Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-10-10

Hannah, as said before. looked long
and haggardly Al herself
"You have lost your beauty, madam" f"
she said at last with manner that would
have been ludicrouS but tor the bitter
ness Of voice and gesture.
You are only the ghost "l Hannah
Nav that was. Your eyes are dim; the
color has died out of your lips aud left
them like ashes and the very bones Of
your cheeks arc visible IL that the reas.
on you are slighted and neglected. Even
my own boy says :-"Oh mamma, YOU re-
notas pretty rs Bessie Bright :" no won
der. when they see where father spends
his time. will be 4 by word inr the vii
lage gossips no longer" she cried pas
sionalely: III will die | will die :"
The terrible force with which she pro.
nounced these words seemed 10 take all
the strength out of her. She SINK, pant
ing and trembling, on .hc clair beside
her There was glow enough on her
cheeks now, but it WAS the GLOW of an
almost insane anger Presently il died
out. and lett her whittier than ever
She took tho little vial, and pressed
her lips together as she placed it in htr
bosom.
Il will set my house in order, first" i"
she said with a laugh that sounded more
like moan. and rising. she made the bed,
put TO rights the inner room. where her
two bright rosy boys slept, and then
went down the SiaiIs.
The woman's eye burned with Il steady
light Is She moved 10 and iru putting the
finishing touches upon her labor, So me.
chanically performed Once when she
looked in box tha. her husband had
carelcssly lett on the mantcl.piccc. her
whole face famed uu again; she went
quietly To the stove aud lifted one oi
the covers from the waning fire beneath,
took the box down, and just in the act OF
pouring its contents into it, paused
"Hc made that box ful me before we
were married" :" she murmured. land he
loved me then; won't destroy it, but
oh , how hate all those models with
which he has fooled away his time They
seem to me like so many demons eating
up our substance. BY and hy The house
will 20 the children will grow up beg
gars "he will marry Bessie Bright, aud
then all will 90 merIily"
The baby slept. Ii was a healthy,
little dimpled thing, and never any
trouble.
Hannah looked about her after all was
done and the dinner decided upon
"Oh, John will want clean Shirt 10
wear-,hen she claspcd her hand upoa
her lips growing even whittier, She
threw coal In the stove. put all the irons
on, and set 10 work with energy, hy
drawing out the Ironing table and in.
spccting the clothes. As fast n, they
,hird and sometimes when they were
still wet, she went to work and ironed
iuriously. The poor soul was paincd Ill
through; she had borne and borne she
said to herself, in silence and ia sorrow
and now her brain was giving way.
Was il She wondered patting her hot
hand up to heI brow People did go
crazy from anxiety and over work, from
sighted affection and devotion wronged :;
she had hoped ii might be so with her.
at wouldn't be my fault, then" she
cried ii wouldn't be anybody's fault -
oh, John John = and down went the
iron, and for moment she sobbed and
wept despairinsly.
There are selfloimcn,ors in this world
and pity them. Imaginary yokes are
sometimes the heaviest To be borne, aud
burdens that one will persist in wearing.
never fit the shoulders never.
Hannah grew very nearly hystcri,al.
when soft, little cooling sound pcnetrat.
ed her ear. She turned, and there was
that baby face like fresh creation, look
ing smilingly into hers. She dashed the
tears away and caught up the child, CT.
ressing it with almost frantic gestures.
my baby, my baby will be your
lot some day ?" and the rose bud lips only
parted for another smile. while the eyes,
as blue as heaven, sparklcd with that
laughing gladness never seen only in the
! eyes OF baby.
For n long time she sal there fondling
the child and thinking. Suddenly the
Kitchen clock struck twelve, and simulta
neously two pairs oI feet struck the
threshold. and young voices cried out
Justify for something TO cat.
Hannah tied the ably in its little chair
while the boys came round her with their
clamor Bread and butter made them
happy for while, and mischief made
them happier. Ned united the baby and
gave it a bump on The forehead, OF rather
the floor did, for the poor little thing fell
headlong. | should not like TO say how
far thought Hannah excusable. when
she took down the terror of the house
only bunch of fine twigs-and gave
Johnny some smart blows with it.
And yet cannot honestly aver that this
was we'll disciplined family, OF that
Hannah was. herself, a pattern disci
plinarian, there is SO much human ma
ture in mothers, that perhaps. it is hard
ItO be berfect in these things.