Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-07-07
SUE CARRIERS CONQUEST.

"You see, Sue Carter's childhood was
spent in desperate effort to keep soul and
body together. Strange as it may seem, her
parents loved the contents Of certain little
brown Jug, and the landlord Of the village
continued to keep said jug full as long as
there was an article Of furniture or garment
worth taking. And when there was nothing
else he took the persons of the two bloated
folornities to do chores for what they could
eat and drink. Well, to make q disagree
able part of the story short, the twain soon
partook of enough of the dreadful poison, to
cause their demise.
"During two or three years she found an
asylum in the county house, and then she
went from place to place, through the village,
doing the drudgery of the various households.
Occasionally she found an opportunity to
attend the district school for few months !;
and these opportunities she improved to the
best of her abilities, and often outstripped
her more fortunate classmates.
CAS- the years came and went, they brought
to Susie fair complexion, with broad roses
and dimples in her cheeks, brown, wavy
hair laughing blue eyes, graceful form,
and best of all, cheerful disposition. She
was always willing to do bravely what her
hands found to do.
"Of course she did not pluck her eighteenth
birthday from the tree of life without having
admirers, aud at least one lover. But when
one morning james Merton and Sue Carter
met under the wide spreading branches Of a
blossomiug apple tree in Squire Holden S
garden, it was to say farewell. For james
had determined to try his fortunes in the
gold mines of California. Fate was against
him. He never reached the wished-for goal
A terrible fever broke out on ship-board, and
fhnng Merton was one of the first victims
Just at dawn one beautiful June morning
passenger and crew gathered upon deck tt
perform the last sad rites Of burial. Thu
James Merton found grave beneath thu
deep blue waves Of the ocean.
'Susie mourned for her lover as but few
fair young maidens do. He was to be-
heart what brothers, cousins and lovers ar,
to many others. For near kindred she ha'
none. And fondly she had hoped that h
would return to her in less than year, ladeI
with wealth, and claim her as his own bes
beloved. Many plans she had made tina
were to add to her happiness and that Of hin
she loved. She would not then be oblige,
to 90 out to service and do the bidding O
high.born danes, who chose to vent thei
spleen upon her devoted head, because sh
had not the privilege Of returning hairs
words.
"a servant must always wear the robe Q
poiteuess or search for another place. An
Sue was patient and willing to endure muc
provocation rather than make change. Sh
had been Mrs. Harper's housekeeper for tw
years when that lad was taken i'll. An
during all her sufferings, which lasted f
months, Sue was what the neighbors calle
'the main stay of the family She took upo
herself almost the entire care of the invalid
at the same time attending to the needs
the family, and keeping the rooms in th
most perfect order.
"The only daughter Of Mr.. and Mr.
Harper had been married four years, but 81
never left the paternal mansion. Mr.. Ha
per preferred to have his daughter and Sol
in-law board beneath his own roof as he wi
quite sure Of having the privilege OF SUI
porting both, if they kept an establishme
of their own. So Inez and her husband ha
their own apartments, and ate at tue patterns
table.
"One would suppose that Inez might ha'
found her place at her mothers bcdsid
But this was not the case. Once, every da
she made formal call but she never seem
to think of shaking up pillow, or bathi
the throbbing brow of the mother who h
idoized her from infancy. She had not
nerve to take care of the sick, and pa "
abundantly able to hire assistance if it
needed
"Thus Sue aud Mr.. Harper spent ma
long, weary days and nights by the couch
the invalid, taking only such rest as could
caught when the fever was low, and pain
time subsidized. But kind hands and
voted affection could not keep the low
wife and kind friend from the Angel
Death. Mrs. Harper was buried with all |
pomp usual to people occupying her pOSit
in life Inoz displayed silks, Grape and
flowers, together with a very deliberately Q
broidered lace handkerchief, thoroughly s
uratod with cologne, instead Of tears.
made one look 80 iearfully vulgar to ives