Mother Meg

ward the arm-chair the first time her mother-

eymour, sinking into th

, but, stupid-like, I never asked Jem where you liv

where I lived?" asked

miled at me, and said he should tell m

the very same

ak. When at last she could find

you. Times I have meant to ask Jem, but then he was out; and these few days ha

mour loo

o' difference, my dear. You

ve me such pretty things. Look at this workbox, and this tea-caddy, and that pretty vas

ind, and then sat looking somewhat

job he had to get these room

eg; "did he

ouse ever since I buried his poor father. But when he got to earn enough, he took the front room on this floor for himself, and used to c

king at her pale, thin face; "the

usual help. But she's took a day's holiday, as she does whenever

gun to assume a hard look,

r. But there was a day, Meg, when I couldn't have felt like that; and it ain't so long ago, neither. It was my Jem as

ating herself in a low chair close to the

d her mother looked down upon

o-day," said Meg, h

so little of her mother-in-law's life. Should she hav

ment before answering, a

ery much obliged, and then we can ask him. What worries me is, that I promised a man who is going aw

g, looking grieved. "You must try

but it was not her way to show

nt; but if you help me at any little pinch like this, you mus

fied, and then c

ld," she began; but her

and if you could put by a little for a rainy day you

with cheerful alacrity. "I am quite ready, mother; so if you are

down," said Mrs. Seymour, "and

door, and Meg prepare

Mrs. Seymour. "Why, M

ng, "you must scold Je

cause, you see, no one don't interfere with me up here. I hang my things across

heartily. "And have

th; but I have

ront room, where hung numerous lines close to the ceilin

o covers on the wall. In the middle of the room stood a spotlessly white deal table, and

said Meg. "Shall I

, and bent over the fire to lift off the iron. Her mother had placed a collar in readiness for her to begin on, and waited while she

nt eyes, but she went on without looking up till the

e the next t

from a good i

wered Meg brightly; "they u

e done one hang it here to air; I always air everything. Poor people haven'

te, and washing and drying and folding, but worry quite knocked her up; and to know that she had a certain time in which

voice r

nything else you want done, or may I g

, opening her eyes. "Have you done

rts hanging neatly folded on the

guess a little, because I have not ir

on't fold 'em just so, but I don't see that it ma

on the wooden stairs, and M

re?" asked a voice tha

th animation. "Here have I been sleepin' like a

ght old mother far too well to fear that

now, Jem, you must come to dinner,

as they went down, up came

nd I've put on the buttons. No thanks to Jenny, though,