Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-01-01
Selttt storp.
PROM the Skowhegan Reporter.
THREE HOUSES.
BY SOPHIE MAY.

=
iyics, tuberoses, and lilies, you get apcep
at gilded walls and rare paintings from
old masters. The front door was dark
and massive. The wolf Poverty had
never barked at it, you would know by
thclplate on the middle panel, marked
X. 5. Davenport. one of the wealhiest
names in the city.
The second was cottage, Turkish
,obacco" color, smuggled between wood
bines and liiacs, with bit Of iront-yard
before it just large enough Ton baby's
carriage to turn round in. OH on cross
street it stood, taking birds eye view
ofthe mansions backyard and the week s
wash OF fine linen drying in the wind,
But the little cottage seemed to enjoy
the situation, and though it had neither
blinds nor bay windows, did not suffer
from humility.
The third was tenement house in =
remote part of the city. and if buildings
have any expression at all. this looked
rs ifit felt ashamed of itself. With good
reason too. 1t might have seen better
days, but certainly none worth boasting
of, and now it was ovcrrun with very
humble class of tenants. Its right hand
did not know what its left was doing,
which was all the better. as its right hand
was often drinking hard cider, while its
left was reading the Bible.
At present one room in the left upper
story was devoted to Mrs. Parker and
Martha Hunt, and they were devoted to
plain sewing, or Martha was, it being
the sureSt way she knew of supporting
herself and sister Jane and little George.
Poor Martha She met her fate rs
brayely rs she could: but three years ago
who would have thought of her in ,cnc-
ment house. going out by the days work ?
Before Jane married 50 unfortunately
and her husband wasted MI their little
property, lite had looked to Martha Hunt
like path of roses. Now the roses had
all she'd their leaves. and there seemed 10
be little 10 look forward TO but thorns in
the shape of papers of needles. Needles
forever, and they gave her such pain in
the side, The last few months had been
harder than ever, with no prospect OF any
relief.
"a sorry Christmas we shall heye this
year. said low-spiritcd Jane, nothing
in the world to make pudding of, and a
turkey is out of the question. No George,
YOU needn't hang up your stocking Santa
Claus doesn't visit tenement houses.
Nonsense said Martha brightly. Hang
itup, Georgie; Santa Claus isn't too poor
TO afford pcpcrmints :"
George wiped his eyes; pepcrmints
were better than nothing.
"P'raps now" said he. catching his
aant's CHEEKY tones, "p'rhaps If he looks
froo the windy and sees its me, he'll put
| in nolltnger ~
TO be sure, dear. We never know
what's going to happen, returned Martha
trying to smile though the corners OF hel
mouth twitched the wrong way. "Why
Jane, who knows but we may be invited
out to a Christmas dinner? Such thing:
have happened before now.'
Yes, in our palmy days" said Jane
shivering drearily, and burying hersel
deeply in her little house-shawl before
lost my husband, and my health, an'
my property All yes, and fell on yo'
like dead weight, you dear sister
Martha There, don't say word, In
going to have good cry!
Poor thing thought Martha, "sh'
wouldn't have these low turns ii sh'
wasn't so weak. She needs nourishlns
food. and instead of that, the doctor il
ordering medicine. Oh, if | could aiior'
a little meat Just for Christmas /! Bu
that isn't to be thought of, when one i
actually three dollors in debt to th'
apothecary, OF courst not!
At the very time Jane Parker was red
dening her cyelids with good cry,
Mrs. Davenport was counting her silver
II cost her deal of trouble TO look afte
her treasures nowadays, since burglar
were getting so bold.
"Mr. Davenport" said she, sweepin!
an emphatic gesture with a pie-knife, "w'
must make Christmas dinner"
Must, my dear?'
YES, must, it isn't to be supposed w
want to. My brother Cutler had 1t las
year and it's our turn again.
.Humphm groaned the master Of tn
, mansion meekly, 81 hate dinners"
And well he might. There was n
comfort in the house two days before
hand or six weeks afterwards, his vii
being one OF those exquisite souls VIII
are agonized by crumpled rose-leaf.
"My dear husband, it is uselesst to talk
A Christmas dinner is customary in on
family it will be expected"
80 be it then" sighed Mr.. Davenport
Il suppose you will ask my sister Ann
"Another needless remark" said tn
fine lady with frigid glance at the gol
eggs spoons" Mrs. Kidder will look for a
invitation, and she shall haveit. baby an
ALL will not be accused Of sighting an
of your family
Accordingly the widow, Ann kidde'
who lived In the Turkish-tobacco cottage
was to be honored with an invitationto