The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-10-12
Ju1ith's Temptation.


the old Stedhurst farm house looked #
judith Black upon the dreary Decembe
evening when she first came there to live
How merrily the fire fickered on the wall
with red fantastic reflections. How thu
tins sparkled against the WALL and wha
a song of welcome the old copper tea ket
tie sang upon the hearth. And Mrs Sted
hurst's geraniums in the window, will
the green velvet leaves and spikes of vv
III scarlet blossoms-lo Judith they seem
ed talrer than any conservatory, crowded
full of fan palms and camelias and trail
ing .jesamine
judith Black had been very poor She
had been q dressmaker's assistant, bu
times were hard. and Mrs. Mcclellan
had discharged two-thirds OF her force
judith among the number, Judith hac
strlven 10 get work. but situations were
few and applicants many, and the cup OF
starvation had been perilously close to hen
lips when she crept into the intelligence
office where Edmund Stedhurst saw her
and engaged her to help his mother with
| the house work
Il shan't like her, Ned, said Mrs Sted-
hurst, when the new had gone up to
her own room for the night, and mother
and son were together before the kitchen
fire
why not, mother?'
She is too pretty and she has such II
naughty, queenly sort OF way, | should
as soon think of asking the presidents s
lady to scrub the floor and feed the pigs"
That's nonsense, mother,n said Ed
mund half veNed, half laughing "She
can't help her face, can she? 1t is some
of The scraggytaced small pox-marke ed
girls, who We're SO exacting as to the
wages they should receive and the duties
they were to be called upon to perform,
that wouldn't have 'em in the house on
any terms. Judith was the only one who
was willing to come for any sort of work,
and willing TO accept moderate wages"
''She'll suit you" said Mr. Stedhurst.
who had come in while the discussion was
going on. Take my word Tor it, mother,
she'll suit You"
Judith Black stayed month. and then
Mrs Stedhurst engaged her for another
month.
'She is neat" said the farmers wife,
land she is quick to learn, and believe
her to be thoroughly trust worthy
If only Ned don't fall ia love with
her. humorously suggested Mr. Sted-
hurst
why shouldn't Ne fall in love with
her if he wants" said Mrs. Stedhurst.
valant!y.
My dear, my dear" demonstrated Mr.
Stedhurst : what do YOU know about
her?"
What do you know about any girl, for
that matter?n said Mrs. Stedhurst '.She
is certainly very pretty. and very faithful.
and very honest"
Honest" put in Mr., Stedhurst. dryly,
''because she has no temptation to be
otherWise'
Nov, phineas, you are too bad said
Mrs, Stedhurst, impatently. The cur
rant Jelly las never been disturbed in the
closet, and I've left the bowl twice on the
dresser with thirty-three Jumps of sugar
in it, And thirty three there We're, when
counted em after She had gone to bed"
No very great temptations those" said
Mr.. Stedhurst. smiling.
"No, said his wife, ''but straws show
which way the wind blows
About Il month subsequent to this con-
yersation Edmund Stcdhurst came to his
father
- Sali Mr. Stedhurst looking hard
at the end Of the awl with which he was
mending his Sunday harness.
And you were a year younger than
that when you were married"
"l believe so, Ned.'
"Iave You any objection to my taking
a wife ?"
"None in the world if it proves that she
is the right sort ol wife ~ answered the
old gentleman
"Father, have fallen in love with Ju-
lith Black, +" confessed Edmund.
Just exactly what | have feared ail
along" said Mr.. Stedhurst, with a shrug
of bis shonltcrs
"Why do you use the word feared,
lather?' questioned Edmund
''Recause my lad, she is almost stran-
ger to Us"
Father | would stake my lite on her
truth and honesty" cried the Young man.
"Because you are in love with her, my
SON. Edmund look here. lave you
spoken to her yet2"
mot yet, sir"
''Nill YOU DO me q lavor?"
pends upon what it is, father"
"Will youwait one week before you ask
her to be your wife? win yoA wait one
week without asking any questlons?" ?"
"lf YOU desire it, Sir
..Al the end Of thar time | will tell you
what think upon the NATTER
And Mr.. Stcdhurst went on with the re-
pairing Of the Sunday harness.
The next day he brought down an arm
ful of old coats. vests AMI pants from the
CARROT.
judith" said he, "tnese things are
getting moth eaten. They belonged TO
an old uncle of mine. Who died ten years
ago-an odd, misery old fellow, who
boarded every thing lp. and died in u
cellar at last want them cut up into
carpet rags"
"Yes, Sir" answered judith Black, in
the soft, low voice which was habitual to
her. And when her days routine of duty
was done she went to work diligently with
Mrs. Stedhurst's big, shining shears.
She was all alone in the kitchen next
afternoon Just as the clock was striking
three. Edmund was in the barn sorting
out winter apples. Mr.. Stedhurst was
hammerlnS away III the tool room lL Il
new set of shelves for the milk dairy. and
Mrs Stedhurst had gone TO a neighbor's
with her knitting work. And as judith
Black worked she sang softly to herself
an old Scotch ballad, "Bonnie Dundee"
Picking up an old waistcoat OF ginger
colored cloth, she clipped off the buttons,
and mechanically turned the pockets in
side out to cut them away. There was a
piece of folded brownish paper in one OF
them Judith took it out without think
ing much Of it, and unfoded it.
10 her surprise she perceived that ii
was a $50 treasury note
In her first astonishment she uttered a
little cry. all alone though she was. And
then she remembered what Mr. Stedhurst
had said about the miserly old uncle who
had "hoarded up his little gains and died
in cellar at last This. doubtless, was
one of the old mans hiding places -ane
he had died and made no sign
And this precious bit of paper! was il
not hers by right of discovery? Her eyes
cleaned and her fingers trembled convul