The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-09-09
SELECTED STORY.
From the Hearth & Home.
SUMMER BCARDERS.

Patter, drip, splash! After three consecu-
tiy DAYS OF rainy weather. perhaps it was only
ma .utai that Laura and should take rather a
de Dondent view OF life.
Il suppose the old black trunk must CONF
down to-day from the GARRETT dolefully eS-
claimed Laura, twirlilg the spoon in her emp
tN coffee cup. "Ob for the tine Wheh scnoo'
vacations ne'er break up" 49,,
And houseWOrk has an end !! ch'tned III
81 ler Rulh, as she started WIN pi'e vi I'e".i
o .'es for the pantry-dO0r. Come, girls, IL
v u have finished, wish you would move out
O my way"
breakfast was a lazy meal With Laura and
e. We had habit OF lingering ("dawdliug,"
il. Rulh's phraseoogy) at the table, gossiping
over village news, building air-caslles; but Of
t.n-r seriously discussing our vexed question,
/, W shall we earn a living?"
1t was the same old story OF genteeI povert p
;td tine, instead OF mendng matters. only
made them woTce.
Laura aud We're twins. Ruth was our
] .il-sloter, and nearly d dozen wears our sen.
jJr. She was brisk, CHEEKY BODY. one in
whom the Yankee Gift, "iaculty,n was largely
developed. Her face showed knowledge of
eva as well as good, but it was the look OF a
pure, slroug spirit, that had the evil under
sdDJecton; often sOrely tempted, it may be,
III conquered-neser. Ruth was one OF
those who keep their Sundaydrass nature for
: ere acq laintances, and let their nearest
friends have the souls .deShabiAe; she always
made the best of every thing, turning to the
world the bright side of her life, even as tue
malkei-wonan puts the fairest part OF her
fruit uppermost.
During our fathers lifetime, he had done a
small business as commission merchant, send
ing butter and cheese to New York City for
the farmers in our little town OF Berkeley. by
great economy he had secured comfortable
home but when Laura and l were only a
yeal Old, he died suddenly of heart disease
leaving delicate wife with three children to
rapport. A short time previous to his death
he had taken the precaution to have his lite
Insured; but this slender income hardly suf
feed for our wants, and since my earliest rec
election lite with us had been rather pinch
ed, rost-btten affair.
Ruth had faithfully shared with her step
mother all heavy burdens. | have often
thought that it was one like her that Goethe
had i'll mind when lie drew that charming
portrait of the loving, helpful eldest daughter,
whose life was "ein elUjgeS Gdhen md KOm-
men,"
When Laura and l were thirteen, Ruth
married her old playmate George Ames. He
was about as poor as herself, but rich," as he
lau9hlngy SAID, 'in the chief elements of sue
cess-a pair of strong hands aud a disposition
to work." Tie young couple hlrel small
fam not tar from Berkeley. and for few
years were happy and prosperous.
Then came me Great Rebellion. George
was anxious to volunteer, and his wife,
brave heart would not hinder him. He dis
posed Of MS stock and lease OF the farm, anc
Ruth came home to us. We all know the
sad story Of the Union repulse at Big Bethel
Ruth lever saw her husband alive again.
Those terrible days! [ do not like to REGAL
them.
Mothers health, always feeble, now began
TO Iail. Before the war ended, she too, left Us
and at the time my story opens we three Sis.
tiers were living alone together.
was very unlike Jay twin sister, She was
tai, strong, and self reliant; | was slender
pale, and tinid. Nhensa little child, [ had
received az injury III my right foot from a
push BY a rough boy on the school play
GROUND, and The prospect was that should
be lame a my life. For nearly Two year,
now, Laura had taught gymnastics in l.
Seminary. and this was the last day OF hel
spring vacation.
As said in the beginning, the weather
was dismal; and in the absence OF sunshin,
our necessity seemed greater than ever.
