Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-08-23
Miscella nso Il s
IN make it do.

IN make it DO. said Mrs. Prcntiss. as
she laid her pattern this way and that.
over her cloth tying to get an oycrcoat
for Willie "ut Of papa's old one.
Il don't see how You re going to do it,
said her nrighbor. Mrs. Ellis, who had
come IN for social afternoon.
Wait few minutes, replied Mrs.
PrcntlsS, and I'll show YOU. | can piece
.hc under sides oi the sleeves SO nicely YOU
| wouldn't know it il You didn't .ook close.
and piece the facings; aud let me see =
james always wears his coat sleeves pfet-
~ thoroughly; but can get the pockets
certainly. out ut them. There, abe al
ded, after few minutes use of the sc;s-
sors. haven't done it +! Wait till it is all
scMtd aud pressed, and see if it sn't al
iHos; as good as tiew
w ell, wtt say, replied Mrs Ellis
frank ', that never saw II woman that
would make "A nttle go 50 far as YOU do
iof con.iort aud looks too. | wish | had
hall Your faculty.
No doubt g.od deal lay in Mrs. Prem
tiss' lathe faculty, hut that faculty haf
been developed and strengthened, ant
grown hy patlcn, conlriyance and strength
encd. and gown 10y patient contriyauc,
aud hcafty acton. ihc WI!e!y aud moth
eiN love. that VAS the very well of lit,
VIA her, flowed INTO her routine of huusc.
iluId duties, quichcnng her perception o.
Ways ana means. aud prompting her to t;
thoughtful care and cheerful industry.
James Prentss WAS Il carpenter. Il mau
Of good principles and considerable ablli
y, IL geuIal disposition and pleasing ad
dress. He had married young and ther,
We're those who wondered ut his choice OF
quiet Susan Pauer, good aud sensible
no doubt, but not to lie compared with Il
do1cn other glrls III the village. any o
whom james Prentiss might have had fol
the askins-poor, too and old Jacob Mill,
would have been willing enough to give his
only chld, and round thousands with her.
| And when the little ones gathered fast
around his fire side. nl:ny IL one prophe
sled that james Preutiss would be IL pooi
uian ali his days.
But somehow he never grew any poor.
er. orli was teady, for those Mho once
tried hIni liked to emplov him again, and
speak word iii his favor to others Lux.
urlcs might not have been found in hi.
home. bat dairy bread was there. Tin the
sense ot every needed comfort, J and the
more mouths there We're, the more bread
came. Little hands and feet never went
culd for warm stockings and mittens grew
III uothcr's ullnblc hngers. in long winter
evenings. \ little lairy that lived IN
mothers work basket, turned old cloaks
dresses, and flannel skirts. into miniature
| editions OF the same, clean and whole,
warm aud pretty, too.
a story that Gri.udinama q had told the
children, III which the steam from the tea
kettle took lorHi us genius. fingered III
their memories; aud now and thcu father
Was informed with due gravity. when he
came nonie at night, that IL little cltiu face
had peeped out tom the misty wreath,
that Went floating upwards. But with due
allowance for the active fancy of child
hood, certain it is that quite unpromlsinc
materials were transformed. through that
stove, INTO very uvi.ing dinners. The
cold potatoes ana corned beef left ycster-
day went into the spider, aud with u little
hot water, little butter and pepper. came
out excellent mince- meat; so with salt
fish; The remnan, OF roast joint went i'll
to an iron poo, and thrrcirom was poured
IL nice sup; few surplus spoon uls OF
huiicd ilce served Tor ucXt days break
fast, III the shape oi hot grlddlc cakes; and
stale bits OF bread and biscuit found lhclr
way into the oven, IN company with an
csg. some sugar and milk, aud reappeared
II u,l!eluus padding.
guest might cuMc iii cXpectedly
but IN Mrs. PreDtlss' mind, what she couid
make do for her l.uSbaGd and children,
she could "niaic do for her cunipanv,
and, with the hearty welcume, plcasau;
eonN Nclsat,on and consciousness that they
were not liakIng trouble, her friends were
quite as Akcly 10 enjoy their visit, as il
che had sat down with them, tired, worried.
aud nervous from eXlrI toll.
Not lar oil IlAeu another family, with
aboat equal mealIs. but presenting quite /,
cuntrsSt N comfort and appearance.--
Strange as 1t may seem, however. the very
eXpress.on Mis- Plcntss So often used
4 ii .ndke II do, and whose spirit seemed
the good ial:y OF the house, MAS as ire-
qucuily on Mrs. Graysnn,s lips, but seem
I'd there only to do nilschieI.
Mrs. PreutlSs though she wore mostly
print dresres, always looked neat and lady
like, and even tasteful. Her hair was al
ways smooth and glossy, her boots whole
ana nicely laced, her checked apron, when
soiled, changed tur Il clean one. and her
snowy liueu collar never forgotten. Her
children, too, though allowed perfect free
dom of outdoor play, were taught clean
linpes mud care BuL Mrs (trpvsnn if her