The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-09-28
JUDTTH's TEMPTATION.
BY II. r.

How bright and cheerful the kitchen
of the old Stedhurst farmhouse looked
to Judith Black upon the dreary Deem
Der evening when she first came there to
live! How merrily the fire fickered on
the wallis red, fantastic reflections How
the tins sparkled against the wall, and
what a song of welcome the old copper
teakettle sang upon the hearth And
Mrs. Stedhurst's geraniums in the
window, with their green velvet leaves
and spikes of vivid scarlet blossoms
to Judith they seemed rairer than any
conservatory, crowded full of fan
palms and camellias, and trailing jessa-
mine.
Judith Black had been very poor. She
had been a dressmaker, but times were
hard. Judith had striven to get work,
but applicants were many, and the cup
of starvation had been perilOusly clSse
to her lips when she crept into the office
where Edmund Stedhurst saw her and
engaged her to help his mother about
the homework.
Il shan't like her, Ned" said Mrs.
Stedhurst, when the "new girl 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
ahaughty, queenlysort ofaway. should
think of asking a lady to scrub the floor
and feed the pigs.
"That's nonsense, mother" said Ed
mund, half-vexed, half-laughing. She
can't help her face, can she ;? 1t is some
of the scraggy- faced, smallpox marked
girls who were so exacting as to the
wages they would 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 for it,
mother. she'll suit you"
Judith Black stayed a month, and
then Mrs. Stedhurst engaged her for
another month.
"She is neat" said the lady, "and she
is quick to learn, and ! belieAe her to be
tborOughlv trnstwOrthvn
of only Ned don't fall in love with
her." humorously suggested Mr.. Sted,
hurst.
"Why shouldn't he fall in love with
her iC he wants ?" said Mrs. Stedhurst,
valiantly.
MY dear, my DEAR" demonstrated
Mr.. Stedhurst, "what do you know
about herr"
what do we know about any girl, for
that matte?" said Mrs. Stedhurst. She
is certainly very pretty,and very faithful
and very honest"
Honest" put in Mr.. Stedhurst, dTily,
because she las had no temptation to
be otherwise.
Now, Phineas, you are too bad, "
said Mrs. Stedhurst, impatiently. The
currant jelly has never been disturbed in
the closet, and I've left the sugar-bowl
twice on the dresser with thirty-three
Jumps of sugar in it, and thirty-three
there were, and counted 'em, after she
had gone to bed"
Not very great temptations those ~
said Mr.. StedhuTst, smiling.
"No," said his wife; "but straws
show which way the wind blows"
About month subsequently to this
conversation, Edmund Stedhurst came
to his father.
Father" said he, - was twenty,
one years old in October"
Yes" said Mr.. Stedhurst.
"And you we're year younger than
that when you were marriedw