National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-01-03
WORK;
or, CHRISTIE's EXPERIMENT.
nv Louisa NJ. AicoTI.
Author Of Lille Women" "Oh Fdai'1ned
art" Lite Men," etc., etc,
CHAPTER ].

Il 'uhTiIh IL
q cnnisrr.
n " A Unit BETSY there's going 10 be q nsv y
\ "A caratlon Of Independence"
| :" Hess and save us, what do you mean, child
And tho startled old lady precipita'cd pie into II
4 oven with destructive haste.
n II mean that. being Of age, am going TO tail
care of myself aud not be u burden any ioagc
Uncle wishes mo out Of the way thinks ought
\ CO. aud, sooner or later will tell me no, don't II
tand b. wait for that but like the people in fairy tale
travoiaway into the world and seek my fortune
4 know can ind IT,"
Christie emphasized her speech by energetic domoi
STATIONS IN the broad'trough, kneadng the dough a
M was her destiny. and she was shaping II 20 sui
hefSef whiie Aunt Betsy stood listening, with NJ
lited PIE FORK, and M much astonishment rs he
placid iace was capable Of expressing A. the Nh
: paused, with decided tiump, the old lady eS
/ What crazy idee have Won cot into your lea
nowf 2"
"A very sano and sensible one, that's got to b
worked out, 80 please listen W it, INA am. I've haI
tia good while I've thought 1t over thoroughly
and I'm sure us the right thing for me to do. In
old enough to take care OF my self and II ia been
BOY, should have been told 10 do II long ago.
hate 10 be dependent. and now there's need oft
can't bear 1t any longer II you were poor, woulC
not leave You for never forget how Kind you have
been to me. I'm a burden to him, and must &c
where can take care of myself. cant be happ,
ull do, for there's nothing here for me. I'm scl
OF THIS duh town. where the one idea Ia TO cat
drink and get rich don't I'd any friends to hell
me as want to be helped, or any work that can DC
well so let me go, Aunty, and ind my place, what
ever II is"
"Dut do need you, deary, andyou must not thlns
Uncle don't like you. He does, only he don't show
H. and when your odd ways fret him, he amt pleas
ant know don't see why yon can't DO content
ca rye lived here all my days, and never found the
pace Lonesome, or the folks unneighbory," and
Aunt Betsy looked pcrplexed by the new idea
you and are very different, ma am. There was
more into my composition guess aud after
standing quiet in warm corner long, begin TO
Torment, and ought TO be kneaded upi time, that
may turn out wholesome loaf You can't do this;
80 let me 60 where It can be done. else shall turn
sour anu good for nothing. Does that make the
matter any clearerf' And Christic's serious face
relaxed into smile her aunts eye went from her
W the nicey-molded Loaf offered illustration.
! - see what you meam Kitty; but | never
thought ont before. You be better riz than me
though. let me tell you too much emptns makes
bread poor stun, like bakers trash; and too much
working up makes it hard and dry Now fly
around for the big Is most Let, and this cake
takes sight of time IN the mixin."
you haven't said might go, Aunty," began the
gir' AFTER long pause devoted by the old lady to
the preparation of some compound which seemed to
require great nicely OF measurement in its ipgreu
cnts for when she replied, Aunt Betscy curiously
interiarded her speech with audible directions to
herself from the receiptbook before her
&c amt no right to keep you, dear, Of you choose
to take pinch of salt I'm sorry you amt happy.
and think you might ef you'd only beat eggs six
yoks anu whites togetherl. But If you can't and
feel that you need two cups of sugar. only speak to
Uncle and Of he says "a squeeze of fresh lemon 60,
my dear and take my blessn with you mot forget
TN TO cover with piece of paperl."s
Christies laugh echoed through the kitchen; and
the Old lady smiled benigny. quite UNCONSCIOUS of
the cause Of the girls merrimeit,
81 shall ask Uncle tonight, and l know he won't
object Then shall write to if Mrs. Flint has
room for me- where eau stay till get something to
do: There is plenty OF work in the world and I'm
not afraid of it: 80 youll soon hear good news of
me. Don't .look sad, for YOU know never could
forget you, even If should become the greatest lady
in the land" And Christie left the prints of two
houry but afectionate hands the old lady's shout
ders as she kissed the wlinked face that had
worn frown to her.
Full Of shopeful fancies, Christie sailed the pans
and buttered the dough in pleasant forgetfulness 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.
" Uncle, l want to go away. and get my own living.
