Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-03-18

tribe, II y ont come to-day, and | am
bound ii'.t you shall do it if II keeps you
busy un':, you are eighteen years OF age ;
so you know what to depend ON
"Oh. I'll bounce into it and soon have
II done, mamma; you see | had to &C
out. said |. putting on bravo, bright
face, bul keeping just rs far away from
the dirty muss oil n pocket rs circum-
stances would allow.
She went back to her work in the third
story Of our high, rambling. picturesque
old house, and | made u good deal OF
music on the churn until the click. clack
OF the loom warranted me in stopping.
Thou | took u basin of water, turned my
pocket inside out and cleaned and washed
it. II WAS Il dirty job and sickcned me
Tor awhile after.
Then turned my back resolutey md
began counting the strokes of the dasher.
That is the best plan know to make one
forget the tedium and insure steady
work chulued ono hundred without
stopping, then sat down painting and
rested awhile, and read Robinson Crusoe,
II little book loaned me by neighbor's
son. For fear might get hungry and
feel too faint to work, put couple Of
potatoes in the hot ashes 10 roast Then
| began 10 churn again aud 10 sing All old
familiar di.ty Of Come. butter, come. y
/ | had on previous occasions found the re-
suit OF this solicitation 10 be all that one
could desire. But it did no good this
time. though san. it vigorously twenty
times over, sang il with variations and
additions and the most importunato in.
viuslions. but not one little speck WAS
visible.
had heard ol butter being bewitched.
but my mother said there were no witch
cs nov. and all such talk was folly and
superstition, that the la1t witch Oh the
face OF the earth was the witch OF Endor,
thu one who called Samuel up from the
dead in Bible days.
Thcu tell 10 wondering ii any of Mrs.
Endor's posterily yet lived. and. if they
did. whether they looked like other folks.
and ii their little girls wore coppcras and
white check linen dresses, and ii they
ever broke eggs in their pockets. and il
tho Endors were fond of butter. and
whether they made their own. or just
bought il at haphazard. not knowing who
made il, or whether il had hair in i. or
not, clean or dirty.
Then leaned my hand and my fore.
head on the daSher and pondercL. and
thought it might be possible that old. old,
old, old, old Mira. Eudor was one OF our
maternal ancestors.
While dreaming away, heard Il little
"twiit. twitt" in the chimney. and,
looking up, saw q "twitI bird" filting
about on the high up rim OF the chimney
top You little dear" said; '.how
wish had your wings and your ires-
dom - Aud here | cried right out; FOR
didn't mamma say she'd keep me ut this
until | WAS eighteen, it didn't finish it
That must be u long, long while. |
tried to count how many years. Out |
couldn't; 50 got an ear Of corn and
picked oil eighteen grains, and laid them
down IN row, and then took eight
away, and found I'd have TO churn usl
ten years.
/ thought it would be nice thing TO
be eighteen years old, for all the girls in
our ncighborhood received "setting
out" ut that age side. saddle and
hcier, u spinning wheel and bed, and
something else. Il broom. or 4 windmill.
OF some other article couldn't exactly
remember.
That would just suit me. had often
cuaXei mamma to loan me her side sad.
die 10 i.steu On 4 log, or on top ot the
fence. and che just "hooted" at me but
now I'd show mistress mamma when !
was eighteen would sell my heller
and buy red and white candy, and keep
the bed 10 turn summersaults on, and
trade the spinning. wheel for toy. books,
and keep the side saddle to ride onamong
the logs at the wood pile; and the other
thing, if it was windmill. I'd present
it to my poor old grandpapa, who had
been confined to his bed for many years
with paralysis; and il it was broom.
I'd keep It TO ride on when We chaps
played keep house" evenings when our
parents had gone 10 singing school.
But, oh, dear, I'd rather die than TO
churn so long! So sat down and cried
most heartily. Ii | had to stand
that old churn ten years. who would
johnny Greene give all his sweet apples
to during the winter, if [ wasn't at school?
And Cal Virgins would get all the
head marks then. And to what girl
would little Jim Chambers give his chew
of pine gum after he was done with it, il
Zelle wasn't there TO get il
Then | cried the harder, and said, now
if could only get sick, real sick, so rs
TO lie in bed on mammals pillow, and
have her feel Of my forehead, and give
me nice tea and toast, that would he n
good thing, and wouldn't have to churn,
and she'd pity me and be sorry. and 'fraid
was going to die, and I'd have n
splendid time OF it. did wish | knew
how to get sick stood and studied and