Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-03-27

1
L sat up and wiped my ewes.
considered her an enemy, and one
never wishes to weep before one.
enemies.
Providence is Providence, Beulah
More," said she; ''you oughtn'l
to rebel ag'in it-no, you oughtn't
You ought to be contented in the con-
dition you've been called To. But Pm
not hard-hearted woman; I'm will
ling to have you stay with me. You
can help me in the work, you know.
81 don't keep servants lazy idle
set, eating you out of house and home
"a young girl like you can be useful
if she's grateful and willing, SO IN
keep you, Beulah More"
was only fourteen years old, but /
knew as well as l know that l should
have preferred service anywhere else.
But as she spoke, a thought darted
into my head.
Grandfather had certainly spoken of
hiding will somewhere.
If stayed and rubbed and scrubbed,
and busted diligently, | should discover
1T if it was above ground, and not
stolen, as Mr.. Curdle believed.
All, how delightful 10 diseomfit her
at last. .
How well worth the hard fate and
the hard work | knew | should have to
endure.
Yes, even her unpleasant company
could be borne with this end in view.
So said, taking care not ospeak too
eagerly, that would stay, and l gave
myself a year to find the will in.
A year is an eternity at fourteen.
That very day, old Miss Humphries
began to show me my position by turn
ing me out of my pretty bedroom, and
sending me into a garret with sloping
roof.
had had pretty carpet, white cur
tains, bookcase, Turkish chair, and
dainty bed, all white and pink, and
toilette service pink and white also.
L had never done any work, except
putting this room in order, for We had
two old servants 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.
Miss Humphries sent all my school
girl friends from the door when they
asked for me, and it was after long,
hard fight, that | obtained my books.
my sewing basket. and my few window
plants, with which to make my garret
more home-lfke.
My black suit became shabby.
l felt ashamed to go to church, and l
knew not where to procure other cloth
ing.
L was very miserable, but all the while
| never forgot my object.
Not only did | continue my search
all day, but at night l often pattered
about the house in my bare feet.
l had found many curious places
where a will might have well been hid
den.
For instance the posts of grandfath-
er's bed had hollow space in them,
covered with carved cap, shaped like
q pineapple which came off.
And behind the carved wooden man.
tlepiece in his room-the original house
was hundred years old, they say, and
very curious-there was a receptacle |
that might have concealed fifty wills.
The old woman never suspected me.
Besides, she was half the time asleep,
in her chair.
She had delight in seeing me at
work, and set me tasks as hard to HE as
those the malevolent fairy put upon
poor Graciosa were to her.
Wherever | was sent | went.
Who knew where the will might be
But now the year had given myself
was nearly over, and the malevolent
fairy of my 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 end,
that hope was almost gone, that J must
leave the place if starved.
No wonder l was thin, and had lost
my fine complexion.
The lime was mixed and the brush
was found.
"Put it on thick, Beulah," said my
ask mistress "we don't want any of
he boards to show. Why where's
rour stick?"
Il can't find one to fit, said l, dis
"Oh, can reach, i think
"You can't" said she. ''The idea of
with short brush. Go
md hunt stick. Why L know where
here's ons-in your own room. l saw
t to-day"
sThat's dear grandpa's cane, 7" said l.
81 don't care. Get it," said she. at
S only stick, cane or not. y
81 won't use that in such way"
,aid L; -grandfather's cane, that he
Ised to walk with every day-that
lsed to ride on when l was a baby.
Dear old cane, that seems part of him,
wouldn't use it so for worlds"
Sentimental nonsense, said the old
woman. ssThe idea. When am dead
hey can do what they like with my
I'm sure Get the stick"
Il won't'' said /.
"Then I will, and you'll use it, )" said
'he.
Away she went to the garret, and
lown she came with the thick and
leavy cane, with neither curve nor
carving on it--a sort of pale grey wood
polished like glass.
"Here's the stick" said she, "and
you'll see my word is law here"
/ never stirred.
s'Tie that stick ON the whitewash
brush and go to work, T" said she.
al WON'T" said /.