Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-08-25

into the details of housekeeping with a
hearty zest, though her mother declared
she beat eggs like plOughboy, and stirred
cake like milkmaid.
You see, papa Nellie said, con6den-
italy to her sympathizing parent, Il can't
half do anything, and mamma thinks am
awfully unfemiuine. If eggs are to be
beaten, / beat them, not dab at them as if
1 were in decline. I do try to please
mamma, and sat all day yeterday morn
ing working upon horrible combination
of zephyr and canvass for foot STOOL
But mamma says | stab the work and
between you and me. papa, l did wish the
foot-stool was in a sufficiently advanced
state to warrant me in kicking it. Iwish
I was a boy; then / could be at the fac
tory all the time
John Somerville could scarcely look at
the handsome, healthy face raised to his
own, and wish it different in any way;
yet the hidden grief of his life was that
there was NJ son to inherit the name upon
the factory sign for three generations.
'Somerville & Som were known for miles
around the village where the great factory
was located, and their names'were good in
many of the leading cities of the country.
John hal inherited the business, from
father and grandfather, but his own sons,
three dark-eyed boys, lay in the church
yard, and Nellie alone remained of six
children.
More than once the thought had crossed
his mind, If she were only boy as Mel
lie followed him over the great building
with the keenest interest in every depart
ment there.
The business was the manufacture of
frames ofevery description, and Nellie be-
came familiar with every detail, from the
purchase Of the lumber to the criticism Of
the finished work. She had a nicely of
touch that detected the slightest inequali-
ties of surface even in polished wood, and
her eye was at once quick and correct.
Little BIZ little. almost unconsciously.
John Somerville trusted Nellie with much
Of the decision in purchases. and the book
keeping was often in her care for weeks
together, when there was a pressure Of
work. Mrs. Someryille whined and fretted
over the strangely masculine tastes Of her
child, but her father became more and
more averse to parting with her in busi-
ness hours.
Two years after Nellie returned from
school, and just after her twenty-6rst
birthday, she started one morning, as
seen in the opening of my story, to look
at some patterns 10 be sent for decision.
Such matters were often entrusted entirely
to her judgment, so she was not surprised
to find her father had gone out. leaving
the decisisn to her. But after she had
given the order, and answered lot of let
ters lying upon his desk, had wandered
all over the building and returned again
to the Office, she was surprised at her
fathers long absence.
One of the foremen, in the finishing de-
partnent, coming to the Office for some
last orders about the shipment Of some
goods, said Mr.. Somerville had appointed
to meet him there at noon, and the pro-
prietor Of Somerville l. Sons frame fac
tory was man of rigid punctuality.
Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes, Stephen
HoltOn waited in the office, watching Mel.
lies busy hand as she folded, sealed and
directed a lot of circulars, and thinking
that never had he seen a face SO fair, or
heard voice so clear and musical as
Nellie Somervile's But as the clock
struck the half hour, Nellie looked up
with startled face.
Something has happened, Stephen
she said; my father is never half an hour
late. Send some one to look for him.
The men are all at dinner, Miss Nellie.
l will go myself
But even as he spoke, messenger hur-
riedly entered the Office, saying:
Mr.. Somerville was thrown from his
horse while on his way here from the vii
lage, and is badly injured
'Where?' broke from Nellie's white
lips.
We took him home, and he asked me
to come here for you
Even in her sorrow and grief Nellie
retained some presence of mind. Looking
into Stephen Holton's grave, sympathizing
face, she said:
You will take charg, here until you
hear from my father. l will be respousi-
ble.'
Thank you,' he said, deeply moved by
her confidence in him at such time. Il
will try to do my duty
Il am sure of that she answered, and