Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-07-24
Entertaining an Angel.

cried the youngster, bursting boy-tashion, into
the house, his lace somewhat excited by the
rather uncommon circumstance
Dinner was Just over-a dreadful harvest
dinner. Ihut Is, the iarm'hands had gorged
large supply OF meat vegetables ana p'e (;
and now Mrs Glare worn out by hard
mornings work, ailer arranging plates ior the
children uooping ~ from hooI'and play,
sank with the babe IN her arms iuto her
place wlth view to iorciug an appetite aud
then satisfying II WIN some OF the luNewarm
vlands yet remaining 10 the dishes
Are those all the peas there's lett'
mother asked FRANK Who' having dellV'
cred me letter made rusn ior the taole'
es, dear. IL was all had time 70
shell, answered the mother' unu' ihstlnc'lVey
Tor true mother love KNOWS no selh'hness
tne small portion OF the one ('o nerl 'empung
thing upon the table was transferred to tue
plates ol hungry Frankly and the little sisters,
whose piteous Ups tod that they too wanted
share oil the dainty
Meanwhile Farmer Olare' sittlng VITA MS
char tilted back agalust the wall READ MS
letter. At the close, as he reiolded II, ne
said 1t is from Cousin Cyrus. lie writes
that his daughter, Gertrude Is IN want OF
country air, aud Is coming to make us VISIT.
IL wont be bad thing Tor US, reckon Tor
though he doesn't say anything about board
hes sure to make 1t up some way Cyrus
was never one to lie under obligations to any
body Shouldn't wonder II he gets me the
highest price for wheat again Let me see --
to-day's the fifteenth. Well, she'll be here
tomorrow. Ben can wait for the train when
he goes in with the milk"
And having arranged everything to his own
satisfaction, he laid the letter upon the table
for his wife to read If she pleased Poor
woman She cared but little to glance over
the business-llke penmanship. To her 1t was
more ike death-warrant than anything else
At the first announcement OF the VISIT The
faint color dropped entirely out o' her cheeks
and a cold, leaden weight seemed to settle
down upon her heart. And yet she was no
naturally inhospitable. Far from It, There
had been time, in her glrlhood, and the
early days of her married life. when the task
OF entertaining company was only a pleasura'
BILE excitement; but nov, with rapidly IN
creasing family, and, alas, not increasing
strength, she dreaded it as an over-taskeC
galley.slaye breads an additional burden.
Let us see what her day, SO far, has been
/ Up before four o'clock, but not to ENJOY th'
fragrance Of dewy hay aud glad matinee o
bra songs except SO lar us sne eau ENJOY
'hese "hlie sSiinlniug in'lS' sca'u'ng MIX
pans scrubbirr dairy shelves grinding coffee
- 49,. - -, ,La . ,'e
HJlhg oacon, uuu a'l 'nc otucr preparations
for farm breakfast Then came tae chill.
dren. -Four OF them to wash. dress, Iced aud
make ready Tor school. Before this was
hnshtd baby was awake, and 1t was only III
short intervals OF hrs iretting that she was
able to wash the dishes, sweep up the house
aud make the beds. Inc lamps-ihose lear
tul Kerosene nulsances which make more work
than city people would belieye-must stand
till later; for now 1t Is nearly lunch'tlme' and
the uniailing pies must be ready to carry to
the field as well as for the table, Add to
this the cooking OF dinner for SIX men be-
side her own family and you VIII not wonder
that her heart failed her at the prospect of =
city visitor. No wonder that she longed io
time to take good cry. foor thlng!
might have helped her Had there been bu
one word OF commIseration or sympathy
from her husband-had he but SAID Mary
this will make II harder Tor you she coulC
have borne all cheeriully' but unconscious
Farmer Glare would as soon have thought
addressing such words TO his seli.regulatin.
cuItivator.
lie will hold thee when his passion shall have spcn
some,bn% @oss ss,,r 6an his dog e dearer than h
horse"-
may be true of the rollicking English Squire
1t evidently is not true OF certain class
American farmers. For while the horse !
guarded and cherished as valuable beast
burden, the automatic vile is apparently con
sidered as being above and Independent OF al
such needs. Am putting this too strongly
Alas! many will recognize the picture as
true one. do not say that there is no low
for the faithful helpmeet, but this love--l
there be any-too often does not reveal itsel
until the weary hands, Drowned aud scanned b.
excessive toll, are folded by plying Fathe
within the coffin.
1t was with mind shadowed by gloom
: forebodings that Mrs Glare proceeded wit
her afternoons work, part of which now VIA
to arrange the spare chamber. She Nigh
not have time tomorrow morning so, wit
baby amused with trinkets from the bureau
she spread dainty sheeIs aud laid out snow
towels for the uDwelcome guest.
When, as school girl, Gerty Glare ha
several years ago paid short visit to th
farm, Mary had rather liked her. but late
rumors had reached them which were ia
from re.assuring 1t was said that since al
tanning oung-ladyhood, instead OF content
edly enjoying her fathers wealth, Miss Olar
had imbibed certain modern notions OF indl
vidual sponsibility-of woman's mission I
women, Of advanced progress for her sex, an
so on Her name had been mentioned as be
longing to a far-hmed club OF ladies-th
hosen butt Of unthiuklng ridioule and shal
low sarcasm True, the avowed object OF th
! / "A 4 laIt ina 4