Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-02-20

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on the settee, Jennie, while yoa are
gone. for the cows said the mother
soisiY from the silting-room, ~ Jennie
started from the door
Yes Eta. 20 inl He cannot see
you IN the house when he goes back
50 he won't set you to work.
The poor, tired girl went in doors,
and Jennie walked with . brisk step
t0N ards the pasture.
Dir. Wells was weII-to-do farmer.
EIe inherited from hss lashsr 4 snue
iannns sllsnl8ess6. a1d Ii good cuItIsa-
ton. He was fine looking man, and
was considered the best match IN town;
SO when be married the ministers el-
dest daughter every one thought she
wasa fortunate girI--such nice home,
SO smart Q husband, and 50 well off too
So thought the young bride for q while.
but that was before she knew what was
before her.
Though she never complained, she
did moi think 50 now, neither had she
been of that opinion but few months
alter her marriage. She was perfec;
slave, both soul and body, held in bon
dage by Ezra Wells. He would have
been astonished ii anyone had told him
he was iyFant in biz family; that his
children did not love him that bis
wife was afraid of him. But yet this
was the truth Property was all he
cared for: to have the best crops, the
fattest cattle, the best horses, and make
the most butter and cheese, OF any man
in town, was his highest ambition, and
every person and thing had TO be SUBJ
servient to this end. HIS four eldest
children were girls; The two oldest were
very pretty girls-the next two died in
infancy; then came a boy, a delicate
child always. with spinal weakness
that disabled him from labor. Two
other boy-babies followed, SO irail that
they passed from earth with their first
breath, and the weary mother would
have followed them but for the strong
mother love she bore to her living chill
dren. When Jennie was sixteen an
other little girl made its advent, and
now was just able 10 walk when anoth-
er son came into the household. Mrs.
Wells was very delicate in health, and,
as Jennie said, she was not half as well
treated as the high-blooded mare that
fed at leisure in the meadow pasture,
with her beautiful colt capeTing around
her side; that was worth money A
younger sister Of Mrs. Wells. who had
married mechanic, had frequently
paid her short visits and saw with deer
regret the hard lot that had fallen TO her
sister. She even demonstrated with
her brother-in-law when he told her he
was going to purchase another farm as
she saw il would increase the burdens
other poor sister, who was already
loaded down with labor and care, and
he did consent to let his invalid son 20
10 live with her, so he could be bene-
fitted by The sea air and bathing, not
thinking his wife wished him 10 20 for
fear his father would work him too
hard and destroy what little vitality he
possessed. II was to pay for this farm
that Wells was in debt. His family
were pinched in dress and comfort, ev-
cry luxury was denied them, and II
was as Jennie said, delve and drudge
from morning till night. After the
girls were old enough to work they
were kept from school, and had not
their aunt kindly sent them books, and
their mother been capable ofinstruct-
ing them, they would have been
deplorably ignorant. If they went to
church, they had to walk, for the
horses were too valuable 10 stand
hitched; they might get frightened and
break loose, and it would never do for
girls to drive the mare, il would ruin
the coli, or he would get cast, or hung
or something else would happen; SO they
seldom enjoyed the privilege OF Sunday
school or sanctuary. Mr.. Hartwell,
;heIr nearest neighbor, used to saw that
'n Mrs. Wells were not an angel, the
children would grow up perfect hca-
thens," and be always managed to find
something pleasant IN his papers and
magazines for Mrs. Wells and The girls
to read; or if he purchased a new book
il found.its way TO Mrs. Wells, and his
only son, George, was generally the
messenger who carried il over. Both
Mr.. and Mrs. Hartwell were acquainted
with her before her marriage, and the
memory of her father, who slumbered
in the peaceful churchyard, was. very
precious to them. and they tried by
every means in their power 20 tighten
the heavy load that W as placed upon her.
George Hartwell did not quite des-
pair ol changing Jennie's opinion with
regard TO marrying farmer, and held
frequent consultations with his mother
upon the subject. One morning he
quite astonished bis father by suggest
ing that he should like to take his sis-
ters and 20 to Connecticut to visit some
cousins, provided be could get some
one to help mother while they were
gone; he had been thinking OF il for
some time. The girls were delighted
With the plan, and thought, perhaps.
Jennie Wells would come and stay
with them, and assist while they were
gone. So after breakfast, Mr.. Hartwell
went over to see il il could be arranged.
Mrs. Wells thought she could spare her
il her sister could be allowed 10 take her
place; and so. alter good many con-
trarT arguments from their father, il
was decided that for three dollars
week JeRnie. might 20 and stay with
the Hartwells, while The young people
went on their pleasant excursion.
These fye weeks We're the most de-
lightfnl days oil Jennie's whole Lie
She saw that all farmers girls, or wives,
were not slaves. and that the sunshine