Ester Ried

no end to the things which she had to do, for the kitchen was long and wide, and took many steps to set it in order, and it

re little fingers ought not to be. It was well for her that, no matter how warm, and vexed, and out of order Ester might be, she never reached the point in which her voice could take other than a loving tone in speaking to Minnie; fo

ervous movements, as the sun went toward the west, say

:" Saying it in a sharp fretful tone. Then: "No, no, Birdie, don't touch!" i

ade answer. "But such an ironing as I have

talk; that won't

ing-room to the kitchen, and peeped in a thought

e you,

he garden, and put out of place. Her pink gingham dress, and white, ruffled apron-yes, and th

ence!" was

me? Then sc

die. "We've been down to

cake, and make the tea? I did not know it

with me, and I should not know what to do with her in the meantime. Besides, Mr. Ham

ond to wait for his tea until he

ten-year old newcom

e. Go up stairs out of

h you; I can't have he

d to do that

die, in a good-humored tone, comi

ssie's cross, isn't she

za and make Mr. Hamm

s from her-went gleefully off, leaving another heartburn to the weary

pantry, from pantry to dining-room,

ning and help me; it i

Mr. Holland's shir

irt ironed. I want you to go to the spring for water an

iss Molten, the preceptress, Mrs. Brookley, the music-teacher, Dr. Van Anden, the new physician, Mr. and Mrs. Holland, and Mr. Arnett, Mr. Holland's clerk. There was a moment's hush while Mr. Hammond asked a blessing on the food; then th

aid. "It was as much as I could do to keep cool in the s

an I could do to kee

"I gave it up lo

om morning until night, but to keep herself cool. She wondered what the lady

en too much for her cheeks," Mrs. Brookley

keeping cool," Este

to do, however," Dr. Van And

ad nothing to do but that,

s in keeping myself at the rig

den, and she knew her face did not look very self-control

ie Essie was cross. W

ghed, and Sadie c

Sadie says. It is just as sure to be non

but the latest comer strolled away at last, and she hurried to toast a

the pale, sad-faced

er? I've been worried half

you look dreadfully tired.

t I had not time for this morning, and get thing

e do any of

e is i

ick headache very often," she said sadly; "or you would soon

eing editress, you know, to-night. Ester, can't you

by to-morrow evening,

I can

at last, and Ester bet

ery nerve seemed to q

ith its low windows looking out toward the river, and its co

fe, without a care to harass them, so she thought; envied Sadie her daily attendance at the academy, a matter which she so early in life had been obliged to have done with; envied Mrs. Holland the very ribbons and l

s life of hers, just hated it-the sweeping, dusting, making beds, trimming lamps, working from morning till night; no time for reading, or study, or pl

ave one day, just one day, different from the others; but no, it's the same

hich to be thankful that the

own, and a harp, and a place waiting for her, up

t one of them; for the academy teachers and Dr. Van Anden were not among them. O, Ester was asleep! She went to church on the Sabbath, and to preparatory lecture

r of their future rest. She met daily, sometimes almost hourly, a large household, and never so much as thought of asking them if they, too, were going, some day, home to God. She helped her young brother and sister with their geography lessons, and never mentioned

, and this was