Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-04-02
How Martha's Cloudy Day Grew Bright
nv MARY A. DENIsUN.

py MARY A. DENIsUN.
arm i,st a. wresched a. can be, and that's
vhsts the msttes, Aunt Patsy"
The girl having delivered this little speech
Win sob that was truly hystericsi. threw her
self into the nearest chair, laid her head on the
table and cried with passion that showed how
,err;hlv her nature was moved.
Ami P.nv looked sbont the dis0rdsred room,
and then glanced pitifuliy towards the weeping
oirl. Half unco,sciously 10 herself she began
Uniting things in their places restored the books
r. ths little shelves that had been riAed By tho
Children. eyened The wrinkled cloth, pushed
h.ck The chsirs and lifted Mavtha's half empty
work basket to her lap.
aIov horrible Il mast look here, TO you. wAp
are ueatness ITSELF" sobbe.l the girl. eowly wiz
inc her tear filled eyes II don's know vlat
YOU will think Of me, but Pm ~ utterly die
couraged."
Aunt Patsy, in her sweet, mellow tOOea.t "Tell
me whv Won are so discouraged, and re II l
can't be OF some help 10 you. Are the boys
getting unruIy? Does father expect too much,
or are you not we'll? You are generally such
nice little house. keeper"
Martha shook her head. ss. $50.
II anu a. we'll as ever, Aunt Patsy, but some
way things 60 all wrong. Father don't say
much, but know what hs exPects and moth
er dear mother, had s,Ich q knack Of doing
things easily and having them just right The
boys wont mind me ~ they did her, aud Rob
ert hasn't been home for two nights ill pest
ten; Of course he wishes me 10 screen him, but
| am frightened at The way be IN going on
John expects me to get his jacket done BY this
evening that he may wear It at party, and b.
tween them the children put me IN a passion
dis naning, andI said some tAias. I'm sorry
for. Then caught Fido Stealing. and in spring.
ing away he upset the churn, and I've worked
myself into real fever. 1t used xll TO be 60
different, suppose" she added, "the letter
received yesterday from my 'fcona.mate, At
school, with whom should have graduated 70
morrow, helped the general unhappins~."
Aunt Patsy smiled. a.-a.tz,,a1 .lf4
"That was the little straw thai upset you,
suspect poor child" she said pityiagiy. at
doc. seem very hard that you cou'dn't may and
finish your education. But your mother vas
called most mysteriously, in the midst Of her
duties aud the prime Of her life, and who shall
asse ay il was nos His will? You know you
mieh have STAYED at school your Aunt Betsy
Moreiand would"
70 Aunt Patsyr uisd Aarsha, With look
Of pan, "coold 1 have given The children into
her keeping? They would have hated her in q
Week. with her strict rleA"
sLa me be sewing the jacket, dear, while vs
Alkn said Aust Patsy, cheesfnlly. II am n
H9talbrsss yos knos. - = 81 stay jIse q
veil ~ not. Now don't look no anxious, I'm
mot going to let you get any dinner; you must
rest and am quite sure i shant starve.
dinner and yolr fathes toak hA; ws shall Dc
yesy veil oa bread and hattsr and tea, asd
Johnny shall have his jacket this evening. 81
you And the burden = liuls too hard, my pool
childr -
Aartha looked up with . quivering lip.
"Aunt Patsy" she said, at don't seem "A ],
did hsfora you came in. think the dear Lord
must have ssut you to comfort me. All day
yesterday had such dreadful thoughts. Il
seemed 70 me that had taken things upon me
which did nos beloag ID my yaan ! regretted
having left the academy. almost accused God
s ei ..sI1s .1d GHhs, away. s % old .% and hS" 1nr
60 wrong, partly. When the boys csms home
took up every little Thing they did and said
and they grew oro~ and quarrelled with each
s;Ssa' sssa Z .a ssf sh.sslf ss s:'' .ss
papa seemed uneasy and went ont. Oh, Aun
Patsy, after all. don't know but ! have IN,
wicked s3f y baeue ~ ,tbs s6e capse, of all ~,
trouble Nds c3nf 1mssae how glodmy every
thing looked this morning.
SOmetiueS J think your father shOuId hlSt
housekeeper, and lei you 90 back TO school,
said Aunt Patsy. '"rhe children might not far
20 we'll, bat then II seems pity, don't it, tha
you should sacrifice yourself for tl.em?"
Martha caught Aunt Patsys eye, in which
iarked sad tenderness, and the hot blood rush
I'd TO her cheeks.
Aunt Patty. ! know what you mean l ~
4 all lie was not given to US for sslf indul
gence M merely. Papa shall have no ho.ssA Asepe
bat his foolish, complaining Martha. Oh, no,
they would all mias me-, csssls1 - sosnetims
am, and incompetent. When ! forget myself
and strive to walk IN the Aasteps fooestelN, the!
are all 80 happy and willing 10 help me. Every
thing goes sm0othly then--st least, jars and dis
cords don't bother me. II Is only whsn ] fos
gst and build up the possible cassle~ that nigh
have beeps sthAt tNNine~ fofsakee mes ! hav'
the whole day bW6M in; thS chiidrss all bel
~ When thsy cotAA heshe il il ~ mya~k Mi
own miserable ssl6shnssA IT, 4 hadnt brooIei
ossr Ay txiels y full hour, yesterday, Johnny
i..cfss would haye bspp ham 6aiahed. Oh, ~
tlS4 IN thai ynn came IN 70 p6tn figh
tNk ltSelt. II didn't know hefAFe that i "a
soeA . lsvsay dsy 7; and .oew ~ lidy shs zoos
81 % ~ Or borrow some cream, tbe wa mul
haxa tQttes.r - 2IltT4E Istli5. #hs34ifi
tasYsa shall have halfof my yesAesdav's chusu
~ ~ Aunt Paisy. ''HereS The key, am
yea knoN vhsrs V 6hd u" 81. 7, -
Martha kised the farsowsd cheek and ~
fNA = - = =. .4E .-