Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-02-13
Letters from Flora.
The World as We Take It or as v
Make It,.

The World AS We Take 1t or as We
Make st..
In little town down East had two great aunts,
aunt Lydia and aunt Pcggy;-own sisters, born and
raised together. Each lad the same advantages In
every respect, and the setting ont, married at
the same time two brothers, farmers, who por-
toned exactly alike except that when the property
was divided, Samuel Lyda's husband, being year
aud half the oldest, had his choice Of the farms.
The farms adjoined and the family always lived in
the greatest amicability together. In dispositions
the brothers bore striking resemblance to each other,
but the sisters varied greatly he feKgy gem
tleness ITSELF Lydia was Ovcrstocked with energy
Her heart was equally good, and her force OF char
acter rendered her kindness still more effective per-
iaPs In particular Instances, but she made. her
life miserable. She hour earlier than was
necessary to do n days work. had every one In the
house dragged out, and bustliDg hand and busy
tongue put the whole house asr. The girls hurried
each to her work to further words and the boys
driven here and there to do this that with the
utmost speed for some urgent reason, and II she had
10 other II was always at her tongues end to take
time by the fOrelOck and so she always did And
when everything done, she could find nothing
more to do, she would actually sit down, let tho wrin
kes out Of her face we'll she could, aud really
would seem to feel and look very comfortable. But
such times Of short duration, and a return Of
anything to do, brought back the hurry ard the
ry. II her husband stepped to speak to neigh
bOr she was sure to tell him the grass grew In his
tracks, and II 1t did not grow any faster than he
moved the cattle would starve to death. II was an
unfortunate circumstance that his name was Butter
cup, for at times when everything was not done
fortnight before ought to have been, she would tell
him his name ought to have been cup without any
butter for she sure Il would never have any Ia 1t
II he had to put 1t in. But the good Mr. uttcrcup did
not lay these things up for he knew Lydas heart for
all actual suffering the best heart In the world
and her hand the readit So as he had naturally
good share OF patience, 1t did not much imbtter
his peace, though he did not sit down by the fire side
with his family quite rs many hours as his brother
James who had married the other sister. Though he
worked longer he got rich faster, aud his children
received only the same advantages as those OF his
brother. Poor aunt Lydia-she had always so much
trOube-everything to do and everything to see to,
0s she used to say; and verify she did do all she
could and see to the rest. At forty she really began
to have trouble her constitution failing; she
decrcpit with rheumatism and her hair as gray AS
rat; glasses she had been Obliged to for five
years. She looked old enough to have been the grand
mother Of her sister Peggy who was but two years
younger. She became unable to do anything. hut
her ambitious, restless spirit would not he still so
that, though her hands were quiet she got no rest
and at fifty she died old woman.
But not so with aunt Peggy; her house always
clean her work was always done, her children
well brought up, but never saw her In a hurry,
or angry, never heard her scold. Her house
little Eden, all happiness and sunshine-Vines clam
bered over II and roses gathered round IT, The birds
built their nests In the sweet brer under her window
and walked their earliest notes at her door when they
came for the crumbs. Her daughters were graceful
and gentle, and her sons loved their mother and
their home better than anything else, while her hus
band made speedy work In the field that he might
home to the delightful rest OF his household
He was never afraid to invite any one in TO dinner,
Unexpectedly, his wifes face just good natured
MS II she had known il week; her welcome and
cordially were always frank and simple-a grace
like hers intuitlve-it would have done honor to
palace or cot. Time glIded swiftly and
renely, her children settled all happily about her, AID
when sa her last she eighty years old, not
grey hair upon her head. her snile SHeeL and
her eye just the same ever bright enough but more
than that evncing perfect content. remarked up
on her age, yet she replied, have come long jour
ney, but II has been pleasant weather all the way and
am almost home now. Her husband sat by her side,
slightly her senior, but looking as happy mortal
would do when the other gone. They had walk
ed fe's journey, side by side, sixty two years, and
afterwards learned that but week interviewed he
tween their deaths People said they had no trouble;
60 they had not, for an obvious reason.