, 1876-12-01
Judth's Temptation.


How bright and cheerful the kitchen
of the old Stedhurst farmhouse looked
to Judith Black upon the dreary De
cember evening when she first came
there to live How merrily the fire
fiickered on the walls with red, fantastic
reflections How the tins sparkled
against the wall, and what song of
welcome the old copper tea-kettle sang
upon the hearthl And Mrs. Stedhurst's 8
geraniums in the window, with their
velvet leaves and spikes of vivid scarlet
blossoms Judith they seemed fairer
than any conservatory, crowded full of
fan palms and camellias and trailing jes-
samine.
Judith Black had been very poor.
She had been a dressmaker, but times
were very hard. She had striven to get
work, but applicants we're many, and
the cup of starvation had been peril
ously close to her lips when she crept
into the Office where Edward Stedhurst
saw her, and engaged her to help his
mother about the housework.
''I shant like her, Ned" said Mrs.
Stedhurst, when the g new girl" had
gone up to her own room for the night,
and mother and son were together be-
fore the kitchen hre.
"Why not, mother - -
"She's too pretty ; and she has such
q naughty, queenly sort of a way. l
shouldn't think Of asking a lady to scrub
the floor and feed the pigs" f,.,
;sThat's nonsense, mother" said Ed
ward, half vexed, half laughing. "She
can't help her face, can she I? tits some
Of the scraggy-faced, small-pox-marked
girls who were so exacting as to the
wages they would receive and the duties
they would 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"
ssShe'n suit You, said Mr.. Stedhurst,
who had come in while the discussion
was going on ''Take my word for it,
mother, she'll suit you.
Judith Black stayed for o month, and
then Mrs. Stedhurst engaged her for
another month.
ssShe is neat, said the lady, "and she
is quick to learn, and believe her to
be thoroughly trustworthy"
"f only Ned don't fall in love with
her, " humorously suggested Mr.. Sted-
hurst.
ssWhy shouldn't he fall in love with
her, if he wants to?" said Mrs. Sted-
hurst, valiantly.
ssMy dear, my dear" demonstrated
Mr.. Stedhurst, what do you know
about her2"
ssWhat do we know about any girl,
for that matter 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 - F4H
"Now, Phineas, you are too bad, I"
said Mrs. Stedhurst, impatiently. '"The
currant Jelly has never been disturbed
in the closet, and I have left the sugar
bowl twice on the dresser with thirty
three Jumps of sugar in it, and thirty
three there were, and / counted them
after she had gone to bed"
s'Not very great temptations, those, "
said Mr.. Stedhurst, smiling.
''No," said his wife; 'sbut straws show
which way the wind blows"
About month subsequently to this
conversation, Edward Stedhurst came
to his father.
Father" said he, 81 was twenty-one
years old in October"
''Yes," said Mr.. Stedhurst.
sand you were a year younger than
that when you we're married 2"
81 believe 50, Ned"
Have you any objections to my TAX
ing q wife ?"
''None in the vorld-if it proves that
she is the right sort of wifel" an
swered the old gentleman.
Father, have fallen in love with
Judith Black, confessed Edward.
"Just exactly what have feared all
along" said Mr.. Stedhurst, with shrug
of his shoulders.
"Why do you use the word feared
father p Questioned Edward.
Because, my lad, she is almost a
stranger 10 us.
Father, would stake my life on her
tsuth and honesty" said the young
man.
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