Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-05-22

wondering what she should do, what
she could do, wished she was rich, and
finally got dish of crumbs and began
feeding the chickens that came around
her; and so she idled away half the
forenoon before she set herself to work
to clear the table and prepare dinner,
after which she put the house in as good
order as she could, and went up stairs
to make her toilet.
She brushed her hair plainly as was
her custom, saying to herself, Its no
use taking any pains; for she hadn't
anything ft to wear"
She selected from her scanty ward
robe purple print, which would have
been very pretty had it fitted her. Her
simple toilet was soon completed. just
as she was pinning black velvetiibbon
around her neck, she heard the stage
horn, and, running to the window, she
peepcd through the curtain, while her
cousin alighted and came slowly up the
walk:
Her cousin was a slight, graceful
girl, tastefully and appropriately at
tired; and as Nellie noted the long, am
pie skirt of the brown travelling dress,
the neatly gloved hands, and little
brown vail thrown carelessly back over
the little straw bonnet, leaving the fair
face with its bands of dark hair uncov-
cred, her trepidation did not decrease.
But 60 down she must and the sooner
the better. So trying to pursuade her.
self that she didn't care, she went to
meet Emily, whose pleasant easy greet
ing rather treasured her.
Though Joe had declared his indiffer-
ence to the expected guest, yet at tea
his appearance was very much i'm
proved.
"I'm going to the village, you know" !"
he said, half-apologetically to Nellie, as
he saw her glance at his linen coat and
well-brusbed curls.
The evening passed quite pleasantly;
for though the dim light of the tallow
candle did not improve the cheerless as
pect of the room, nor admit of Emily
busying herself with her needle-work,
yet she exerted herself to please the
rest, and she seemed so unconscious of
any superiority, that the restraint which
Joe and Nellie both felt at first soon
wore off.
A week passed, during which time
Emily had not been idle. She had
helped Nellie about the house-work and
sewing, had read to her Uncle, and
played checkers with Joe, and had made
herself a general favorite.
One pleasant afternoon the two girls
were seated in the shady porch at the
front door; Emily with a book and
Nellie with piece Of needle-work that
she was doing under Emily's supervis-
ion. Nellie wore the lilac print, which
Emily's skillful fingers had remodeled;
and her hair, which Emily had ar
ranged in full, soft curls, fell over her
neck.
Emily was reading aloud, stopping
now and then to show Nellie about the
formation of leaf or flower, when the
latter suddenly exclaimed: "There's
a carriage at the gate, and its Fred
Gray, Ellen and Minnie Lee. 1 won
der what it means-they never comes
here"
Emily sprang to her feet, saying has
tily, "they were my school friends at
and ran down the walk to
meet then.
The visitors had accidently heard that
Emily was at Clayton Farm, and had
rode over to invite her to spend few
days with them.
The party declined Nellie's timid in
vitation to walk in, and seated them
selves on the porch. There was much
and talking, "reminiscences of
old times at Rockland, aud discussion
of events that had transpired since.
After spending cheerful hour the
visitors took leave, having obtained En-
ily's promise to visit them the ensuing
week. Nellie was included in the in
vitation, but, knowing it to bea mere
matter of courtesy, she politely de-
clined.
After she had gone, she sat silent for
some time, and Emily noticed that now
and then a tear-drop fell on her work.
At length, putting her arms around her,
Emily said, "what is it, little cousin?
Tell me all about it, perhaps 1 can help
you"
Nellie laid her head on Emily shoul-
der and sobbed that she was unhappy.
" You know how we live here, cousin
Emily. 1 have to work all the time,
and father isn't able to get me books
and o great many things that I want,
and that other girls have. Nobody
comes here that / care about, and when
you are gone I shall be so lonesome.
If I could only go away to school, l
think, perhaps, I might, after awhile,
teach as you do; but, as it is, I don't
see any prospect of q change for the
better"
Emily kissed her and smiled. 81 aim
glad you want to improve, Nellie; hut
how is it that Uncle is so poor? Don't
he own this place?"
eyes; but q part of the land isn't
good for much, and father just keeps
ont of debit"