The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-01-17

Robert Thompson was doing well, an,
putting fairly by. But understanding ha,
not come into the man, and his wife wa
too meek, perhaps too constitutional,
timid, to make trouble over it.
The mttcr to-day, which had put hc
so very much out, was this. A sewins
club had recently been established in tb,
neighborhood. There was much distres,
amid the poor laborers' wives and famil
les, and some ladies, with time on thei,
hands, set up IA sewing-club, to make a
lew clothes for the nearly naked children
The farmers wives had joined it, Mrs
Thompson among others they met at
stated intervals, taking the different
houses in rotation, dining at home at
twelve, assembling at one o'clock, and
working steadily for several hours 1t
was surprising how much work got done,
how many little petticoats and frocks were
made in the long afternoons. In less than
a month it would be Mrs. Thompsons
turn to receive the company - for the
first time--and she naturally began to
consider ways and means. For they met
Tor an entertainment as well as for sewing
tea in the afternoon a grand meal la.
ter, when the stitching was over.
What was Mrs Thompson TO do p
Their stock OF plates anu dishes copsts,su
Of few odds and ends of cracked delf
that had once been kind ofmulberry
color. She had long wanted some new
whlte-ware she wanted it more than
ever now. Grover, the keeper of the vii
lage crockery-shop, had t lovely set for
sale, white, with delicate sprig of con-
volvuli fuchias, looking every bit as good
as real china. Mrs Thompson had set
her heart on the set, and that morning
had broached the subject to her husband.
What's the matter with the old ones .
asked he.
Look at them," she answered. "They
are frightfully old and shabby"
81 daresay the food will taste as well
OIL them as off Growers set of white.
ware"
"But there's not half enough. We
have as good as none left"
"Mother has some best china. Where
is it?'
"lhats nearly all gone. We couldn't
put the two on the table together"
"Why not ?'
"Oh, Robert! Look at his. 1t is the
shabbiest old lot ever seen.
" Twas good enough for mother"
Mrs. Robert Thompson disdained COM
ment.
"You'd not have thought of this but
Tor the sewing-circle having to come here.
II they can't come and eat from such
dishes as we've got, they are welcome to
stay away"
There were tears in Mrs. Thompsons
eyes; but she crowded them brayely
back. He took his hat to 90 ont to his
moving.
ave really need the things, Robert.
Those at Growers are very cheap. can
get all want for mere trihe do give
me the money"
"Grover'll have TO keep EN-, for U.s.
I've got no money to waste on fine china,
returned the farmer. "By the way"
looking back from the door. clones and
Lee are coming to give helping hand
| want to get the soath meadow down to.
so | shall bring them into dinner. Oh,
and the lIubbards want six pounds of
butter tonight don't forget to have it
ready"
With these words, Mr.. Robert Thompson
had marched oil, leaving his wife to her
long, weary days work, darkened and
made distasteiu by her disappointment.
She was both grieved and angry. 1t was
a little thing, perhaps, but it is the little
things Of life that delight or annoy.
Existence seemed very bare and home
ly to Jane Thompson that summer day.
With her love of ease, and beauty, and
symmetry, how rude, and coarse, and
hard looking all her surrounding. 1t
was only one long, monotonous round Of
homely toll unreieved by any of the lit
tie sweetnesses and graces that might
make even toll pleasant. She did not Of
ten think Of it; but she remembered that
day, with the faintest little air of regret |
that she miyht have been far differently
situated, and as she looked up to the pref
ty French cottage on the hill, embowered
in perfect forest Of blossoming vines,
and caught the cool gleam Of urn and
fountain, something very like sigh
trembled on her lips esquire Burn
hams wife does not have to beg for a
paltry bit Of money to set out her table
decently,' she thought, rebelliously
And then, in her spirit Of aggrieve-
ment, she mentally went over the other
things she needed, aud that Robert knew
mere needed. Why was life to be all
toll aud bare ugliness? There was no
reason he had plenty of money, A new
carpet for the best parlor; paper for the
walls, so stained with time whitewash |
paint; some fresh chnz She remember
ed it all, as sine toiled through the long,
suliry forenoon with an aching head and
discouraged heart. 1t happened to be
washlng-day and on those days she took
all the work, that Molly might not be dis
turbed in her help at the tubs.
What business had she to marry Robert |
Thompson ? she asked herself, her slender
wrists beating away at the butter for the
Hubbards. For in the green and gloomy
light that Mrs Robert Thompson looked
at things to-day, she quite forgot the
fact that she had fallen in love with the
honest, steady, and good-looking young
farmer, choosing him in preference to
Joe Burnham, whom she might have had
Joe had Il patrimony of his own; two
hundred year at least, and good bit of
land, which he rented and was called
esquire" as his father had been before
him. lie wanted to marry Jane Law
renee, aud she would not. Likes and
dislikes can not be controlled, and she
cared more for Robert Thompsons little
finger than for the whole of poor under
sized Joe. Squire Burnham found an
q,