Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-11-17

tage; sleepily n linE meath a
canopy Of branching hemIocks.
Here dwelt Mrs. Darley, or the
Widow Darley,. as she was COM
monty called By the inhabitants of
Linden. Here, since the depar-
ture of her niece, Garnet, her
brother Roberts child, for the city
to learn the dressmakeF's trade,
which event occurred a couple of
years ago, she had lived alone,
subsistingOn the produce she raised
on the few. acres Of ground at
tached to the cottage, which she
managed TO sell or barter away for
groceries at a thriving town three
miles distant. Day was fast verg-
ing into dusk. Indeed, 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 Dar-
ley sat by the window busily en-
gagged in darning a wretched-look-
ing stocking over a mammoth
mock orange, bemoaning with ev-
cry stitch her recent attack of rheu-
matism, which confined her to the
house when she was thoroughly
conscious of the fact that her SER
vices were needed out of doors.
Now was the time to dig her po-
tatoes, new was the time to gath
er certain apples, and do do ey-
erything 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 assistance so much needed.
"Well, ! declare y
This exclamation was caused by
the rumb.ing old stage coach that
daily passed her house stopping at
the front gate, from which alighted
her niece, who ran lightly up the
walk and into the house, followed
by a strongly built man bearing
on his shoulder a good sized trunk.
which he deposited in the hall be-
fore making his exit.
"How dye do, Aunt Susan G''
with a hug and kiss. mot a
slave to rheumatism, / hope m
"Yes," replied the Widow Oar
ley, who. blythe way, was q tiny
woman Of fifty, with face not un-
like the wrinkled apples that grew
on the tree in the garden, 1.-The
monster has me again in his
clutches. But what brings you
homeg lou haven't been sent
adrift again ~
"Yes, annt, a tremor of pain
threadinE her voice in spite of her
efforts 20 appear unconcerned.
times are dull, and Madam Brown
has so little work that she deemed
il expedieIlt "a dispense with the
services Of those girls who proved
the most incompetent. /, being
the least skillfui Of her apprenti
ces, was discharged without rexret.
Most sumTnarily she dismissed me.
withholding the few faint words
Of commendaticn she grudgingly
bestowed upon The others. lhave
no taste Tor dressmaking and am
termed q regular botch. Not q
very good Recommendation to help
secure another situation, eh 2 But.
never mind auntl / see / am
needed at home. How are things
prospering
mot at al, " in her most doIor-
Gus tone, the place is fairly
weighed down with MORTGAGES and
for aught i know to the contrary.
Mr.. Lincoln may forecl0se any dav
Yes, any day may find us without
a shelter. Our larder il about
empty, and there is no money to
replenish il; all of the -four has
been scraped from the barrel. and
to-day ! wis obliged to borrow a
pailful from Jane Grey; then. too.
there is not q tea leaf in the cad
dy, and / do not know how "a ex-
lst without my cup Of tea. / meant
TO have dug q few bushels Of pota-
toes and got Mr. Denver's horse to
go TO obtain some of the things I
cannot get along without. but /
am good for nothing good for
nothingw with a profound s;gh
Never mind, aunt, don't worry.
lN see what can be done in the
morning
The next forenoon. ahout 10
O'Clock. with a hoe swIsns avs.,. bar sa
shoulders and q bali hushel basket