The Feliciana Democrat., 1859-01-08

ing rass?--wnnt should cut my throat, don't
your can't see to shave with the concerns
there and you needn't shink Pm going to en-
courage you to spend your time in such foole
ry"
" But gathered them Sunday"
$50 much the worse. You'd sight bet
ter be reading your Bible than picking pnc
bougls to stick over the looking.glass. You
spend time enough fnssing with them pagny
posies in the front yard, to earn your clothes
shouldn't he sorry at all if the hogs got in
and eat them up some night"
1t was Hester of the olden tmc--Hestcr
who had dashed her hot forehead on the moss
in the forest six years before, and You would
have known her, much as she had changed,
had you seen the fiery crimson fash over her
check, and the more fiery rush ofanger to her
deep eyes She was eighteen and pretticr
than she used to be, though not happier. "a
picture for an artist" you would have said,
had you seen her then, at first with her hand
laid pleadingly on her fathers arm, then with
n step that had in it as much majesty as scorn.
and more anger than either, walking out Of
the room, down a path to the only corner
where there were no currants and sweet-brcrs.
| There was small but prettily arranged bed
of common flowers here, and with the compress
ion of her lips giving way little but no soft.
ening Of her eyes. she bent over them, holding
the blossoms to her cheek an instant, then
gathering them in her hands, they lay, in an
other moment, where her father had wished
them, on the noses OF couple ofgrunting pork
lers
"Why, Hester Marsden, you've spoilt your
posybcd. What makes you look sop said
hoy who had bound out after her as she left
the house.
"Go off and mind your business" said she,
cnrtly, don't you come near me, or I'll cut
your ears Off"
She went in with as stately a step as she
had gone out. and began setting the table,
putting the plates down with SIAM and n
disregard of all order that she had never been
guilty of before.
CHAPTER III.
Hester. John Green has bonght the farm
that Joins mine, aud think it wond be good
plan for him to settle down in a house of his
own. Don't you?"
"Fyc nothing to do with John Green's af-
fairs"
But maybe you will have sometime. He'd
like to get you for q wife maybe"
"John Green may get something that wants
him, I dont
Bnt do yon expect to take care Of yonr
self always? The children are growing np,
and ="
You want to get rid of me, do you?'
why, t|iought-"
Yes. know what you thought" ~ was lies
crs mnttered rejoindcr, and she went ont at
the front door as though her anger was Oh the
point Of an explosion.
She walked down to the gate, aud stood
leaning over it, her face wearing look that
told, palmer than words could have done what
strife there was within. There was a cnstcr
of yellow butter-cups at her feet, and, pulling
off handful, she held them up in the sun.
"To think she said, looking at them, " that
shonld love flowers, when am going to mar.
~ John Green; for marry him | will giving
the flowers q toss into the middle of the road
'thongh die the next minute I've stayed here
where I'm not wanted, Just as long as SHALL
III have home of my own if | do have to
take an ogre with it; then we'll see whether
can have things as | want them or not'
Well, John Green, the ogre" al awkward,
green looking chap, carried his stoga boots
oyer farmer Marsdcn's threshold the next SIM
day evening and Hester in answer to his
stammered speech about wanting house
keeper" told him shortly and to the point
'If you want me 70 keep house for yon bring
Parson Waite over here two weeks from to-
1 night
No one ever knew whether there was, in her
heart, any struggle between the ideal of her
maidenhood and the reality that was to be;
for whatever of pain or passion might have
been Within she was outwardy IA very cold,
quiet bride, and, in her new home, went rcso.
lntely to the labor that awaited her.
"Ycs he's well off as to land" say the good
people of Mercer village, when you notice the
broad acres and white farmhouse of John
Green, p" but deliver us from the tongue of his
wife; she's enough to wear the life out of an
oak tree" 1t is true enough, all this that
they tell Of Mrs Hester Green's scolding pro
pensities, but do you see how she has grown
to this?-how the love and longings were
crushed out of her heart?-how passion came
in when pain made way?
Scolding women are one of the bug.bears of
the age, and rightly enough, too, for all expe.
rience goes to show that life "in the corner of
the housctop" is better than with the possess
or of sharp tongue, but "hopeful pity, ont
!