The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-22
THE JUDGgs NOM.


"lfyou don't work lively, Hester, you
won't make your ten knots to-day"
Hester stopped short in ler work. and
the bulzing ofthe big wheel ceased. There
was mass Of soft rolls, and tho brown
reel by her side, with the results Of hsl
morning labors in blue Rockingham
She held the wheel firm in one hand, and
in the other long slender thread attach.
ed to the spindle.
"Woll, mother" said she, qIietly turn.
ing her face toward the window, ~ sup.
pose the sun will rise and set Just the
same II | don't spin my ten knots a-day. -
"ISpoSe 1t will, y said Mrs. Preston.
She was spare old lady, and sitting with
her back bent to the shape of tbs rocking.
chair hOOped over. Her sharp elbows
struck out, and her rather large and coarse
shoes projected beyond the skirt of her
gown. You know your father likes TO
SEQ things moving indoors and out" she
went ON, holding her knitting needles
suspended. "Ho hates lazy folks like
Canada thistlcs." r.''B
"And l hate to be driven as II | was q
pack.horso,n retorted Hester, almost bit.
terly. al tell you, mother, won't wear
my life out digging and drudging as you
have yours"
ala, Hester, how You do talk. never
thought was brought into the world for
nothing but to cook three meals of vic.
tuals day, and to 'teRd to the dairy work.
Now, you make fuss because you have
littlO ehore Of stocking yarn to spin +;
but 1t amt so many years since ! made all
the cloth for the family wear, aud did
every stitch ofmy own sewing at Aight.
Why, that year your father was sent up
to the Legislature / made him set Of
twelve fine shirts. lie was perty pertick.
erler in them days; and did all the
stitching, after tho rest Of the folks had
gone to bed, with my foo. on the cradle.
Sylvester was baby then, and dreadful
hectoring child. Every day | wove a full
stent on linsey wolsey, for It was almost
impossible TO hire help; and | got up reg
ular at five in the morning and MIXED
four cows before went about breakfast
"Wlmt Is the use Of having soul II
you've got to slave in that way !" said
Hester, as she gave little sharp Jerk, and
broke her thread. "You might as well
be a machine and done with It."
al don't expect you'll do as have
done responded the old lady with sigh.
"FOlks shirk nowadays to beat all.
Your father, when he was younger, was q
dreadful driving man. Folks must keep
doing as long as they could stand /; and
none Of his boys now can begin to do a
days work equal to his'r. ] don't s'pose
you mean to follow your sister Nancy,
either for she has had pretty hard row;
but tell you what, Hes,er, you'll have to
run of more than ten knots Of stocking.
yarn day ifyou marry Joel Selfridge,
tor he haint got a mite OF ambition. lie
makes me think ofmy old speckled hen
setting out there on ehany eggs. l should
MT be a mite surprised to hear Joel begin
TO cackle; and don't see where he gets
his shiItlessness from, for there's the
Jedge, his brother, areg'ler money catch.
er, smooth, and plausible, and lily, but with
his eye always out for business. ] 'spoSe,
Hester, You've bout made ny your mind
to take Joel, for you don't seem to favor
and other young man, and he's been COM
ing here stiddy for the last year. Your
father says II costs him four quarts OF oats,
and two or three good square meals every
week, and be talks about sending abill
for board aud horse feed In to the Jedge.
You know he will never give his consent,
and tell you again, Hester, II you mean
to marry Joel Selfridge, you and work
had better not fall out
Mother " said Hester, with troubled
face, leaving her wheel, and going over BY
the hearth, "yon do Joel injustice 1t |.
fathers opposition thatmakes him neglect
his business, and takes the spirit out oi
him. 1fhe could marry me he would be-
come another man."
"Hester,n said the old lady, emphaslz-
ing her words with her knitting.needles,
"what's bred in the bone will come ont
in the flesh. You can't make the whistle
out Of a pigs tall"
"There's good stuff in Joel, cried Hes
ter, her color rising, and eyes flashing.
All the whole world was against him I'd
stand true. Folk, may say what they
have a mind to, but give Joel a chance,
and he will show that he can support
family, and be man among men,"
"llity, tityi" retorted the old lady, In,
credulously. "lIain't the ledge boosted
him, and KEEP boosting Of him, and nov
he's sot him up 10 the drug business, and
every few days he locks the shop and
comes over here courting, and BASIett
gets all his custom. | tell Jon, Hester
when was your age wouldn't hav,
looked at young man that fooled around
when he ought 10 have been to work
Love Is a good thing in in place, whth III
got house and garden spot free Of in
eumbranee, and plenty Of ffewood, and I
full meal chist and -four barrel attached
10 II, but Ii never wa, meant to go alone.
Hester hung her head. Her mothel
had the good hard sense on her side, ant
ne had Only the faith Of love to Offset II
She aid not say what shs hought thtl
ia chance Josl needed WA hertelf; buI