The Republican journal., 1872-09-26
aud


stands far back among the hills. Enter
ing side-door nearest the road, we find
ourselves in large kitchen, whose rough
deal-tablc and bare floor would look
drearv and lone in the extreme, were it
not for the bright wood-1ire blazing and
cracking away upon the ample hearth.
A sullen- -browed woman stands by an old
fashioned dough-tray, rolling out biscuits.
She seemed to be tuning and fretting
about something, ''nursing her wrath to
keep it warm" At last it found vent.
Where can that child be? Bette
Bettie-e-e en' screamed the shrlll voice.
''Fll box her ears we'll when | catch her. -
Coming Aunt Rachel.' And Il little,
blue, pinched- looking child rose from Il
corner of the dark ood-shed, where she
had been trying to gather her apron full
OF chips, and passed quickly into the
house.
'HWhere have you been idling, miss 2"
and the womans strong. hard hand fell
heavily upon the little curly head of the
halt-frOzen child
''Oh, Aunt Rachel. don't; please don't!"
but the il-natured virago was already in
the milk-room, Gathering among the pans.
as though, they, too, had angered her
1t was we'll perhaps, that the pleading,
''don't, please don't" Of Maud Alton did
not reach her ears else, for very spite.
another blow might have fallen on poor
Bettie's luckless head.
The speaker, girl of some fifteen years.
crossed the room, and drawing the atore-
named little curly head close to her
breast, whispered, in tender tones:
'Poor little Bette; sisters dear pet !.
Don't cry any more, darling. and Maud
will tell you a nice long story tonight"
And she lifted the chid's little apron Of
cotton cloth, and wiped the blue eyes
tenderlv.
But, sister," and the chld's voice sank
to low, cautious whisper-''she said we
were not to talk any more nights after we
90 to bed, or she will not let rs sleep
together any more. She says if we do
she will put me to sleep in the garret alone
alone, Maud, with the rats -
The elder girls face flushed, and her
gray eyes cleaned; and she clenched the
hand that rested on the chl,rs tangled
curles. passonately.
1t lasted but 4 moment, that staring
mood; then the usual look of strong
calmness settled over the white face, and
the sorrowful look returned to the gray
eyes.
Never mind, Bette. dear; we will
talk in a whisper"
''9eS, but she can hear whispers. The
least little teenty whispers, sister"
The sweet, patient mouth broke into
Il smile but before she could utter u
word, Bette said. eXultingly:
go, | tell YOU what we can do. Maud :;
we can put our heads under the clothes
and then she can't hear; can't we"
''IIush she is coming" And Maud
proceeded to lay the cloth tor the evening
meal, while poor little Bette crcpt into u
corner and went to shelling corn with her
little tender hands.
The woman's face was still sullen; and
she might have ventured her spleen still
further upon those orphan children, but
swung open, and 4 bright handsome face
appeared in the doorway, and u CHEEKY
voice cXclaimed
''Ugh how it SHOWS; | am almost
frozen, Mrs. Alton; and hungry enough
to do ample justice to your nice biscuit
and fragrant tea. You are a famous cook,
Mrs. Alton"
Ia, Mr. Phillips, do come to the fire,
and get warm. Bette, dear, bring Mr..
Phillips 4 chair"
The young man sat down by the fire
and rubbed his hands in genial, hearty
way, before the bright blaze.
''IIa little browny; you there Why
you'll blister your little fingers trying to
shell that corn. Leave it till after sup
per" And he lifted the child to his knee.
Mrs. Atoms face grew dark but She said
nothing; for Mr.. Paul Phillips was good
''catch," and she was n well-preserved
widow of thirty-five
When tea was over, Mr.. Phillips shelled
''lttle browny's" corn. and then heard
the lessons Maud had conned during the
day. Mr.. Phillips was the ''master" in
the little red school house hard by; and
by dint of much coaxing, had obtained
Mrs. Alton's sleavetoteach Maud evenings !;
as the girl was too valuable Il slave to be
spared to attend school. 1t was pleasant
picture enough, that bright face bent,
bent close to Maud's and the handsome
| head almost touching her shining curls.
1t was the one little green spot in the
girls hard life. She was hungry for
knowledge; and her great eyes flashed
and her cheek glowed as she listened to
his words. Mr.. Phillips hal taught in
that district two winters, but had not been
able to give Maud any instruction until
the present winter; and, Ostensively, be-
cause the widow Alton was ''lonc-likc
since poor, dear Alton died." he had con-
sentcd to board with her; but in reality,
it was that he might spend his evenings
in teaching the orphan Maud. Bette
and Maud were the orphan children OF
the dead mans only brother; and he had
loved them as his own. He had left the
tarm-the only property he possessed-tc
his wife, on condition that she woulC
give home to his brothers orphans
She had fulfilled her promise, and given
them home, but we have already seen
what a home! Mr.. Phillips was lynx.
eyed, and before he was a fortnight in the
family, he read the widows character
and laid his plans accordingly.
That winter was the happiest time Mau(
Alton had known since her parents died
and all too soon it ended. Then came
the lonely, dreary summer, with its hard
labors and bitter taunts. She had no time
for study now it was work work work
from the early morning till the gloom
ing Then she must 90 to bed, as ''i
cost too much to be burning candles il
the summer time )" and at any rate, he
slender frame ached and throbbed so whel
night came, that she was glad to gathe
{ her little sister close to her breast, ant
, find rest in sleep. When the trees begal
to put on their rich coloring of the autumn
! time, the rose began to creep into he
pale cheeks, and the light to her sad eyes
for soon the time would come when he
| J,;pJ frian6 would rntrrn tn hic school
1t was a happy time when he came
, and the accents of kindness fell once NOR
upon the children's ears. He kissed tn
} sunny haired Bette, and remarked agai
and again how womanly Maud had grown