The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-04-28
THE MISTAKE GARNET MADE.

A little, low-browed, yellow cottage,
sleepily Nesting meath a canopy OF
branching henilocks Here dwelt Mrs
barley, or the Widow Darley, as SHE
was commonly called by the inhabitants
of Linden. Here, since the departure
of her niece, Garnet, her brother Rob
ert's child, for the city to learn the
dressmakers trade, which event occur
red couple of years ago, she had lived
alone, suhsisting on the produce she
raised on the few acres of ground at.
tached to the cottage, which she man.
aged to sell or barter away for groceries
at thriving town three miles distant
Day was fast verging into dusk. In
deed, for some time twilight had lain
gray upon the scene, and only a silver
line kissed the purple tops of the dis
tant mountain. The Widow barley sat
by the window busily engaged in darn
ing wretched-looking stocking over a
mammoth mock orange, bemoaning
with her every stitch her recent attack
of rheumatism which confined her to
the house, when she was thoroughly
conscious of the fact that her services
were needed out doors. Now was the
time to dig her potatoes, now the time
to gather certain apples, and-do
everything in fact; and here she was,
not only unable to get about, but so
heavily trammeled by debts that she
found it impossible to secure the assist
ance so much needed.
"Well, 1 declare p
This exclamation was caused by the
rumbling old stage coach, that daily
noSsnl hon hnr1Co c+a 81 l,o
gate, from which alighted her niece,
who ran lightly up the walk and into
the house followed by stronglv-built
man, bearing on his shoulder good
sized trunk, which he deposited in the
hall ere making his exit.
How dye do, Aunt Susan ?" with q
hug and kiss. "Not slave to rheu.
matism, hope"
eyes," replied Widow barley, who,
by the way, was tiny woman of fifty,
with a face not unlike the wrinkled ap.
pies that grew on the tree in the garden,
" the monster has me again in his
clutch. But, whatever brings you
home? E? You haven't surely been sent
adrift ?"
Yes, aunt" a tremor of pain thread
ing her voice in spite of her efforts to
appear unconcerned, times are dull,
and Madam Brown has so little work
that she deemed it expedientt to dispense
with the services of those girls who
proved the most incompetent. I, being
the least skillful of all her apprentices,
was discharged without regret. Most
summarily she dismissed me, withhold
ing the few quaint words of commenda-
tion she grudgingly bestowed upon the
others, l have no taste for dressmaking,
and am termed regular botch. Not q
very good recommendation to help Sc
cure another situation, Ell? But, never
mind, aunt / see am needed at
home How are things prosperingY'
"Not at ALL" in her most dolorous
tone; "the place is fairly weighed down
with mortgages, and, for aught know
to the contrary, Mr.. Lincoln may fore
close any day. Yes, any day may find
us without shelter. Our larder is about
empty and there is no money to replen.
ish it all of the -four has been scraped
from the barrel, and to-day was obliged
to borrow pailful from Jane Gray
then, too, there is not tea-leaf in the
caddy and 1 do not know how to exist
without my cup of tea. I had meant to
have dug few bushels OF potatoes and
got Mr.. Denvers horse to go to obtain
some of the things l cannot get along
without, but am good for nothing
good for nothing!" with a profound
sigh.
"Never mind, aunt, don't worry. I'll
see what can be done in the morning. u
And next forenoon, about 10 o'clock,
with hoe swung over her shoulder, and
a half-bushel basket in her hand, in
which reposed half-dozen potato bags
and dainty repast done up in news
paper, she frudgsd to the potato lot, te