The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-08-25


:. It was wearisome, fatisuins day to Mr.,
Smelling, who did the whole work OF he
household. Her oldest son was learning hi
fathers trade, and the dinner for the tw,
had to be on the table precisely at twelve
for they had but an hours incoming. S
scarcely were the breakfast things CLEARED
away, then there was the meat and vegeia
bles to prepare for boiled dinner. and twice
shc was obliged 10 stand AM. .be pinned uI
in The thick jean lining Miss Prime was ft
ting with unexampled tightness. The AT
tGrnoon was no better, she had Tuesday,
ironing to finish. her little boy was sick ant
frclnl, though four years old, and very
heavy, he required to be nursed and tendet
us ii he had been baby. Shr wanted Z,
sew with Mis-, Prime. but no lponer wpult
she get her needle threaded aud her tlfmbl,
on, than some new demand would he mad,
upon her time, and SO The short Afternoon
passed before she could stitch up "a seam
and tea must he ready by dark. Besides al
this, Miss Prime was disposed to continue
her conversation with very little pause OF
stint, discussing the Affairs of the whole
neighborhood aud the church with train
Of moral, religious and personal reflections.
Every one knows how iatiguing il is to be
expected to lis'en to such discourse, and
respond in the righ, place, even when The
mind is unoccupied, and then he dress did
moi look near 50 well as Mrs. Smelling had
figured il in her mind, the new pieces be.
ing several shades darker than the main
body of the material. More discouraging
than all, il needed finishing of, when seven
o'clock sounded tho signal for q conference
meeting, Miss Prime would not miss on any
account.
II wouldn't mind stayin' over my time
jist 10 give you helping hand, II it wasn't
church meeting night but you know it's
very important thvt all should be there that
can. 10 b. sure Mrs. Hubbard is so took
up with other things now, she never goes /;
and though Miss james joined by letter
when she first came, she's never been TO a
business meeting. For my part, think
we've got just us good right to vote in
church meetn' us The men, aud speak, too,
II We want to, though Deacon Smith has
set his face against it Of late years. So, you
see, III have to 60; and there's only the
facing to face down, aud the side scans 10
stitch up, and the hooks and eyes 10 go on.
The sleeves are already to baste in : oh,
and there's the bones = but the bones are
nothing to put in especially US John Lock.
wood is to be dealt with tonight for going
to the theatre last time he was in New
York. For my part never did put much
faith in his religion = and the more some OF
thn Il bt
to 60. Don't forget to take in that shoulder
seam little. For my part, should think
his sister ought to be labored with for sing.
ing such songs as she does on the piano.
Clear love songs, and plays opera pieces
Miss Allen says. Now which is the worst
'd like to know. going to the theatre oi
playing opera pieces2 Miss Hubbard''
Jane does that, when she is home in vaca
lion, though. That piece under The arn
don't look so very bad, Miss Snelling-thert
ain'l more than two hours work any way
Two hours work to a person who could
scarcely gel time 10 do her menJlng from
week TO week, was no .irille. Mrs. Smelling
wavered a lille while between The accum.
nla,ing pile Of dilapida,ed under clothes in
the willow baske, aud the unfinished dress,
but the dress mus, be done before New
Years lay, now close at hand, and she
lighted another lamp, and drew her little
worksand up 10 the fire as The clock struck
eight. Her mind had opened itself 10 dis.
contenled thoughts in. the morning, and
'ihe enemy had come in like food" un-
I'll all the brightness of her life had been
swept out of sight. She SAW only the sue.
cessive woes OF ill.hcallh, loss and wearing
anxiety which had rolled over them in The
past, and a blank, dreary prospect for the
future. Her very occupation reminded her
Of il. II she could have afforded Miss
Primes assistance two days instead Of one,
she might have got ahead in her sewing q
little; now here there was another draw.
back, and she had so lnlle time. And
then there was Susan Hubbard; hut then
she did not give up everything 10 dress and
display, thank goodness! us Susan Hubbard
did, bringing scandal in The church, and
setting herself up above everybody"
a Knock a, the front doc. was fresh an.
noyance, for The work had TO be put down
again, the sick boy quieied, before Mrs
Smelling went shivering through The cold
narrow hall 10 answer il.
The ne shborly visitor was no other than
Mrs. Hubbard, sand no fire except in ile
Kitchen" was Mrs. Smelling first lhoughl,as
she recognized her with mixed feeling o!
qualification, "hard thoughts, aud curiosity.
Certainly i, was curious coincidence that
the person who had formed The subject OF her
thoughts and conversation, so much vi The
lay should suddenly aDpear
nDon't mind me-" Mrs. Hubbard said
pleasantly, stepping on before her old neigh.
Dor. "Thls way, supposed" Aud she led
the way to the kitchen herself, thus avoiding
The necessity of an apology on The part OF
Mrs. Smelling. "How bright and cheerful a
cook stove looks after ALL and your kitchen
was always rs neat rs wax. We never used
10 keep but one fire, you know" This lasl
was an unfortunate allusion, Mrs. Sneling's
.oi,ening face grew ccIdly rigid a, wha, she
considered an atlempt,o paironize her.
"Poor folks had TO-" she said, taking up
her work and stitching away vigorously.
al haven't forgotten cid tunes, Janc,'
Mrs. Hubbard went on, not caring 10 notice
the ungracious tone in which this remark
was made, when we were all beginning
The world together. YoL seem 10, though
for then you used TO run in and see me, an,
was thinking tonight YOU haven't been uI
10 our house since October"
Mrs. Smelling began 10 say somcihin:
abou, "noi going where she was no, wan,
ed" bu,ildied away lower and lower, wher
she remembered Mis-. Hubbard had been il
twice since then.
al know you have great deal 10 keel
you ai home,I know how il used TO be whcI
my childien were lille. You didG' Jet mt
pay three visits 10 your one then, Jane. -
Mrs. Hubbard drew her thimblc rom he'
pocket and took up The Top piece ofmendinp
rom The big willow baskets The most na'o,
raj manner. "This is 10 20 20, isnl salu
she. 81 can work and talk &c, you Know.
Mr.. Hubbard has gone TO church meeuhs
bu, don't think IFS exactly our place 'c