The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-06

brushes, and Lima, in q dismal dress, her
hair tied up in a towel, directing two wo-
men, scrubbing vigorously.
"Good gracious, what are you doing?'
"Clcaning this room"
"Why, Essie had the whole house cleaned
till 1t shone, in the fall, and didn'tmake half
this muss," he added, contemporary.
"Well, said Lima, slowly, II thought
this room marvel of neatness myself, but
when you said 1t was not fit for the pigs
supposed you wanted 1t cleaned"
1.-THE room was well enough" was the
curt reply. "For mercys sake don't turn
any more of the house upside down."
At breakfast, a tiny tear in Louies apron
caught her fathers eye, and, by his own
angry statement, 'she never had decent
stitch of clothes, and he did wish somebody
would see to her."
Two days after, a formidable dry goods
bill was presented at the store, and Lima ex-
planned Il in this wise:
"You said, Herbert, that Louie hadn't a
decent stitch, and you wished somebody
would see to her, SO bought her a COM
plete outfit. could not see any fault my
sci but of course got more expensive ar
ticles, as you did not like those already pro.
vided. l am glad you called my attention
to the poor, neglected child"
Poor, neglected childp echoed aston
ished Herbert. ''Why, Lima, Essie fairly
slaves her life out over those children. l
am sure never see any better dressed or
neater."
Lima merely shrugged her shoulders. A
month passed. Essie gained strength in
the genial atmosphere surrounding Louie
and her mother, while Lima ruled Herbert's
house with n rod of iron. Herbert began
| 70, n s,oL Ia r,r IL oaia,s n
| tie presence. Lima took him so very liter
ally in all he said, and yet he could not re-
buke her for doing exactly what he openly
wished.
A chair with tiny spot Of dirt being de-
clared absolutely filthy, was upholstered
and vanished at cost of eight dollars.
A dozen new shirts, Esse's last labor of
love, being said to ''set like meal-bags,"
were bestowed upon the gardener, and a
new set sent from furnishing store. Har-
rvs blocks were burned at the kitchen fire
when Herbert, stepping upon one, said he,
"would not have such rubbish in the house. 3"
Every window was opened after pettish
declaration that the "room was as hot as
an oven, and an hour later the stove was
fired up to smothering heat because he de-
clared it ''cold enough to freeze a polar
bear"
In short, with apparently an energetic
attempt to correct all short comings and
put the housekeeping upon perfect basis,
Lima in one month nearly doubled her
brothers expenses, and drove him to the
verge of distraction, keeping accurate ac-
count of every complaint.
But Essie, we'll aod strong again, was
coming home. On the day of her expected
arrival Lima, with solemn face, invited
her brother into the sitting room tor few
moments of private conversation.
Herbert" she said, very gravely, 81
have proposition to make to you. You
are my only brother, and / need not tell
you love you very dearly. 1t has really
grieved me to the heart to see how much
there is to find fault with in your beautiful
lomc.' Herbert twisted himself uneasily
in his chair, but Lima continued:
"YOu know that mother is very depen-
dent upon me, Louie having the house and
children to care for, but think she would
sacrifice her own comfort for yours. So
il you wish, Herbert, l will come here
permanently, to keep things in order for
you."
Here Lima was obliged to pause and stran-
gle laugh at Herberts expression of utter
horror and dismay.
"You are very kind" he faltered, the in
stincts Of q gentleman battling with the
strong desire to tell Lima she would GER
tainly drive him into lunatic asylum by
six months more of her model housekeep-
ing.
met at ALL A man who has made an
unfortunate marriage certainly needs all
the aid and sympathy his family can give
him."
The last straw was laid upon the camels
back. Herbert spoke hotly "You are en-.
tirely mistaken Lima! l have not made an
unfortunate marriage. If ever man was
blessed in a wife, am that man."
"You amaze me, Herbert" Lima cried
in well-feigned establishment.
IL do not see why you should be sur
prised. Essie is gentle, loving, orderly, a
model mother, and perfect home angel
God bless herl"
",ierbert, is that true?"
"Certainly it is true"
81 cannot believe it," was the slow re-
Spouse.
"Cannot believe it Why3"
"Because'-and Lima dwelt impressively
upon every word-"during the nine years
of your married life, though visiting here
frequently, have never heard you speak
one word of encouragement or praise ia
Essie. l never saw one look CT approba-
ton or appreciation of any effort she made
for your comfort upon your face. Contin-
ual fault-finding, constant blame, have
changed her from happy, winsome girl to
pale, care-worn woman. Even her last
illness was but the unspoken despair of a
heart crushed under load of daily censure
and constant striving for the appreciation
never given. And you tell me now she has
never failed in her duty to you. There is a
grave error somewhere"
The sa lily earnest tone, the face OF
thoughtful gravity, sent every word home
to Herbert Worthington's heart. He spoke
no word of self-defencc as Lima slowly left
the room. In the profound silence that
followed, conscience reviewed the past, and
he knew that his sister had spoken only
the truth. The habit of fault-fnding
meeting no resistance in Esse's gentleness
had gained IN force, till all its monstrosity
stood revealed in the experience of the pas
month.
In the days when Essie lay dangerously
I'll there had been no self-reproach like this
} in her husbands sorrow. He had given hi
wife a fair home, an ample income fire.
quent social pleasure, many costly gifts
and loved her faithfully, while poisoning
her whole life.
''God help me-" he whispered, 'to con
quer tms iault' Essie snaii near NO more
: fault finding, and if see her dropping
, will send her to mother and have Lini
back"
Never had wife and mother warmer wei
: come than greeted Essie. The children
were unchecked in their loudest demonstra
! tons of delight. But Lima ha6 to rush in
to the hall to hide her merry eyes wher
I Herbert, kissing Essie, said;
"We must let mother have Lima now
: dear. She has been very kind and worked
hard for my comfort; but there is no home
fairy like my Essic."
The quick, glad look in his wife's sof
eyes told Herbert one step had been taxi
in the right direction. As the days glide,
: by, and Essie found appreciation meeting
. every effort to add to home comfort, wor
\ of praise for every little triumph of cooker