"Aprii, May, June, July, - four weary
mohtnS before we see you again, Laura.
hate to have you 20 back 10 l.. You ar,
much too pretty for bard work, poor pay, anG
poor fare" and | looked with loving admra
fion at The fresh, rosy ace opposite me.
"The haid work aud poor fare are nothing
Edna, DEAR" replied LAURA but we oueb
not 10 be separated even Tor SO short a time
How can this be managed? Come, Ruth. dc
sit down moment, and help us plan. What
matter il those dishes are not finished at pre-
cisely a certain hour?"
Ia 90 al cd uitl, f1,a i
expression OF one who could not possibly gain
any thug Dy complying.
docs it not seem, girls, that on this ques-
ton of work and wages our thoughts travel
III circle? We always come back to Laura's
pan OF opening small family boarding
schOol-tHe tavorite resort of needy gentle
women For my part, two years experiel c.
OF district school teaching has cured me of al
further desire to IRAN the young idea.'
Wo I'D sooner take in washing"
Ruth'S tone was decided.
And as for situation in a school," she
continued, there is call nowadays fol
thoroughly trained teachers who have made {
speciality oil some particular branch. 1t is moi
too iate for you, Laura and Edna, but nv day
has gone by. There were plenty of good seeds
sow1 In my mind, but | have no good crop OF
any one thing. No; my talent, if | have any
is housekeeping, and this | must make nav
Somehow" and Ruth surveyed her little
hard, brown hands with yery determined
expression.
How nice to be poor, after the graceful
fashion OF English heroines J" remarked Laura
lrrelevantly. They always have a maid. Il
Their tea is weak aud the bread and butter
thin, the meal is always sent into the parlor
and served in delicate china. They never
blacken their hands peeIing potatoes and
apples, nor blister them doing the family
nohing; neither have the dainty creatures
any conception of the moral courage it re.
CURES to plunge ones arm into the brine of
the pork barrel"
You are not often called upon to stand the
latter test" said Ruth syy
But have had experience enough to UNI
derstand that 1t is dlsagreeable," persisted
Laura.
Gray lives are interesting only in TO-
NANCE" sighed |.
And yet" added Ruth softly, "you remem-
per lnoreau thought i possible Tor one to
house." - F
a,hi sur pose" reluctantly admitted Laura,
vp'' 1t is a weak, shallow soul that grumbles
at destiny and complains of her lot. Better
work conscious of authority, though compelled
TO humbly labor"
practical sister Ruth, "there is no denying
that we are getting behindhand each year.
The place is running down, and we have no
money for repairs. The house needs paint
ing the roof leaks the fence is shabby, -"
Her look of despair was so comical that
Lanra and laughed outright.
''if We only did not live in little factory
village | might make what musical taste
possess available, and so contribute my share
towards our support. Shall l always have to
be burden OIL, you girls?" and my heart was
heavy as L spoke.
Their loving words of sisterly comfort need
not here be repeated. Alter all, we were rich
in one another.
How lew possibilities there are for
women" began Laura.
SNonsense" interrupted Ruth, cheerily.
Possibilities are plenty. We might turn our
nue., large yard into garden. These tasci-
mating descriptions in Hearth and Home
tempt me sometimes to try my luck also.''
~ GU would find more hard work than
poetry and Laura smiled with an air of su-
perior wisdom.
1here were few moments of silence, and
then Ruth spoke hesitatingly: 81 will tell YOU
what 10 my opinion, is our best course-or
s Sne present, at least. Laura must keep her
81 udtl IN at D. Seminary; Edna will slav
nome and study music; and | am going to
take boarders: Seriously, girls, this is not
new IDEA with me. Do YOU remember the
conVerS alton the other evening when Mrs.
Hubbard called? She was telling how well
the Johnson's had succeeded since leaving
BeIkley. When they left the village they
were IN destitute circumstances; but by keep
ing summer hoarders they have had com
Portable living all the year, brsdes laying by
towards paying for their house.
The secret of success IN their case seems to be
IN their doing most of the work themselves,
a. a. So needing few servants; they laise all
tueir own vegetables, ard they charge a high