Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-02-03


face. Certainly, that is tolerably re-
spectacle. If l went up the river, per-
haps l might pass for fashionable
modiste from New York, or l could
claim that lived in Brooklyn, Oh the
Heights
''On the Heights indeed !" broke in
Jemima; "Any one to look at you
would know that you lived in the
depths"
But, Notwithstanding this discourag-
ing reply, it came about that for once
the fashion plates were studied most as
siduously at Red Benton; indeed Je-
NINA spent so much time vainly trying
to trace out the meaning of the compile
Gated patterns ''sent by mail" that 4
began to appall her.
Its of no use, Prue," she cried one
day, as they were talking of the matter.
''The Lord never intended we should
humbug people out of livelihood. l
have never learned the trade, and should
certainly ruin anything to which I put
my scissors. We must try something
simpler, yet something that we know
that we can do we'll - and with a very
fierce countenance indeed, she gathered
the patterns in little miserable heap,
and buried them in the depths of the
rag bag.
you'll never come to anything with
such views, was the dirge that Prudence
sang.
Her dissatifaction with her sister was
by no means allayed the following
morning, when on hearing great up
roar in the cow-yard, she rushed out to
discover the cause, and beheld Jemima
standing on milk.stool, wildly BRAN
dishing tin dipper, as she harrangued
the bewildered COW.
"What is all this about ?' cried
Prudence, above the din and confusion
of the place.
To which question Jemima replied
that she had dismissed the hired man,
and was going to drive the milk-cart
| herself.
"You, why you're girl !" she gasped
regarding her sister in hesitating per-
plexity.
at isn't unlawful for girl to peddle
milk, is it?" laughed Jemima, proceed
ing to harness the horse for an early
start.
mind you leave the little can at the
Gilberts'," -~s Le- f~tL--'- r--sin5 IN
junction, "and while you are about it
you may as we'll present the bill"
Jemima for answer mounted the cart,
and sitting enthroned among the shining
cans, gave comical glance at her sis
ters, who had gathered about the door
step to see her off.
No conquerer in a more triumphal
car ever enjoyed ride more than did
Jemima on this early summer morning,
as she ratified gaily over the road lead
ing to the town for there was some
thing in the heart of the young girl akin
to the mystical life about her, and she
joined with all her soul in the grand
jubilee that seemed to rise from every
tiny blade of grass and every harebell
by the wayside.
Alert and happy, it did not take long
to despatch her business, and it was yet
early in the day when she reined up at
the Gllberts', the last stopping-place on
her round. Here the bill occasioned
some delay. AS she was sitting in the
hall awaiting the receipt, two fragile
little urchins came slowly down the
stairs, eying her curiously at every step.
The size of her figure, with its length
of limb clad in childish garb, perplexed
the little fellows.
AS one of them was passing by her,
he stopped down, and peeping into the
depths of her sunbonnet, cried, "Are
you woman, or are you little girl p
IL guess l am neither" returned
Jemima. greatly amused; 81 am sort
of middling, you know something
between the two"
"A middling!' repeated the child
contemplatively. "What do middlings
do 2"
Jemima caught the child in her arms,
and gave such a seductive account Of
farm life at Red Benton as to infame
the small youth with determination tc
visit this Utopia. A stormy scene en-.
sued, in which Jemima, like many an.
other, was amazed indeed at the commo
tion which she herself had created. The
result of it all was seen when somewhat
later in the day she emerged from the
milk-cart with a faxen headed urchlr
tucked under each arm.
"You can recall the hired man, Prue
!, I've got another job" she cried, as tha
mystifed young person joined the fami
ly, which had gathered on the porch t.
) inspect the new comers. 81 am to teacl
them their A B C's, and see that they
, do not run wild on the farm"
"How did it happen ?" asked one ant
all in breath.
MI - n, ar 1.,,