The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1880-11-10
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Martie Woodbridge-her name was
4 Martha, but no one called her So
(. ;I7ed on the outskirts of small village.
Her father was farmer, but not a
prpsperous one, Nature, with its frosts
and droughts, was always getting the
1pper hand of him, and the crops which
s IN raised were sure to be those which
e z0Fought the lowest price in the market.
TIE cankerworm stripped his apple
res, and late frost blighted the corn
end oats. He had the misfortune to
buy a COW which introduced the cattle
1Isease into his farmyard, and Creamer,
&potty and Whlteface-the three cows
hat always filed their pals the fullest
and made the most golden butter sick
med and died.
This was the question which Martie
puzzled over from day to day, coming at
last to the conclusion that she must try
ler luck in the big world which she had
9een so little of outside OF her own small
village. She would 20 to London, and.
Npossible, fi1d there situation as gov
efness, in which she could at least pro-
vide for her own support.
Her mother let fall few quiet tears
over the plan, and smiling patiently
through them said ASK your father
Mr.. Woodbridge said No." at first ;
bnt having laid awake all night over his
diiiiculties, he called Martie ID him,
kissed her solemnly, gave weary sigh,
and with it his consent.
So it came to pass that on cool, crisp
October morning, when the woods were
ut their brightest autumn flush, and the
frost had stiffened the grass into little
silvery blades and spears, and made the
few pale flowers that fingered by the
roadside hang their heads, Martie put
on her bravest smile, made hopeful, COM
forting little speeches, kissed them all
good-bye at home-the dear old home,
30 fall OF joys aud troubles-and started
for london, to put into that great, hur-
rying, driving, jostling market the
modest wares she had to offer.
n Martie was eager and full of hope;
4 but, alas how much eagerness and hope
fnlness go down to death every day in
the frantic rush and scramble for the
good things going. Martie, in the great
city, looking for work to do, seemed
Ike D quiet little wren trying to pick up
4 worm or crumb where hawks and
rnltures were snatching and clawing
Tor plunder.
Martie was met the fmoment she
stepped from the train by an old friend
of The family, who had kindly promised
~ receive her at her house, and do what
9Ile could to assist her. The next day,
fafig in the morning, modest unpre-
tendlng little advertisement was sent to
ON of the daily newspapers. What a
stapendous affair it seemed to Mlrtie,
4lld how her unsophisticated little heart
i|leat at the thought of it! Nothing could
fQiIze of it that day, however; and
lille she goes out with Mrs. Allen to
d9a little shopping and stare at q few of
city lions, let us take a look at the
1l1rters she has fallen into.
q Irs. Allen kept small private lodg
house, very select and very genteel.
inmates were the learned Professor
wig and family, from whose presence
srtain literary aroma was supposed
Hervade the atmosphere; the brilliant
2zonel Boreas, hero according to his
IA account-of numberless battles
Wing young lawyer, with his pretty,
I6shing girl wife, all fresh and lovely
Aer new bridal toilet; rich widow
zIl8 her still richer daughter, who, ii
81 said, was soon to become the help
zte of the clerical member of the
I{z0s hold, the Rev. Paul Apollos; and
hou h not least, the representative
We fine arts, Mr.. Raymond, an artist
Use pictures had won golden praises
z4n critics and connoisseurs, and COLDER
Yes from purchasers.
M. Raymond was Martie's left-hant
1zlzhbor at the table. With the frs
Ial1ce at his dark face, iron-gray hail
MA mustache, and deep-set gray eyes
I6 telt rather inclined to be afraid o
When he smiled she liked hin
|et{er, and thought the gray eyes looked
and she felt very shy and lonesom,
1ng these strange faces, and was glat
Haye him talk little to her. and tax,
That she was provided with all sh'