Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-12-30
THE HARVEST TIME.


! eyed, dainty and sweet as a wildrose-
Ssnd quite as unconscious of her beauty
as that same sweet flower of its own
stood with flushed cheeks before hel
aunt and cousins, talking earnestly, anG
with suspicion of tears in her low
clear tones.
:" Yes, understand you all. / am ir
your way and unloved by you. It was
pity that when mamma and papa died,
/, too, could not relieve the earth of my
presence, instead of having to ask the
protection and affection of my own
uncle's family. For his love-what lit
tie he gives me-I am grateful, and
Uncle Dick KIN 'ws it, think. But from
you, Aunt Upham, and you, my
cousins, have never had kind or low
ing word since one year and half ago y
1.-The girls lips quivered and her voic
grew tremulous-''I came with my
heart half broken to this house, which
was the only home | had in all the
world. Oh! you needn't interrupt me.
aunJie. l haven't spoken before, but
have suffered and had such lonely
thoughts and longings for some one to
love and be kind to me that nt times it
has seemed as If should die. And now
here is Miss Mark 5 letter, in answer to
one wrote her asking if she could help
me find q position as teacher some
where any ywhere-so that I need eat
the hreai of this bitter dependence no
longer. She offers me the place she now
occdpies because she is going away,
and | will send her word this very day
that / will 90 to P next Monday.
And | leel not ask if you are willing,
for too well 1 know how delighted you
all will be-"
Mrs. Upham and her daughters might
have replied, but Faith went quickly
from the room, and was seen no more
until dinner time. The truth of all she
had said was too we'll ielt by Mrs. Up
ham, whose naughty and proud heart
had never yielded an atom of love to
the orphaned niece since she had entered
the family.
And why ? Simply because Faith
had the advan' age of her cousins in
youth and personal attractions; and
where jealousy reigns love can scarcely
enter. And that her aunt and cousins
were jealous of the lonely, orphaned girl
beneath their roof was something they
could not deny.
After Faith had left the room the
mother and her daughters looked at
each other.
Whew! What tempe-!" said
Anna.
''Could anything have happened bet
ter p" cried Belle. "Papa has invited
the son OF an old friend of his, who has
just returned from Europe, rich, hand
some and splendidly stylish-his father
left him ali his money, you must know.
when he (the old man) died. to spend
a few days with US, and he has prom
ised. Now, you see, if Faith were to be
here she would be sure to manage in
some way to keep him at her side. We
never should stand a chance, being SO
much older and palmer than she."
Then Mrs. Upham spoke up.
Yes, 1t is very fortunate that she is
going. Really, knew Faith was quick
tempered, bat had no idea she could
show slch temper as we have seen to-
dayl What is the name of the young
gentleman your iather has invited
here P"
" Howard Blake. I think" was the
reply; "and shall be thankful TO see a
new face amongst our friends.''
"This is the room, miss. It's mighty
little n d poor ike, and like enough
you'll be humping your head agin that
there Beam in the corner But you
see, desr, Jim would take them city
folks to board again this summer, be-
cause it kinder paid to have 'em last
year, and so amt got no room but this
for ye jest now. Mebbe long in the fall,
now, kin fix ye more comfortable-like.
Anything I can do fore | 90 downPn
Faith Irwin lifted her face from its
bowed position over the little trunk
which she was unstrapping, and replied,
gently
8. No I thank you, Mrs. Jones; l shall
be quite comfortable here, and hope to
give as little trouble as possible"
Mrs. Jones'5 good-natured face
beamed all over with kindly feeling as
she replied:
Lor! don't you be going and wor.
rying yourself about trouble. nv dear:
'taint likely as you're the kind that'li
do that It's them city folks I'm dread
ing, with their airs and grsces. But /
hope you'll be quite happy with 'em,
miss, and-bless me! smell my bread
a-burningp'
And the good woman hurried down
the steep, old-fashioned staircase, NUT
tering all the way:
Poor dearl How lonesome and pale
she does look, to be sure. And SO young
to be taching them rough children TO
the school, too!n
After Faith had refreshed and cooled
her flushed face in a basin OF clear, de-
licious spring water, and arranged as
tidily as possible the little rings of soft
hair which would not lay straight upor
her tore cad, and after she had fxed
her room to suit herself, and given it 8
more home-lke appearance by the addi