Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-08-17
Misesllauy.
Lifting Up.
BY HARRIET Z. LUNT.

strike her dumb with sorrow and shame
some awful rebuke that should rouse her.
and frighten her out of all this weakness
and misery at once.
., For truly it was poor miserable life
that she was living cow; and the way out
of it did not appear. Ten years before, a
man and woman had stood up, and prom
ised fidelity and honor towards each other,
with as high hopes as any two people, with
the world all before them, and their home
to make in it, could have. Five years of
honest, hearty effort, home just beginning
to be theirs, four days of illness-and
widow with mortgaged house and three
bodies were left.
At first grief for her loss, remorse for
the light appreciation of what had been
hers, the desire to do for lis children what
he had meant, sustained her; and she
worked hard and incessantly- First in a
factory, where she had been 8 weaver be-
fore her marriage. The trouble was about
leaving the children. She let her house.
all but three rooms, got girl to come in
through the day.. but it did not answer.
Annie was burned Harry fell down the
cellar stairs and the baby got sick. After
several trials Susan found a middle-aged
woman, who was out Of work, and had no
permanent home, and who agreed to stay
through the winter, on condition that she
could take in sewing and knitting when
she could get them to do. So here the
case stood sixty dollars rent for her
house twenty-five dollars she had to pay
for interest; twelve more for insurance
and taxes, leaving twenty-three dollars for
repairs on the house, which was sure to
come, and for clothing for herself and
children. She earned five dollars, some
times.whe the work went well. six dollars
4 week that went for food and fuel Five
people were to be warmed and fed.
Mrs. Marshall, the old lady, soon came
to love the little fatherless things, and
took good care of them. She made the
most of their. mothers little means cooked
comfortable meals, kept the house tidy,
taught Annie her letters; Susan washed
and ironed evenings, and felt as though
Paradise all that could be IN this world
without Henry=was regained, and dared
not think of what would be in the spring.
So winter passed they had known the
real comfort of home. Spring came,
Mrs. Marshall was called to a good place,
and the reign of disorder began again.
Very young girls were the only house
keepers that Susan could afford; each made
fresh havoc; and each change was equal
to a removal. There is saying that three
removals are equal to one fire. Poor Su-
san, her crockery was broken they had
barely dishes enough to put on the table,
odd things at last. The children's clothes
were scorched spoons were thrown out il
the dishwater knives and forks had Their
handles taken off by hot water towels
disappeared, and left no trace Susan had
not been an economist or a good manager
she felt that !; but she had that interest
whioi ones own property inspires, and bad
never thrown her things away.
The last attempt at housekeeper was
foolish girl who was said to be teachable
and good tempered. Alas for the teach.
Ableness only while you stood over her
to point out the very place, and work could
she do anything. And very soon th'
whole matter eliminated by her letting the
baby fall out of high chair.
L must give my notice, and take il
sewing said Susan which she did. Sh'
sewed for sale shops, and for such person
ia the mill as she knew could afford to pu
out work. For a month or so all wen
we'll; che had little money left of he
wages, and some months rent she did nc
owe, After that the pull began. b
working all day, and some hours into th
night. She could earn three dollars q wee
and get through with her house work. Bu
it is hard 10 support four people on thre
dollars; it scas, should say, for this wa
Il Tban tbaro ruonk
when she had Improbable work, or whe
there was work only part of the time, :
that she only earned two dollars, perhaI
only one dollar and half. She then too
extra work when she could get it, and s;
far into the night to get it done. 1t WI
new, and, for her, harder than mill-worl
this sitting hour after hour, with erampe
limbs, strained eyes, and weary finger
Soon there were little debts that ST
couldn't meet; she grew discouraged, b.
came irritable, and children's noise craze
her; she gave them push, sometimes,
her hurry and anxiety to finish her task.
About the middle of the following whit
her tenants moved, and the house Ia
empty. She spent much time in showir
the rooms, and in talking to applicant
But as time passed, and nobody was suite
Susans heart sank. One Saturday ngt
at the end of most unfortunate week, b
grocer pressed her for the payment of
bill, aud almost refused to trust her
more goods. 1t was the first time in b
life that such thing had happened to hi
and she was ready to sink under the b
miliatiou-though thankful that one DIR
of bitterness was spared-the middle-ag
clerk, who usually waited on her, was I
by; she could not have borne that. Y
when, an hour later, a large package "
brought to her door by the pIeasant-fac
boy of the establishment, and she was ask
humbly to accept it, Susan did not sc
it back. as she had done things from
same quarter before. The childreD's
>cessities, her own jaded, discouraged sta
prepared her, when this hour of temptat
came, to yield. What was the use of pr
while her children wanted bread WI
soon the house that their father worked
hard for. would refuse them shelter A
could she ever earn enough to pay re
and feed and clothe them all 2 So bef
summer she was married to Mr.. Powt
the mads.ie-aged clerk at Mr. Ransom
and u.e old life became thing of the ps
Mr. Powers paid off the mortgage on
house he bought new furniture in pl,
of the broken, disabled stuff but he
some rooms, instead of having all to the
selves, as Susan had hoped.
No two persons could begin life toget
with less realization of what each was
bear and forbear. The husband, now .
forty. had been bachelor, waited on a
person of consideration, in the house wh
he had boarded for fifteen years. Susa
first husband had treated her with tend
ness and consideration, much as if
uora a rhild Nnr4 4Lau. 4rr. h.d q