Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-08
NO. SO.
Calls aud dSketehes.
For the Journal.
HULDlH.
BY CONSTANCE STERLING. .

The farm house kitchen was well swept
and cleaned, and every pan hung bright
and shining on the wall; and Huldah
Holmes felt as If she had earned little
rest, for all this neatness and brightness
was the work of her two little brown
hands. She threw herself into the cush-
ioned arm chair that stood by the window
and was refreshed by the scent of the
fragrant honeysuckle that clambered over
the tiny porch outside, and still more so
by thinking-of Laurence Dane.
Huldah's mother was nervous. peevish
woman, who imagined herself great suf-
lerer, and who was never able to help at
all with the work. She spent her days in
lying on the parlor sofa entertaining the
farmers wives and daughters, or driving
slowly around in the old fashioned chaise;
while Huldah washed and ironed, baked.
swept and busted from Monday morning
until Saturday highland on Sunday too.
for that matter. She was only twenty,
poor child, and she had all a young girls
yearnngs and ambitions, and she hated
being poor, and disliked the everlasting
work of the farm house. She had grown
tired of sewing and mending for her
three romping, boisterous brothers, who
seemed to think "Sister Huldah" ma
chine to be kept going by regular wind
ing. She grew particularly tired of all
the dull routine after she saw Laurence
Dane. He had been introduced to her at
a quilting bee, where he was the life OF
the party, and chose her for his partner in
the Virginia Reel took her home when it
was over, and chatted so pleasantly in the
moonlight, that Huldah was perfectly fas-
cinated with him, and went about her
work the next day. with a smile on her
face, and singing in the freshness and
innocence of her heart, little snatches
from old love songs. ...-af'.
Laurence Dane was boarding for the
summer at Farmer Browns, and having
nothing to occupy him, except fishing and
cunning of which he soon tired, he found
it very pleasant to stroll over to see HUI
dah Holmes in the evening, and sit by her
side in the vine covered porch. talking
over the neighbors, and things in general.
He had alwas seen Huldah after the chill
dren were in bed. the work done, and she
dressed in her pretty, cool-looking lawn,
with bunch of flowers in her bosom.
She sincerely hoped he would never see
her as she so often looked when at her
work in the morning. siw
Poor Huldah's pleasant dreams did not
last long. for she hardly felt rested, when
in burst Noah with his apron full of straw
berries, and his bare knee showing
through a large hole in his diminutiye
breeches. ...
"Huldah, here's some strawberries, Sol
an me an Jake picked EN-" 80, Noah,
another hole in those breeches," said HUI
dab in weary tone, thinking how often
she had patched and mended those same
trousers, when her weary back seemed
breaking. "Well, you see Ma will buy
such rotten stuff, and when l shin up
trees, it will catch and
Don't climb trees. there" said Huldah,
rather GROSSLY. 81 have enough to do
without your tearing up all your panta-
looms for me to mend" ...l .tr
"You needn't be so plaguey cross.
There take your old strawberries" and
Noah, in a fit of passion, dropped the
| whole apronful on the clean, white floor,
which Huldah' S tired hands had rubbed so
hard, and with defiant toss of his curly,
red head marched superbly over them,
and out of the door.
With an exclamation of anger, Huldah
ran after him, and catching him in the
front yard shook him well. The rattle of
wheels made her look up and see---who
but Laurence Dane driving by with Fam
ME Brown. They were both laughing,
and it cut Huldah to the heart, for what
must Laurence Dane think or her To
make matters worse, the uninjured and
jubilant Noah danced wildly on the best
flower bed and screamed at the top of bis
| voice. 80, your beau saw you, give him
| a shaking. too" Solomon and Jacob who
had been highly interested spectators OF
the scene. joining him in his wild shouts.
Ready to cry with vexation Huldah went
again into the kitchen, and after remov-
ing all traces of Noah's mischief on the
floor, sat down by the honey sucked win
dow.
What did she care whether Lourence
Dane went driving with Fannie Brown
or Huldah Holmesp She should never
speak to him again after this notifying
scene he had witnessed, and he was only
a heartless firt after all. OF course he
| would never come again to see such an i'll
| tempered girl again as she had appeared
to be. In this train of thought did Hull
dab spend the long, bright Summer alter
noon.
Eight o'clock came and Solomon, Ja-
cob, and Noah, were piloted up stairs to
bed. Never were children more trying.
Solomon refused positively TO say bis pray
ers, and Jacob careered wildly shout in
heather costume, suitable only for warm
climate and complete seelusion; while
Noah sat rigidly in seat, stiff and un-
movable Huldah was in dispair. She
spanked Solomon soundly and tumbled
| him crying into his trundle bed. Jacob
was treated in a like manner, and also
succumbed, but Noah was stubborn. He
sat like statue and refused, though with
out speaking a word, to undress Huldah
begged and persuaded in vain, he was not
to be moved. even by the promise of the
story of Jack the Giant Killer" his fa-
vorite of all tales.
| Just then the gate shut, and mans
step sounded on the graveled walk lead
| ing to the porch on which sat Mrs.
Holmes enjoying the evening breeze, and
Huldah heard Laurence Danes voice en-
quiring for her. She also heard her moth
er's, given in fretful. complaining tone.