If you please was Christies abrupt beginning, as
they sat around the evening fire.
Hey! what's that?" said Uncle Enos. rousing
from the doze he was enjoying. with candle in per-
ilous proximity to his newspaper and his nose.
Christie repeated her request, aud was much re-
lieved when, after meditatiye stare. the old man
briefly answered.:
" Wal go ahead"
q l was afraid you might think it rash or silly.
cir"
Il think it's the best thing you could do and l
like yonr good sense in pupposin' ont
Then may really go2
Soons ever you like. Don't poster me about 1t |
till you re ready; then III give you little suthing
to start off with" And Uncle Enos returned TO |
" The Farmers Friend" as if cattle more in-
teresting than kindred.
!, Christie accustoI to his curt speech and |
careless manner-had expected nothing more cor
dial; and turning to her aunt said, rather bitterly:
"Didnt | tell YOU he'd be glad to have me 10
No matter When I've done something to be proud
1f he will be glad to back again" Then her
voice changed her eyes kindled, and the firm lips
softened with a smile.
Eyes, I'll try my experiment; then I'll get rich
ound home for girls like myself; or, better stil,
oo Mrs Fry, Florence Nightingale, Or"
" How you ont for stockings dear p
"Christe's castles in the air vanished at the pro-
aic question; but after blank look, she answered
pleasantly;
Thank you for bringing me down to my feet
gain, when was soaring away too far and too fast |
IN poorly OFF ma'am; but If you are knitting these :
or me- shall certainly start irm foundation"
md, leaning Aunt Betsy's knee, she patiently
iscussed the wardrobe question from hose to head .
Don't you think you could be contcnted any way. l
hrstie. il make the work lighter, and leave you :
time for books and things 2? asked the old
My, 10th to lose the one youthful element in her
uiet life.
NO ma'am fer I can't find what want here" =
as the decided answer.
What do you want child ~ a
" Look in the fire. and III try to show you
The old lady obedenuy turned her spectacles that r.
ay, and Christie said in tone half serious, half IL
aym: T.
d" Do you see those two logs? Well, that one a
dsmally away in the corner is what my -
~ Is now the other blazing ana Singing IL what
ant my life so be- ~
" Bless me- what an idee They are both burnin' "
here they are put and both will be ashes to-mor- I
W; what difference does 1t make 2" ~
Christie smiled at the literal old lady, but follow a.
the fancy that pleased her she added earnestly: "
" l know the Ell is the same: but it does make a
ference how they turn to ashes. and how spend
life. That log, with its one dun spot OF fire. ! -
YES neither life nor warmth, but lies sizzling dcs-
ndenty among the cinders. But the other CLOVIS
nm end to end with cheerful little flames that 60
tha Il, s,,.,,o a,1.a-
hit fills the room and shines out into the dark its
rmth draws us nearer, making the hearth the Il
siest place in the house. and we shall all miss the n
endly blaze when ii dies. Yes" she added as il 70
rself. Il hope my life may be like that so that /.
ether it be long or short it will be useful aud -
eerful while it lasts, will be missed when it ends /,
4 leave something behind besides ashes" ~
Though she only half understood them the girls
rds touched the old lady, and made her look anx-
sly at the eager young face gazing wisttully
o the fire.
good smart BLOWN up with the beluses would -
Ike the green stick burn most well as the dry "h
after spell. guess contentedness is the belus &;
young folks, eft they would only think So" is'
dartsa you are right, aunty; but | want to try "a
myself; and If fail I'll come back aud follow on
ir advice Young folks always have discontinued
, you know. Didn you when YOU were a girl ?"
shouldn't wonder ef / did; but Enos came along
forgot EN-
My Enos has not come along yet, and never NAV:
[ m not going TO sit and wait for any man TO give
independence, If | car earn it for myself" cal
quick glance at the gruf gray old man in the
ner plainly betrayed that in Christie's opinion Or,
1T Betsey made bad bargain when she exchang-
her girlish aspirations for a man whose soul was Inc
lis pocket 1
Jest like her mother full of hifalutn notions civ
,ontented and sot in her own idees ; poor CAPT
10 start a fortln' on" ~,
hristle s eye met that Of her uncle peering over
top OF his paper with expression that always ice
d her patience. Now it was like dash of cold
er on her enthusiasm and her face fell as she oil
vered quickly: va
How do you mean, sir7" ,io
mean that you are startin' all wrong your re-
JUS notions about independence and selfcultur' FIN
y como 70 nOthln, IN the long Inn. and You'll -