Frozen Pudriincra KVnnnn and Sherbets. Pmmnt rlalitTArv and satisfaction guaranteed. 133 SO. I 2th St. PHONE 205. t t ; rl