The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-09
rs ffrom Pctcrsons Magaxine.].
Making the best of Everyllling,
BY 4. LEWIS.

The home Of Mr.. Clayton and his two chill
dren was osnall, wood -colored house, stand
ing back from the road, on an cminence tina
sloped down to the brook that murmurec
through the orchard and meadows
1t was a fine location, and with good man
agement and taste it might have been d
charming place; but an air Of untnrift and
discomfort pervaded everything; and this
was even more apparent indoors than out
The room where the family were now al
breakfast wore a most checrlcss aspect in
spite Of the sunlight that streamed in at the
high, narrow windows. The paper on the
wall was dingy and soi!ed, so that it was al.
most impossible to tell what was it's original
color. and pattern. The SCOT had fallen down
in the broad Fireplace, which was without a
tire-board. The floor was Uttered and un.idy.
The buttcry door was open, revealing a me d
ley that beggars description. The table.
cloth was much soilcd, and the table was set
with several kinds of dishes, and spread with
the plainest fare ; fried pork, boiled potatoes
with their Jackets on,'' and bread and bnt-
ter.
Mr. Clayton and Joe wore their working
clothes. (bue shirts and overalls,) and Mel
lies dress was soiled and torn, and her hair
was uncombcd and carelessly tucked behind
her ears.
Father she said. as she poured the, cof.
fee, "you know Emily is coming to- day, and
hardly know what TO do. / WISH" she
added, glancing around, "that we could live
nicer wish we had carpet and some bet
ter chairs. remember how pleasant it
seemed at aunt Mary's when was there
They had nice carpets and pictures, and a
great many things We haven't got; and
dread Emily's coming so"
"Well, my daughter" said Mr.. Clayton,
II wish | was able to have things different,
but you must make the best of it Ifyou
want any groceries, Joe can get them for
you when he comes from the field"
~ wouldn't care if I were in your place,
sis" said Joe "For my part, don't be-
lieve shall like her at all. suppose she
Is proud and disagrceahle, because she has
been off to school, and all that; but don't
mean to mind anything about her.
Don't judge your cousin before you see
her" said Mr.. Clayton. "you may like her
after all /"
Nellie Clayton had occ her fathers house
keeper about two years. She was plump
little creature Of fifteen, and would have been
pretty, if she had taken any pains with her
person. But her wayy brown hair was gen
orally twisted into a careless knot behind,
and her dresses, which she made herself,
were usually scanty and ill fitting
Indeed, poor Nellie was almost discour-
aged; an !, when prayers were over and her
father and brother were gone, she sat down
IN the doorway and cried, wondered what
she should do, whatshe should wear, wished
she wasr rich, and finally got dish of cru bs
and began feeding the chickens that CA ,e
around her, and so she dlcd away half the
forenoon before she set herself to work to
clear the table and prepare dinner, after
which she put the house in as good order as
she could, and went up stairs to make her
toilet.
She brushed her hair plainly buck as was
her custom, saying to herself, "lts no use
taking any pains; for she hadn't anything
fit to wear
She selected from her scanty wardrobe a
lilac colored print, which would have been
very pretty if it had fitted her. Her simple
toilet was soon completed. just as she was
pinning black velvet ribbon around her
neck, she heard the stage horn, and, run
ming to the window, she peeped through the
curtain, while her cousin alightcd and came
slowly up the walk. .ss.#s
Her cousin was a. slight, graceful girl,
tastefully and appropriately dressed and as
Nellie noted the lons, ample skirt, of the
brown travslling-dress, the neatly gloved
hands, and little brown veil thrown careless
ly back over the plain straw bonnet, leaving
the fair face with its h.nds Of dark hair un.
covered, her trepidation did not decrease. -
But go down she must, and the sooner the
better. So trying to persuade herself that
she didn't care, she went to meet Emily,
whose pleasant, easy greeting rather reassur-
cd her.
Though Joe had declared his indifference
tothe expected guest, vet at tea his appear.
ance was much improved.
~.