Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-02-19
3iscellamu.
Learning Her Value.

"Just what l have been expecting for
about seven years. said Miss Pauline
Worthington, looking from an open let
ter in her hand, with a frowning brow.
SIS not your letter from Herbert, Lii
ma questioned Mrs, Worthington, a tiny,
silver-haired old lady with a gentle ex-
preston.
"Ges, mother. Essie is very ill with
low, nervous fever, and they want me to
come and stay till she is better The
carriage will be sent at three o'clock,
mother" and Miss Pauline's eyes snap
ped. I" / think it is about time Bert's
tyranny over that little martyr was end
ed. He is killing her.
Lima He is your brother"
g / can see his faults if he is"
I" / never heard Essie complain"
"She never would. But look at her.
Nine years ago, when she married, she
was living sunbeam, so bright and
pretty. Now, pale, quiet, and reserved,
her voice is seldom heard, her smile sell
dom seen. A wintery shadow of her
former brightness Now she has broken
down. You have never seen her at
home, but surely when she is here you
see the changer"
Yes, dear, she has changed but
family cares"
" Has Louie changed so? She has
been twelve years married"
Mrs. Worthington was silent. Louie
was her Oldest child, and presided over
the house in which her mother had been
crippled prisoner for fifteen years. She
took all the household care, and had
children, and yet Louie gained in beau
ty, and certainly in cheerful happiness,
since her marriage, even if the sport of
girlhood was gone.
" Henry appreciates Louie!" said Ii
ma "there lies the difference between
her happiness and Essie's detection. If
there is any domestic trouble Henry and
Louie share it, while Herbert shifts it all
upon Essie. He is an habitual fault
finder"
Perhaps, dear, Essie is not so good
as Louie. Herbert may
have cause to find fault"
"Once in ten times he may. | never
saw faultless house or house-keeper
but Essie and her house are the nearest
to perfection | ever did see."
You never spoke so before, Lima"
Because Louie and thought it bet
ter not to worry you with a trouble be-
yond your help. But firmly believing,
as / now do, that Herbert is actually
his wife into her grave, | in
tend to give him lesson. That is if
you can spare me to go"
"You must go, dear | shall get along
nicely"
So when Herbert Worthington sent
his carriage Lima was quite ready for the
fourteen miles drive to her brothers
house. 1t was most unlike a house where
in any evil spirit of repining or fault
finding should have found an abode.
Spacious, handsomely furnished, with
well-trained servants, and all comforts
wealth could furnish, it seemed a per-
feet paradise on earth to visitors. But
very demon lurked there to poison all,
and this demon Lima had come to exer-
else.
For the first fortnight Essie took all
her time and care. The gentle spirit
towering very near the portals of the
eternal home. There was a babe, too,
,ix months old, and its wants filled all
.he spare moments Herbert snarled and
'retted over domestic short comings, but |
Lima peremptorialy forbade all mention
IF these in the sick room, having the
loctor's authority for saying the patients
very life depended upon quiet.
But when convalescence commenced |
Lima sent Essie and the baby to visit old |
Mrs. Worthington, and took control of
Herbert, the two older children and the
fully determined to show her
brother how far he carried his absurd
labit of fault-fnding.
The first dinner saw the beginning of
he lesson Lima meant to teach, by prac-
ically illustrating some of Herbert 5 alb
urdities. Herbert entered the dining
oom, his handsome face disfgured by
is habitual frown
Soup" said Herbert. lifting the
ureen cover perfect dish, waterp'
''Susan," said Lima, sharply, before
Herbert could lift the ladle, "take that
ureen to the kitchen and tell Jane the
cup is not fit to eat."
Susan promptly obeyed. Herbert look
d rather ruefully at the vanishing dish.
lie was especially fond of soup, and the
eally delicious dish was tantilizing. Es-
ie would have made some gentle excuse
never whipped off his dinner in that
vay. All dinner time Lima kept up
ling-dong at Susan about that abomina-
lie soup. till Herbert heartily wished he