Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-29
....nr xlli marry Bessie Bright, and then all

will 20 merrily."
The baby slept. TWAS 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 to
wear then she clasped her
hand upon her lips, growing even yet
whittier. She threw coal in the stove, put
all the irons on, and set to work with en-
ergy, by drawing out the ironing table
and inspecting the clothes. As fast as
they dried, and sometimes when they
were still wet, she went to work and iron.
ed furiously. The poor soul was panied
all through; she had borne and borne, she
said to herself, in silence and in sorrow,
now her brain was giving way.
Was it, she wondered, putting her hot
hand to her brow. People did go crazy
from anxiety and over work, from sighted
affection and devotion wronged; she had
hoped it might be so with her.
at wouldn't be my fault she cried !;
sit wouldn be anybody's fault-oh, John
John y and down went the iron, and Tor
a moment she sobbed and wept despair
ingly. ,e.,o., :, ,h;s world
and l pity them. Imaginary yokes are
sometimes the heaviest to be borne, and
burdens that one will persist in wearing,
never fit the shoulders-never.
Hannah grew very nearly hysterlcal,
when soft, little cooling sound penetra-
ted 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, ca
ressing it with almost frantic gestures.
"My baby, my baby will il be your lot
some day?'' and the rosebud lips only
parted, for another GOO and another
smile, while the eyes as blue as heaven,
sparkled with that laughing gladness new
er seen only in the eyes of a baby.
For long time she sat there fondling
the child and thinking. Suddenly the
kitchen clock struck twelve, and simulta-
neously two pairs of feet struck the
threshold, and young voices cried out lus-
tily for something to eat.
Hannah tied the baby in its little chair,
while the boys came round her with their
clamor. Bread and butter made them
happy for a while, and mischief made them
happier. Ned united the baby and gave
it q bump on its forehead, or rather the
floor did, for the poor little thing fell head
long. Hannah as usual grew distracted,
and thought more vindictively than ever
/ on her slaves life Johnny daubed him.
self with syrup, which he obtained with
out lawful consent, and wiped hands and
face on one of the best curtains that Han
nah had been laborously ironing. l
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 well disciplined family, or that Han
nah was, herself, Il pattern disciplinarian
there is so much human nature in mothers
that, perhaps, it is hard to be perfect in
these things.
'.Lct US 60 nutting, mother, said john
ny, after the pain was all over. and he had
forgotten that moment ago he meant to
be Just as bad as he could be; ''its half
holiday"
"Nntting !" laughed Ned, with superior
wisdom; ''why, the nuts haven't hardly
begun to form, yet; what noodle you
are, johnny Wells Hnrrah, he gifts such
jolly lots of lickings at school, amt you
glad mother because YOU know he bump
ed the-no bumped the baby, but didn't
go to. say, Johnny, l know where
there's lots cherries; ten thousand, mill
ion acres of 'em; and they're all turning
black. Wen pick bushel; say mother,
may'nt we go?"
"Yes to Jericho!" said Hannah, very
unwisely, very Grossly; but then the poor
soul had been in anguish ever since morn
ing, with one dominating, dreadful thought
and hardly knew what she did say.
The boys stole Oft more quietly, for
something in her eyes scared them. They
talked outside, as children will, the talk
that is seldom heard by parents; it might
be better if it were.
Haven't we got regular cross moth
er?" quried Ned. "She don't laugh like
Danny Judkins' mother, wish had his
mother; I'd be awful good"
II don't know" replied more thoughtful
Johnny; "she kisses us when we 90 to
bed"
'sPooh what's kisses, when fellow
gets any quantity of slaps for one kiss. -
Mind, when grow up, I'm going to run
away the first chance I'll make her cry !;
she makes me-"
''What are you going to do about father?'
"Well," after long pause, Ned added,
1--WE don't see much of him. and then
NoLlC. a Sphiii Si III anu NcWh Out
the baskets.
Hannah. at home, was getting picked
up dinner. There was corned beef in the
house, and good bread and sweet butter.
John would have such things Of the
best, but then his bill at the grocer's was
enormous, and Hannah had been wonder
ing, with heavy heart, how they were
going to pay it that month.
The woman was good housewife even
in her Encouragement. 1t was sort OF
religion with her to keep her table spot
less white. 1t ought to be sort of relig-
ion in every household. A family accus-
toned to stained napkins and untidy table
linen can hardly turn out ladies and gen
tlemen
Nothing could look prcttier than Han
nah's dinner. The beef laid in Sticks on a
snowy plate, and even beef can look poeti-
cal, with its soft colors, when daintily
dressed. Everything was quite ready,
and Hannah sat by the door, playing
moodily with her beautiful baby, when a
sight met her eyes that turned them to
stone again.
IL wa, a beautiful view flvIn tire door vi
the kitchen-a view of winding roads. a