Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-09-23
Reforming the Household.

"Jugt what ] have been expecting for
81 out seven years" said Miss Pauline
Wortbington, looking up from an open
letter in her hand with a frowning
brow.
els not your letter from Herbert,
Lina9" questioned Mrs. Worthington, q
tiny, silver haired old lady, with a gentle
expression.
''Yes, mother, Essie is very i'll with
low, nervt us fever, and they want me to
come and stay till she is better. The car
riage pill De sent at three o'clock, moth
,r" Then, more emphatically: 81
think it is about time Bert's tyranny
over that little martyr was ended. He is
killing her"
"Lina He is your brother"
"I can see his faults if he is.
81 never heard Essie complain"
.Sle r1ver would. But look at her
Nine years ago, when she married, she
was a living sunbeam, so bright and
pretty. Now, pale, quiet and reserved,
her voice is seldom heard, her smile sci
dom seen. A wintry shadow of her for
mer summer briQhtness Now she has
broken down. You have never seen her
at home, but surely when she is here
you see the change ?"
eyes, dear, she has changed; but
family cares -
HAS Louie changed so? She has
been twelve yoars married"
Mrs. WorthiDgton was silent. Louie
was her Oldest child, and presided over
the home in which her mother had beer
crippled prisoner for fifteen years
She took all the household cares, and
had five children, and yet Louie haC
gained in beauty, and certainly il
cheerful happiness, since her marriage
even if the mcriiment of girlhood wal
gone.
"Henry appreciates Louie /" sale
Lima; "thero lies the difference be
tween her happiness and Essie's deiec
tion. If there is any domestic troubl
Henry and Louie share it, while Herber
shifts it all upon Essie. He is an ha
bitual fault finder"
"Perhapa, dear, Essie is not so gooC
o housekeeper as Louie. Herbert ma.
have cause to find fault "
"Once in ten times he may. neve
saw faultless house or housekeeper
but Essie and her house are the neares
approach to perfection | ever did see.
"You never spoke so before, Lima.
Because Louie and thought it bet
ter not to worry you with trouble be
yond your help. l intend to give him
lesson. do, indeed. That is, if yo
can spare mo to go?"
"You must go, dear. I shall &c
along nicely"
So when Herbert Worthington sen
his carriage, Lima was quite ready fo
the fourteen mile drive to her brother
house. It was most unlike a hous
wherein any evil spirit of repining c
fault finding should have found a
abode. Spacious, handsomely furnish
ed, with we'll trained servants, and a
comforts wealth could furnish, it SCENE
perfect paradise on earth to visitor
But very demon lurked there to poiso
all, and this demon Lima had come
exercise.
For the first fortnight Essie took a
her time and care, the gentle spirit ho'
ering very near the portals of the etern
home. There was baby, too, s
months old, and its wants filed all I'll
spare moments. Herbert snarled al
fretted over domestic shortcomings, b1
Lima peremptorily forbade all mentiC
of these in the sick room, having IL
doctors authority for saying the p
TENTS very life depended upon quiet.
But when convalescence begun Lii
sent Essie and the baby to visit old Mr.
Worthington, and took control of He
bert, the two older children and Il
household, determined to show h
brother how far he carried his habit
absurd fault finding. With all her s
verify, she did believe he was himst
unaware of the frequency of his querr
GUS complaints and the exaggeration
his fretful statements.
The first dinner saw the beginning
the lesson Lima meant to teach. He
bert entered the dining-room, his han
some face disfgured bv its habitU
frown. Harry and Louie were seate
"Soup," said Herbert, lifting t
tureen cover; "perfect dish water !"
"Susan," said Lima, sharply, to t
servant, before Herbert could lift t
ladle; 3" take that tureen to the kitch
and tell jane the soup is not fit to eat
Susan promptly obeyed. Herb
looked rather ruefully at the vanishi
dish. He was especially fond Of soI