Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-04-11
Talss aud Sketfhes.
An OLD.FASRIONED REMEDY.
WORK VERSUS HERB-TEA.

Mrs. Whitaker was much troubled about
Susan. All summer she had been II q
pale. languid, half-alive condition. with
no strength, no appetite, no interest In
anything.
Mrs. Whitaker. having never suH-
eiently gratifed passion for doctoriDg.
had at first rather enjoyed this oppoftuni-
ty OF trying the virtues of various roots
and herbs that hung in dry, dusty bundles
from the garret rafters. Susan's life had
been made burden to her with doses of
thoroughwort, pennyroyal, tansy, dands-
lion and burdock. There was always Q big
bowl of black bitter herb-tea standing Ia
the pantry, which it was equally the OBJ
iect of Mrs. Whitaker's life to induce Su
san to take, and the object of Susan's to
escape.
And still Susan lay around the house 10
an exceedingly limp state. reading novels
with languid interest, studying her symp-
toms in the Family Adviser" !" and cutting
out such scraps of poetry from the news
papers as dwelt on the hollowness Of the
world, unapprecia.ed loveliness and early
death. !
Ned Whitaker, Susan younger brother,
was decidedly sceptical on the subject OF
her illness. "It's enough to make any
one sick to do as Sue does" he said ener.
getically, ''1f she'd get up earlier in the
morning and do little house-work she'd
get well twice as quick as she will now,
dosing and coddling." s
"a great deal you know about it," re-
torted Susan, with considerable tigor for
an invalid; II like to hear boys talk.
They know so much in their own estima.
tion.'' -
"See here, Sue! What if that interest.
ing young school-master should hear you
speak so to your dear brother! It don't
sound very angelic" III -!
Sue said nothing, only blushed little.
and assumed that plaintive, meekly in.
jured look, which says plainly. You'll be
sorry for this when I'm gone"
Fudge. Sue!' said Ned, quite unim-
pressed Don't look so spooney,n and
off he went, whistling and banging the
door,
1t was fact that there had been a gocd-
looking young school-master, the previous
winter, school-master that had not
loved. but flirted and erode away" Per-
haps Susan, having nothing else to do, had
pleased herself by fancying she was in
love with this gay deceiver. A girl must
do something. Mrs. Whitaker was one
of those .indefatigable, irrepressible wo-
men, scrupulously neat and exact house
keeper, who loved hard work for its own
sake, and "didn't want any one bother.
ing round"
AT one time, Sue had quite mania for
cooking, but Mrs. Whitaker. after witness
ing her awkward struggles with the bread
dough, said - ss.
Come, let me take it. It's easier for
ma To do tb l..
you II keep the sittlngroom in order, and
take care of your own room, its all I'll
ask
And now Mrs. Whitaker thought Susan
so delicate she relieved her of even these
light duties, and left her with nothing to
do but realize in her own experience, The
truth of the saying:
"A mill stone and the human heart are ever driven
round,
ifthey have nothing else to grind they must them
to know all the WEAKNESS of an empty.
aimless life
September came, and yet Susan remain
ed in state OF discouraging about-the-
Mrs. Whitaker thought she
would drive over and consult Aunt Debbic
Dunbar.
Aunt Debbie was a woman of vast ex
large family of her own successfully
through all the mumps, measles, and 9TH
er ills infant flesh is heir to, and was now
experimenting on yearly increasing cir
Gle of grandchildren, besides acting as ad-
wiser general for the whole neighborhood.
What Aunt Debbie didn't know about doc
Ioring was not worth knowing at all.
As Mrs Whitaker drove up she deserted
Dahhinfc la form s,x IL
den, bending over sage bed. At the
sound of wheels she Strengthened up. push
ed her sun-bonnet back and peered sharp
ly through her spectacles to see who was
going by.
"Well, never !" she exclaimed, as Mrs.
Whitaker drove into the yard. "Ifit amt
You Miss Whitaker! l was jest ,hinkin
about you. How dew We dop Seems as
if hadn t seen you for an age. Cum
right along in, and Kiahll put your horse
out"
Thank you, hut I've only come for \
call: can't stop long"
''Well, how dye all dew at home ?"
asked Aunt Debbie, after she had ushered
her visitor into the sitting room, rolled up
one green paper curtain, and settled down
to her knitting. Aunt Debbie could al
ways talk easier with her knitting work in
hand.
Pretty well, thank you, except Susan.
| came over partly to see you about her.
She don't seem to get along as should
like to have her.
Miss Haskell was tellin' me, last Sun
day, how ailn' Susan's been. this summer
From what Miss Haskell said l should
think she's good deal as my Melissa was
i've years ago. cured Melissa with bon.
aset.n
"Susan's been taking that, more or less.
III summer
Does she cough any?"
NO
Because, il she did, coltfoot tea is
,rand thing. Amt she bilious ?n
81 shouldn't wonder if she was.r
well, now if she was my girl l should
,ive her good dose OF blue pill to begin
With, and smart course of castor lie or
alts. | should keep right on with the
,oneset three times day-tis very
'trengthenin'-and I'd have her take
raw egg in half glass Of cider every
mornin' before breakfast. That's one OF
Frr