Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-04-17

have made a nice mess oi 1t"
We had certainly. as | acknowledged.
when old Miss Humphries took posses
sion of the honest cad. and found that
| was no longer, mistress ofthe dear
old place-that had not even a right
there, hut was an interloper.
When. to crown all. she caEe to me
a lay weeping on my bed, and SAID
in her harsh nasal tones
'"Beulah. sit up and stop crying I've
got something to tell you"
sat up AMI wiped my ewes.
Icon,idered her an enemy, and one
never wishes to weep before ones enc
mis-.
"Providence is Providence, Beulah
More" said she you oushtn't To rebel
ag'in it-no. you oughtn't. You ought
to be conlenled in the condition you've
been called 10. But I'm not hard
hearted woman; I'm willing to have
YOU stay with me. You can help me IN
the work, you know.
Il don't keep servants-a lazy, idle
set, eating you out of house and home.
IA young girl like you can be useful
if she's grateful and willing. so I'll
keep you Beulah More"
was ouly fourteen years old, but
knew as well as knew anything that
should have preferred service anywhere
else.
But as she spoke, a thought darted
into my head.
Grandfather had certainly spoken of
hiding will somewhere.
III stayed and rubbed and scrubbed,
and busted diligently. | should discover
it ifit was above ground, and not sto-
( len, as Mr.. CurlIc believed.
All. how delightful to dscomtit her at
last.
How well worth the hard fate and the
hard work knew should have to ell
dure.
Yes, even her unpleasant company
could be borne with this end in view.
Su | said. taking care not to speak
too eagerly. that | would stay and |
gave myself a year to find the will in.
A year is an eternity at fourteen.
Tnat very day old Miss Humphries
began to show me my position by turn
ins me out of my pretty bedroom aud
sending me into a garnet with a sloplng
roof.
had had a pretty carpet, white cur
taus. bookcase. Turkish chair and
dainty bed, all white and pink. and tot
lrtte service, pink and white also.
had never done any work. except
putting this room in order for we had
two old ser, ants besides man.
Now | scrubbed floors and washed
windows and dishes and had no time
to read or sew or wander in the woods.
or enjoy myself in the garden
Mss numphries sent all my school
clrl friends from the door when they
asked for me..and it was after long.
hard fight, that obtained my books
nv Sewing basket ana my new window
plants. with which to make my garret
more hOmelike.
Ny black suit became shabby.
| felt ashamed to 20 to church. and
knew not where to procure other cloth
in.
was very miserable, but all the
whll.. | never forgot my object.
Not only did | continue my search all
day, but at night | often pattered about
the house in my bare feet.
| had found many curious places
where a will might haye well been hid
den.
For instance the posts Of graddlather's S
bed had a hallow space in them, covered
with carved cap, shaped like a pine
apple, which came of.
And behind the carved wooden man
telpece in his room-the original house
was hundred years old, they say and
very curi0us-therc was a receptacle
that might have concealed fifty wills.
The old woman never suspected me.
Besides, she was half the time asleep.
nodding in her chair.
She had delight in seeing ME at
work and set me tasks as hard to me as
those the malevolent fairy put upon
poor Graciosa were TO her.
Where I was sent went.
Who knew where the will might be?
But now the year had given myself
was nearly over, and the malevolent
fairy ofmy existence had ordered me to
whitewash the cow-house, and had
agreed to do it with a feeling upon me
that endurance was almost at an en-
tsat hope was almost gone, that
leave the place if l starved. l., loo.
No wonder was thin.
my tine complexion. a., ,r,sh
The lime W. ''>'
was ioun' Ill, - sa;a rv
4 mistress; 1--WE don't want any OF
the boards to show. Why, where's your
stick?"
II can't li.d one to fit" sad l. dis
consolately. "Oh, can reach l
think"
You can't, said she. The idea OF
whilewashing with short brush. Oo
and hunt stick. Why, know where
there's onc-in your room | saw 1t to-
! day -