Little Fishers: and their Nets

e to whistle when something has stirred their feelings very much

her mother was comfortable for the night. Her heart w

d Norm were, Nettie did not know. It seemed strange to go away and leave the light burning, and the door unfastened. At home, they always gathered at about this hour, in the neat sitting-room, and sang a hymn and repeated each a Bible verse, and then Mr. Marshall prayed

tall old clock in the corner. "Tick-tock, tick-tock." She had never seen so large a clock before; she had never heard one speak in such a slow

ted a bright yellow, and had gay rugs spread here and there. The stove shone brilliantly, and the two chairs under the window were painted green, with dazzling white seats. A high, old-fashioned, wooden-backed rocker occupied

of them, but they spoke

I dare say. Well, the room is all ready for you. I guess you won't be lonesome, for it is right out of Sarah Ann's room, and my boy Jerry is across the hall. You've got acquai

ream of all the nice things you can think of. It is g

be so sound asleep that she won't hear her father and Norm come stumbling home. Isn't it a

on her knees; not sobbing out a homesick cry, as she thought she would, as soon as ever she had a chance, but actually thanking God for these new friends; and asking Him to be One in this new s

the woodhouse chamber, she heard the sound of merry whistling, keeping time to the swift blows of an axe. Jerry was preparing kindlin

e nice chips? They will make

of broad smooth chips. "Aunt Jerusha likes them better than a

ulted the fence and stood at the kitchen door waiting for her. It looked even more desolate, in contrast with the sunny morning, than it had the night before. Nettie resolved

's boarding house, many a time. She proceeded to show her skill at once; Jer

, "and there isn't much chance to learn things. I'll

d Norm lounged into the room, rubbing sleepy eyes, and looking as though he had not combed his hair in

n't forget you! Where h

eakfast ready by the time mother comes out, to surprise

a in the house. And I don't believe we have had any coffee for a month. I'd like some, though; I k

Nettie, "I'll

ject to Norm's first expressed idea of partnership; so he went away, and when the fresh water came, the teakettle was filled, the table set, the potatoes was

as a pleasant odor of coffee in the room, and the potatoes were already beginning to hint that they

cker. "I couldn't think of a thing for b

ed to let me make them often for breakfast. Norm went after the coffee; a

after coffee! Did you ask him to? Went of his own accord! That's something

s not used to managing with so few dishes. Her father drank three cups of coffee, said it was something like living, and gave

he speak in a way to insult his wife! They went off hurriedly at last, Norm and the father; and the children

ture, and dishes! He will have it that it is because things are wasted that we have such poor meals.

y?" Nettie asked a little timidly, as they rose

long; there are not many things in the way. No furniture to move. But it doesn't stay clean long, I can tell you. Just one room in which to do everything! I mi

nd began to sweep vigorously, scu

comfortless. Not a cushioned chair, nor a rocker, nor anything that to her seemed like home. All day she had been casting glances at a closed door which opened from the kitchen, and thinking her thoughts about the room in there. A large square room, perfectly empty. Why wasn't it used? If for nothing else, why didn't Norm sleep in it, instead

a red carpet, and I wanted a brown one with a little bit of pink in, but land! I would have taken one that was all yellow, just to please him. And we were going to have a lounge, and two rocking chairs, and I don't know what not. And there it is, shut up. I

e in there and cried, now and then, but I hadn't even that. I tried to rent it; but the woman who was hunting rooms heard that your father drank, and

sed, and some clothes made, so that the children could have the ones washed which they were wearing, she stood in

ne up for the

e lau

I don't see but that will be the trouble with what we want to do. Why,

place, nor the schoolhouse, and those fellows haven't pleasant homes; the only spot for them is the saloons. I don't much wonder that they get in the habit of going there. I have heard my father say that saloons were the only places that were fixed up, and lighted, where folks without any pleasant homes were made welcome. Why, just look at it in this town. Th

should think they would rather stay out i

imes it rains, and in winter it is cold, and they look about them for somewhere to go. There's a saloon, bright and clean; co

the boys who haven't nice homes to stay in, are expected to do with themselves evenings? One of these days, when I am a man, that is the way I am going to use all my extra money. I'll hunt out towns where the fellows have just been left to stay in the streets, or else go to the ru

thing," said Net

ed. "You talk as though it was to be done now," he said. "I was

nly had some furniture to put in it. My Auntie Marshall made some real pretty seats once, out of old boxes; she padded them with cott

etty sure. He is a nice man, that blacksmith. I like him better than any man in town, I believe. I could fix covers on the boxes myself, and do several other things. I hav

, I guess," Nettie said thoughtfully,

rst thing as you say, is a room. No, we have the room; the first thing is fu

r from that time Jerry s

ig leather apron, and was b

think he would be glad to get rid of some. But what do you want of them? Furniture? How are you going to make fu

ed, and nodded, and shook his head, and smiled grimly, occasionally, an

umph! Well, it needs it bad enough! if old boxes will help, it stands to reason

ory with, "Well, now I tell you what it is-something is better than nothing, any day; there's been nothing done here

help 'em, why, land, they're welcome to as many as they can use. Tell the

h stood in her back door and watched with curious eyes the unloading of the grocer's wagon. Six, s

her childhood, begged her a dozen times a day not to use such expressions as "for the land'

shop in the barn loft. Mr. Smith said I might. I shall make some nice things,

ladders, and Jerry with quick springs, holding out his hand to her at the top, to help her in making the final leap. Then he took from his pocket a curious little key which he e

r pleased eyes. It was a well-stocked chest. Chisels, and saws, and hammers, and augers,

id! It looks as though somebody who knew

and of another, and never make anything but chairs. This was just a little country shop, where they made a table one day, and a chair the next, and a bedstead the next; and you could watch the men at work, and ask questions and learn ever so much. I got so I could use tools, as well as the next one, Mr. Braisted

w much of anything can be done. She is most discouraged

know we can do things until we show her. If

they always have carpets in home-like rooms, she says;

ologetically, thinking of Mrs.

whis

with saws and hammers, do they? I don't know how we would manage that. There must be a way t

d about,"

at her, "I thought that, but somehow I did

I wonder why it is so much harder to say things of

a common sense way. They don't, you know; hardly anybody. At least hardly anybody that I know;

d to notice that not many people di

er was a b

d a little, and there came one of those dashes of feeling over him which made

you and takes you a

l tone restored

r, if he does then. I'm going to get him to let me stay here until he does come, though. And now we must at

aces were