The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-03-02
JUDITHS TEMPTATION.

How bright and cheerful the kitch-
en- of the old Stedhurst farmhouse
lookcdeto Judith Black upon the
drcary December evening when she
first came there to live. How meTi-
ly the fire flickered on the walls with
red fantastic reflections. How the
sins sparklcd against the wall, and
what a song of welcome the old cop
per tca-kettle sang upon the heart.
And Mrs. Stedhurst's gcraniums in
the window, with the green velvet
leaves and spikes of yivids scarlet
blossoms-to Judith they seemed
faircr than any conservatory crowded
full of fan palms and camcllias and
trailing jessamine.
Judith Black had been very poor.
She had been q dressmakcr's assistant
but times were hard, and Mrs. Need
lcham had discharged two-thirds of
her force. Judith among the number,
Judith had strivcn to get work, but
situations were few and applicants
many, and the cup of starvations had
been pcriliously close to her lipswhen
She crcpt into the intelligence Office
where Edmund. stedhprst saw her
and engaged her to help his mother
about the house ework,
"I shan't lik6her, Ned,p s;rid Mrs.
stedhurst, when the @nov girl7 Aad'
'ssogs up. T. -hsga;yGo@ foFe tbs pisht
and mother hnd son'were togetherbo-
fg:s the kitchen fire.
NHhI not, mother?'
Sh:iStbo.prctty; and She has such
a naughty Quccnl5 sort of way. l
should us soon think Of asking the
Presidents lady to scrub the floor
and feed the pigs.
"That's nonsense, mother" said
Edmund, half vcxcd, half laughing
"She can't help her face, can she2
1t is some of the scraggy-faccd, small
pox, marked girls, who were so ex-
acting as to the wages they should
receive and the duties they were to
be called upon to perform, chat |
wouldn't have 'cm 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 mod
crate wages
"Shc'lI suit you,'' said Mr., Stcd-
hurst, 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
anothcrmonth.
"She is neat" said the farmers
wife, "and she is quick to learn, and
| believe her to be thoroughly trust
worthy"
"If only Ned don't fall in love with
her" humorrosly suggested Mr.. Sted-
hurst.
"Why shouldn't he fall in love
with her if he wants2' said Mrs.
Stcdhurst, valiantly,
"My dear, my dear" demonstrated
Mr., Stedhurst, "what do we know
about hcr?'
"WAat do we know about any girl,
for that mattcr?" said Mrs. Stcdhurst.
"sho is certainly very pretty and
very faithful, and very honest
Honest" put in Mr., Stcdhurst,
dryly, "bccause she has NO tompta-
tion to be otherwise"
"Now, phineas, you arc too bad"
said Mrs. Stedhurst, impaticntly.
"Thc currant jelly has never been
disturbed in the chsct, and I've left
the sugar bowl twice on the dresser
with thirty-thrcc Jumps of sugar in
it, And thirty-thrco there were,
when counted en-, after she had
gone to bed"
"No very great temptations thosol"
said Mr., stodhurst,. smiling,
"No," said his wife, "but staws
show which way the wind blowsp
About u month subsequently to
this conversation Edmund Stodhurst
came TO his father,
"Fathcr," said he, al was twenty.
two years old in October"