A Daughter of the Land

As they drove into Hartley, Mrs. Bates drew forth the deed.

"You are right about the bank being a safe place for this," she

said. "I've had it round the house for two years, and it's a fair

nervous thing to do. I wish I'd a-had sense to put it there and

come after you the day I made it. But there's no use crying over

spilt milk, nor fussin' with the grease spot it makes; salt it

down safely now, and when you get it done, beings as this setting

is fairly comfortable, take time to run into Harding's and pick up

some Sunday-school clothes for the children that will tally up

with the rest of their relations'; an' get yourself a cheap frock

or two that will spruce you up a bit till you have time to decide

what you really want."

Kate passed the lines to her mother, and climbed from the wagon.

She returned with her confidence partly restored and a new look on

her face. Her mother handed her two dimes.

"I can wait five minutes longer," she said. "Now get two nice

oranges and a dime's worth of candy."

Kate took the money and obeyed orders. She handed the packages to

her mother as she climbed into the wagon and again took the lines,

heading the horse toward the old, familiar road. Her mother

twisted around on the seat and gave each of the children an orange

and a stick of candy.

"There!" she said. "Go on and spoil yourselves past redemption."

Kate laughed. "But, Mother," she said, "you never did that for

us."

"Which ain't saying I never WANTED to," said Mrs. Bates, sourly.

"You're a child only once in this world; it's a little too rough

to strip childhood of everything. I ain't so certain Bates ways

are right, that for the rest of my time I'm goin' to fly in the

face of all creation to prove it. If God lets me live a few years

more, I want the faces around me a little less discontenteder than

those I've been used to. If God Almighty spares me long enough, I

lay out to make sure that Adam and Polly will squeeze out a tear

or two for Granny when she is laid away."

"I think you are right, Mother," said Kate. "It didn't cost

anything, but we had a real pretty Christmas tree this year, and I

believe we can do better next time. I want the children to love

you, but don't BUY them."

"Well, I'd hardly call an orange and a stick of candy traffickin'

in affection," said Mrs. Bates. "They'll survive it without

underminin' their principles, I'll be bound, or yours either.

Katie, let's make a beginning to-day. LET'S WORK WHAT IS RIGHT,

AND HEALTHY, A FAIR PART OF THE DAY, AND THEN EACH DAY, AND SUNDAY

ESPECIALLY, LET'S PLAY AND REST, JUST AS HARD AS WE WORK. IT'S

BEEN ALL WORK AND NO PLAY TILL WE'VE BEEN MIGHTY 'DULL BOYS' AT

OUR HOUSE; I'M FREE TO SAY THAT I HANKER FOR A CHANGE BEFORE I

DIE."