The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-01
For tho National Era.
THE OLD COAT AND GLOVES.
BY ALICE CAREY.

The spring was come the trees were bud
ding out, and the grass growing green. Blue
birds were busy, for the building time was
near. and Farmer Mitchell had taken out his
rusty plough, and yoked his oxen, for the day
was sunshiny, and it was time to prepare ioI
planting.
Not hen was heard to cackle they had
| filed their nests with eggs, and were setting
every one Of them 10 the proud BOOSTERS were
strutting about, scratching in the ground, and
calling in vain.
In short, it was Just tho time when in the
country there is good deal to be done, and
| but little to eat.
Mr.. Mitchell, young sturdy farmer, had, as
| ] said, yoked his oxen-as pretty pair of dun
cattle as ever bowed their necks TO the yoke
and was gone to the stubble field having ask ed
his young WIFE Dolly Mitchell to prepare an
early dinner, as he wanted to attend a yendue
| that afternoon.
"What in the world shall we get?D in
quired tho young wife Of Minnie Mitchell, her
husbands sister, and myself, who were stand
ing by at the time.
Poor Dolly, she had not been used to the
country; she was young, and sickly, and in
view of the circumstances it ia no wonder she
| did not know what to get, tor there was moth
| ing in the cellar but pork and potatoes, moth
ing in the smoke house but one mouldy ham,
and nothing in the garden, but some pale
green onion tops, and last years parsnips.
"What shall we getW asked Dolly, again,
| pushing her thin, hsxen hair from her white
forehead, and looking at us rs though great
question were to be decided. Little used to
work or care had Dolly been in her city
home, nor was she in any way fitted to be the
farmers wife that she was. A year from the
spring | write of, she turned from the rustic
| path she had chosen, into that still and low
valley where no labor and no care disturbs us
| any more.
Minnie laughed at the perplexity of Der Sis
ter, for she had been all her life used to the
mana cement of country house, and knew
how to make the most of q little.
| And here let me say word of Minnie as
it il with her that our story has chiefly TO do
Just eighteen she was, hcaltLfpl, spirited, and
very pretty, with soft, brown eyes and hair
and roses breaking out in her cheeks with every
smile. Everybody liked Minnie for she was
good rs she was pretty and though the young
mechanics and farmers about knew that she
would not think of marrying one of them they
forgave her. and accorded her tho right Of
| more ambitious love.
aAh me!p she said, as she tied on the sun
bonnet and we took the market-basket, to 20
out and gather greens, 81 shall DO the wife Of
rich man, some day, and my servant shall
buy me greens jim the market, if want them"
Between the orchard and the garden, and in
plain view Of the public road, there grew
patch Of mustard, fresh and green, and ankle
deep, Just now To this place, provided with
case. knives and the basket we betook our
selves to cut green's for dinner.
The air was fragrant with the apple bios
soms, and the dandelions made the valley be-
low us no bright, that we were tempted aside,
and neglected our work longer than We should
have done. Our basket was nearly full, how
ever, when the sound OF carriage wheels ar
rested our attention, and looking up, VIC saw
two gentlemen, riding lcisurely along, and
looking across the meadow, as it seemed, at us.
"The one wearing the palm-lcaf hat" ex-
claimed Minnie, "looks like Mr. Haight; DO
let US get into the house"
Quick ~ might be- we slipped through an
opening in the fence but, on looking up, sure
enough, the horses head was turned TO the
gate. We slackened our pace, no ~ not to
seem 10 be flying, and, concesling the basket
between us, entered the house before they had
driven into the yard
"See my hair sec my dress What shall
dop were the ordinations Of Minnie; Tor
she was proud, and did not like to DO caught
in her work day dress by gentlemen OF leisure
"Never mind said ], untying Iny checked
apron, and smoothing back my hair with my
hands, 81 will open the door"