The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-01-09
WORK;
or, CHRISTIE'S EXPERIMENT.
by LOUISA M. ALeoTT.
Author Of Little Women" Z" Old Fashioned
Girl" Little Men," ETC., etc.
CHAPTER l.
CHRISTIE,
u A UNIT BETSY. there's going to be a new De.

CHAPTER l.
CHRISTIE.
- A UNIT BETSY, there's going to be new De-
LA- claration of Independence. -
BLESS and save us, what do you mean, chidP"
And the startled old lady precptated pie into the
oven with destructive haste.
mean that, being OF age, am going to take
care of myself, and not be a burden any longer
Uncle wishes me out of the way thinks ought to
CO. aud, sooner or later, will tell me so. don't in
tend to wait for thabut like the people in fairy tales
travel away into the world and seek my fortune.
know I can find it,"
Christie emphasized her speech by energetic demon.
STATIONS in the through kneading the dough
if 1t was her destiny, and she was shaping it to suit
herself while Aunt betsy stood listening, with up
lifted pie fork, and as much astonishment as her
placid lace was capable of expressing. AS the girl
paused with decided thump, the old lady ex-
claimed
"what crazy idoc have you got into your head
now?"
a. very sane and sensible one, that's got to be
worked out, go please listen to il, ma'am. I've bad
it a good while. I've thought it over thoroughly,
and I'M sure it's tine right thing for me to do. I'm
Old enough to take care of myself and if I'd been
boy, should have been told to do it long ago.
hate TO be dependent and there's no need oft /;
can't bear it any longer If you were poor, would
not leave you, for forget how kind you have
been to me. I'm burden to him. and must go
where can take care of myself / can't be happy
till do, for there's nothing here for me. I'm sick
OF tms dull town, where the one idea is to eat,
dink and get rich. don't find any friends to help
me as want to be helped or any work that l do
well so let me go, Aunty and find my place, what
ever it is
"But do need you deary and you must not think
Uncle don't like you. He does, only he don't show
it, and when your odd ways fret him, he amt pleas
ant know. don't see why You can't be content
cd I've lived here all my days, and never found the
place lonesome, or the folks unneighborly," and
Aunt Betsy looked perplexed by the new idea.
you and are very different, ma am. There was
more yeast put into my composition 1guess and after
standing quiet in corner so long, begin to
ferment and ought to be kneaded up in time, that
may turn out wholesome loaf YOU can I do this:
SO let me go where it be done, else shall turn
sour and good for nothing. Does that make the
matter any clcarer?' And Christies serious face
relaxed into smile as her aunts eye went from her
To the nicey-molded loaf offered illustration
81 see what you meam Kitty; but never
thought ont before. You be better riz than me-;
though, let me tell you, too much emptins makes
bread poor stuff like bakers trash; and too much
working up makes it hard and dry. Now fly
around, for the big is most het, and this cake
takes sight of time in the mixin."
You haven't said might go, Aunty," began the
girl after long pause devoted by the old lady to
the preparation of some compound which seemed to
require great nicely VI measurement in its ingredi-
ents; for when she replied Aunt Detsey curiousiy
interlarded her speech with audible directions to
herself from the receiptbook before her
81 amt no right to keep you, dear, eff you choose
to take pinch of saltl I'm sorry you amt happy,
and think you might ef you'd only (beat eggs six
yo'ks and whites together). But if you can't and
feel thet you need 1.-TWO cups of sugar. only speak to
my DEAR and take my blessin' with you mot forget
tin to cover with piece of papers,
Christie s laugh echoed through the kitchen: and
the old lady smiled benignly quite UNCONSCIOUS of
the cause of the girls merriment
81 shall ask Uncle tonight, and 1 know he won't
object Then shall write to if Mrs Flint has a
room for me, where can stay till get something to
60. There is plenty of work in the world and I'm
not afraid of it; you'll soon hear good news of
me. Don't look sad. for youl know never could
forget you even If should become the greatest lady
in the land" And Christie left the prints of two
foury but affeconate hands the old ladys shoul.
ders, as she kissed the wriled face that had never
worn a frown to her.
