Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-11-01

~ sss11f s,z.sLS 80 StsA.stai.fF 500 fA@t. ..
sSSus ffem The Kitchen to the pantry, and
! sack 6xAsn 10 the. kitchen, It was easy to
sec that she felt elate with responsibility.
On tie long pine dresser before the VIM
dpws was cast goodly shadow OF the
looming events" the vegetables aione
forming no inconsiderable part Oh tne ar
rar. here were lunches OF celery, silver
coated onions, round dumpy tarnips, beets.
cabhaees,-white aud red for '.coie siaw,
I and, . famous Hubbard squash in ITS green
aud: gold livery.
Z Almira surveyed the scene compiaeent-,
iv. "Guess I'll have to flax round to GIT
jinner by four o'clock. Wal. there's moth
Ia, 70 hinder as knows. folks don gu
saorE ain considerable late in the day
Pity Gashum didn't kill = bigger turkey !.
Alter all, don't believe I'd take one OF
them big gobblers any way! !hey need
snch powerful sight o cookin'. Guess
there II be enough with ham ana ducks
and chicken-pie. We never did come out
spindago yit."
This was Almira's way. She had hab-
it of talking 10 herself, setting up objec-
lions as ninepins. and then. almost in the
same breath. knocking them down tri-
umphantly. The class to which Almira
beIengs-the faithful, independent New
England domestics-is fast passing away.
Such women think it no disgrace to work
in the home of another as in their own.
They never sink to the level of mere
drudges, but dignity labor by their pride
in success. And whoever puts her whole
heart into her work, whatever that work
NAV be has profession we care not
whether her domain is the classroom or
the kitchen. Was Almira. then, 80 well
suited at Maplewood as never to think of
having home of her own? 81 won't
marry the best man that ever trod shoe
lesther!" she was often heard to declare.
She had grown old in the service of the
Leeds family. She belonged to them by
ties almost as near as those Of blood rela-
lationship, and knew no interest apart
from theirs. 'We," ''our," and "us, :"
fell from her lips familiar words; she felt
herself to be a Leeds in every thing save
the name. And poor Gashum Turner,
who had lived at the farm about as long
rs herself, thought it would be useless for
him to at,mpt to change her decision.
But the little clock on the kitchen shelf
is striking. and Almira is glancing over
her shoulder and listening discontentedly.
II wish Hope would come and see to
things. She wanted this duck stuffin sea-
soned after some newfangled receipt
seems to me it needn't take her all the
morning to dust the parlors. Shouldn' t
q bit wonder if she was a porin' over that
German stuff she's so bewitched with lat
terly, and forgotten there's any such thing
rs ducks! Guess I'll see how the land
les" and Almira put down her chop
ping-tray and started.
Just then the outside door opened. and
sturdy, good-natured looking middle
aged man-Adam's prime minister, en-
tered. ..Guess the cutters'll ilv roun,
pooty lively by night if the storm keep:
onr' And Gashum shook off his coat
shower of feaihery white fakes on tn
clean. shining, yellow-painted floor
You don't say it SHOWS" exclaime,
the maid of honor, turning to the window
1--WE been SO busy, | haven't noticed
Wal, it's high time; we haven't had an,
before to speak OF, and when the ground
stiff it ought to be covered up. Seem
more decent. like a sheet over corpse :.
Undisturbed by this ghostly bit of sen
timent, the prime minister resumed
There's going to be ball over at Star
ton, tonight, and the young folks at tn
center are plannin' to go. Start fror
here in a big sleigh early in the eyenn
finish up that birthday party, prime
Betsy Ann comm over 10 help me ?
inquired Almira.
'Wal, called round home to set
Found Betsy Ann ruther down the heel
had the nuralijy dreadluily all night--bu
she'll be on hand by'n by. She'd put her
seifout for you any time Putting one'
self out being the severest test OF friend
ship in Gashum's opinion.) For tina
matter, don't know who wouldn't" Ar
awkward smile accompanied this stoke
ofpolicy on the part of the prime minis
ter.
No response from the maid Of honor
Though not ill-pleased at the compliment
1t was not her nature to betray satisfaction
Gashum's regard for Almira was wha
might be termed "sneaking notion,
since it had never reached the point o
open declaration. This, perhaps, is no
to be wondered at, considering the poo
encouragement his timid attempts at love
making received. Comm back b
Purses, the deacon hailed me-" bcgai
Gashum again.
''D'ye see Loving?" interrupted Amir
quickly.
YES" composedly returned the unsus
ting man. "Loving's the curiousest crit
tur that ever was created. Can't neve
see her father talking to anybody at thu
gate but out she must come t'sec wha
they're up to. This time she wante,
to know if twas true Mr.. Leeds was goi
to sell his farm" mot as know, say
l." "You don't say!' says she kiude
surprised like. "Why, | heard Hope wa
goin' to be married and goin' to Boston
to live with her."
''Made that story out of whole cloth
Just like her y broke out Amira.
''Then the deacon he put in his oar,
continued Gashum. Hes alters hector
in'-and-er. -(undiplomatic hesitation OF
the part of the prime minister) Thu
maid of honor's laconic "wal .,.recalled hi
scattering senses. "Oh. he was afrait
raid Mr.. Leeds would miss it, and airai,
you and wouldn't know what to do, ant
forty other afraids besides. Some folk
are alters afraid"
"True" shifted Almira disdanfullv
"What timorOus worms we MORALS are y