Litchfield enquirer., 1872-02-15

V Winkle aleep into which from excess of
 work and care it had gradually fallen. On two er three pleasant afternoons she 1 pursuaded her to leave tlie sleeping baby
 in care of Becky and go to ramble with her in the gayly- painted wood. It was so long since Maria had indulged herself 1 in any such recreation that it was as
 charming in its novelty as journey, and
 with Esthers cheerful company amounted almost to an inspiration. The week seem 1 ed all too short, but several wrinkles faded | from Maria's brow in that time, and when at last Esther went away, leaving huge pile of new books for her friend to read at her leisure, Maria felt as though the l swift rolling wheels were bearing away from her | fund of pleasure, which noth- ing leftsbehind could take the place of Ess, m sorry to have her go, said Henry, as they turned and went into the house.
 She has more than paid her way ever since she has been here Such company as thakzs north having. Henry was not 1nhospitable, but it is doubtful if the an gel Gabriel had come to spend 8 week with him, If he had not sometimes pon- dered on the prices of flour and sugar.
 She has done me good III more ways than merely helping with her hands, said
 Maria, almost indignantly. While I live I shall love Esther Bradley for the pleas ure she has afforded me in this past week, and glimpses of a higher and better life. life glowing with tributes of genius, and radiant with bright possibilities, arose be- fore her; but why should she speak to him of such things? As we'll might she have read Greek treatise on the esthetics of harmony to the brindle OK munching turnips and cabbage stumps in the mead ow lot. st
 Before a week had passed away, Maria sat down one afternoon, while the baby slept, and essayed her powers in the liter: ary Line. rissing compositions had been but a past1mein her school days, and though long unused to such work, she found it not at all toilsome- though one foot was on the rocker of the cradle to keep baby asleep as long as possible His nap was all too short, however, for her to carry out her mental plans; but day after day, at snatches of time when Henry was away and all was quiet, she wrote and copied her little story till it was ready for the press. .... -
 She was fully determined that Henry should know nothing of this venture until time had proved it a success; for if 1t proved failure instead, she would never tell him. Neighbor Grant often brought and carried their mail for them when he went to town, and by him she one day sent her somewhat bulky missive, feeling as doubtful as Noah could have done when he sent the dove out of the ark, whether or no it would find any rest for the sole of it's foot.
 She did not wait to hear from this first endeavor, but kept writing as fast as her limited time and unlimited cares would allow. The more she wrote, the more and easier she could write. Like living spring, that has long lain unknown, and only kept the surrounding ground moist, but, once opened to the light, gush- es forth a power aud blessing, so she had opened the fountains of her brain, and henceforth the waters must flow. Repression could not send them back to their source-even the repression of house. hold cares and the wearisome baby only checked them for the time. Yet she lgnged aS only those know who have vainly felt the same, for time and oppor- tunity to do her best.
 . Her first endeavor she never heard from; probably the unappreciative editor drop ped 1t into his waste-basket with never a thought of the hopes and fears that had gone into it's composition. For while she watched every opportunity of hearing from the post-offce, but as time passed on she slackened her vigil, her household cares occupying her attention. Yet things often come to us when we are least ex- pecting them, while ''the watched pot never boils, as the homely old adage puts 1t. One gloomy day in early December, -hor, o,e x1.o deep in sausage-meat and spices, neigh bor Grant refined up his old white mare at the door, on his way home from town, and handed in their mails, the Dollar Rural, and 8 letter and margarine addressed to her in an unfamiliar hand, Opening the letter, she found the usual printed formu- Ia asking her acceptance of the inclosed five dollars as pay for her contribution to the magazine. - --s
 Was there ever such another five dollar bill as that? Only those who have ex- porieneed the same can realize the pleas ure with which Maria gazed on this the first fruits of her brain. What airy cas- ties she straightway built of future achievements and successes; of money easily and pleasantly earned with her pen, of fame and distinction, of a life of ease
 
 right place-in the world of workers. In her excitement she forgot for time to open the magazine, but, remembering 1t at length, she cut the leaves with fiuttering hand to find her little story all in black and white, and looking so differently in print from what it had in writing. She read and re-read it, trying to fancy how 1t would seem to her if some one else had written it; then, suddenly remembering it was near noon, she locked magazine, let ter and all out of sight, and tried to go about dinner as thought nothing unusual had happened. 3saa
 Did Mir. Grant bring up our Rural this morning ? asked Henry, at dinner.
 aa Yes, replied Maria, quietly [ That very afternoon she began another article, for q success stimulates ta fresh endeavers, while a rebuff often makes one feel for the time as if he would never try to write again. It was only recreation for her to write, when she colud steal the time and favorable opportunity. She plan ned a little surprise for Christmas with her five dollars. On that eventfu1 morn ing Henry found beside his plate g tasty package, which, opened, revealed some handsome slippers, and neck-tie in his favorite color. Before the baby's high chair were a set of cora1s and noisy rat tle, 454laf a-4 'l4"' T
 Henry looked askance at his presents. It was very kind in you to think of me, of course, but did 'nt really need them, and now they will have to be paid for.'
 They are already paid for, was the quiet reply, and while the bewildered man looked on as one in 2 dream she brought forward the letter and magazine. He could hardly believe his eyes or his ears. a4. ssA sLs5-@ tf1ea .@'-s-'A- es
 Well we'll ? he exclaimed, when he found his speech, this beats me- Iknew Imarried the smartest woman in town, but I never thought of her earning money this way. Five dollars for that little sto- " Keep on, and yon will make our for. tune yet. c taE.3 sss.s'ass as'ts ss t'sa
 T wish I had the time and opportunity to write as we'll as I might, sighed Maria.
 You shall have both. I'll see to that, ' and doubtless in his excitement he meant yI.n&I I.<x !, -wA |