Full Of hopeful fances, Christie sated the pans
and buttered the dough in pleasant forgctfuness of
all mundane affairs, and the ludicrous dismay of
Aunt Betsey, who followed her about rectiying her
mistakes, and watching over her as if this sudden
absence of mind had reused suspicious of her
sanity.
I" Uncle, want to go away, and get my own living,
if You please Chlistie's abrupt beginning as
they. sat around the evening fire.
Hey what's that?" said Uncle Enos, rousing
from the doze he enjoying with candle in per-
ilous proximity to his newspaper and his nose.
Christie repeated her request, and much re.
lieved when, after mediatiye stare, the old man
briefly answered:
"Wal, 20 AHEAD
:" was afraid you might think it rash or silly,
sir"
81 think it's the best thing you could do; and 1
like your good sense in pupposin' ont"
" Then may really go"
"Soon's you like Don't poster mo about it
till you're ready; then III give you little suthng
The Farmers Friend" as if cattle were more in
teresting than kindred.
), Christie was accustomed to his curt speech and
careless manner-had expected nothing more cor
dal and turning to her aunt said rather bitterly:
"nid'nt tell you he'd be glad to have me go ?
No matterl When I've done something to be proud
Of LIE will be glad to me back again. Then her
voice changed, her eyes kindled, and the firm lips
softened with smile.
Yes, I'll try my experiment; then III get rich
found home for girls like myself; better still,
be a Mrs. Fry, a Florence Nightingale, Or"
" How are you ont fer stockings, dear ?"
"Christe's castles in the air vanished at the pro-
sale question; but, after blank look, she answered
pleasantly;
Thank you for bringing me down to my feet
again. when was soaring away too far and too fast.
I'm poorly off ma'am; but If you are knitting these
for me. shall certainly start on hrm foundation"
And leaning Aunt Betsy's knee, she patiently
discussed the wardrobe question from hose to head
gear.
Christie. if l make the work lighter, and leave you
more time for your books and things 2? asked the old
lady, 10th to lose the one youthful element in her
quiet life.
"No, ma'am, for can't find what want here"
was the decided answer.
90 What do you want, child ?"
" Look in the fire, and I'll try to show YOU"
The old lady obedienuy turned her spectacles that
way, and Christie said in tone half serious, half
playful:
Do you see those two logs? Well. that one
life is now the other blazing and singing is what
want my life so be-
BLESS me, what an idee, They are both burnin'
where they are put and both will be ashes to-mor-
row; so what difference docs 1t makef"
Christie smiled the literal old lady; but follow
ing the fancy that pleased her. she added earnestly;
- know the end is the same; but it does make
difference how they turn to ashes and how spend
my life. That log, with its duh spot OF fire.
gives neither life nor warmth, but lies sizzling des
pondenty among the cinders But the other glows
CHI mi fla at IN
singing up the chimney with pleasant sound Its
light nils the room and shines out into the dark; it's
warmth draws us nearer, making the hearth the
cosiest place in the house. and shall all miss the
friendly blaze when it dies. Yes" she added if to
herself ~ hope my life may be like that, that,
whether 1t be long or short, it will be useful and
cheerful while it lasts, will be missed when it ends
and leave something behind besides ashes"
Though she only half understood them, the girls
words touched the old lady, and made her look
ioasy at the eager young face gazing so wistfully
a good smart blowin' up with the beluses would
make the green stick burn most as well as the dry
one after spell. guess contentedness is the beus
for young folks, eff they would only think so'
" daresay you are right. aunty; but want to try
for myself; and if fail I'll come back and follow
your advice. Young folks always have dscontented
fits, You know. Didn you wheIryou were girl p
Shouldn't wonder ef did; but Enos came along
and forgot EN-
MY Enos has not come along yet, and never may
so m not going to sit and wait for any man to give
me independence, If car earn it for myself" D."
And quick glance at the gruff gray old man in the
corner plainly betrayed that iii Christie's opinion
Aunt Betsey made a bad bargain when she exchang,
ed her girlish aspirations for a man whose soul was
in his pocket
jest like her mother, full of hifalutin notions,
discontented and sot in her own idees poor capi-
tai to start a fortin' on"
Christies eye met that of her uncle peering over
tho top of his paper with an expression that always
tried her patience. Now it was like dash of cold
water on her enthusiasm and her face fell as she
answered quickly:
"How do you mean sir? 2"