Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-07-06

torests
"Molher is so cheerful" :" she said, "and
so pleasant, you will iind her excellent
company; and then she is such splen'
did housekeeper. and knows every
thing. and Katie and l are so inexperi-
enced. She is capital cook, too. and
makes things go as far again as | can.
And such nice things as she can make
am only afraid after she has been here,
you will think don't know anything
but shall keep my eyes open. and try
to learn her way of doing things did
not think hall enough OF 1t while lived
at home, And then she has had so
much experience with children, she is as
good as a doctor; and am such little
goose if anything ais the baby; but /
shall ieel as if he is right if can pop
him into mothers arms. and shall not
have to rout you up at night TO go fol
the doctor every time he screws his dear
little face up into pucker; and then
she is so fond OF babies dare say she
will tend him halt the time; and think
how much more time | shall have to
read TO you and make parish calls !"
In due course OF time Mrs. Btiant
made her appearance. She was deli
cate, pleasing, lady-like little woman,
with swee, brown eyes and marvellous.
/ " sweet voice, that excellent thing in
woman" Never yet came Nemesis in
gentler form or more alluring gusc;
but it was Nemesis all the same. She
was an acute and observing woman.
there was quiet but deep penetration in
those soft brown eyes, but there was no
bitterness about her
She read her son in laws character at
once, the soft brown eyes went straight
through his shalowness down to his
selishness and indolence OF course her
motheriy instincts were all on Lucy's
side, who she saw. was dropping under
burden OF care beyond her strength
but she never thought o. making her
happier by pointing out her husbands
laults to her; on the contrary, she
always praised him whenevo. she con.
scientiousy could, treated him with
marked Difference, and made him more
comfortable in 4 dozen little ways, while
she was all the time quietly loosening
hts wilo's bonds and Transferring them 10
him.
"AIr Holland" She said to him one
day in her sweet gracious way. will
you have the Kindness 10 pick us some
peas for dinner to.day?'
Me? pick the peas ?" asked the as.
ton,hed Son.in law.
"Oh no, no :" hastily inlerposed Lucy
81 will get them; | was just going
"My dear child no! The vines are
wet with last nights rain; and with
Your Thin dress would not have you
do it Tor The world and am sure Mr..
ffoiIAlh NOulu uot uSai VI SUN u tuiu6'
"No. no certainly not" said the rev.
erend gentleman, Ill is not fit for her Of
course" though he remembered uneasily
how many times she had done it, even in
the rain. but cannot Katie get them ?"
II do not think she can." said the gen.
tie voice; "she is very busy ironing your
shirts. and she does them very well. but
she is very slow. | could shell the peas
if had them; but it is no matter; if you
do not care about them, we will do with
out. We have only plain boiled corned
beef TO day. and l thought you would
like some vegetable besides potatoes with
it; but please don't 60 il you don't want
them"
But Mr.. Holland was an epicnre in q
small way, and he did not fancy dinner
OF beef and potatoes. So he went. and
from that day the picking Of the peas.
beans. cucumbers and tomatoes was.
without any talk. dropped quietly into
his hands.
And so with many other little ont-of
door duties which usually devolve upon
the master of the house, but which Lucy,
in her loving eagerness to spare her hus.
band time and trouble. had indiscreetly
taken upon herself; Mrs. Briant, laugh
ingly accusing her OF over otiiciousness.
quietly took them out of her hands and
restored them 10 their rightful owner.
And all this was done so swcetly by the
amiable law giver that neither party could
gainsay her. and the mystitied minister
actually felt she was sustaining him in his
rightful authority. Indeed. he was NOR.
allY and physically better. happier. and
more useful man Tor the healthy out OF
door employments to which her sagacious
administration had subjected him. He
dawdled less with his pen, and wrote bet
ter when he did write.
BIZ the time Mrs. Briant's visit drew
near its intended close, the gentle little
tactician had her leviathan pretty well in
hand; for though quiet in her advances
rs the incoming tide, she was quite as ir-
resistble. Lucy, cheered by her mother s
presence and silent support. and set free
from the household bonds that had so op-
pressed and inthralled her, was herself
once more. She had regained her natural
elasticity of step and feeling. and. brought
out by her mothers judicious manage
ment, she had taken and worthily filled