News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-09-21
Love on a Farm.

AONC VII a IL ul He
stAre you my Aunt Dorcas ?"
Mrs. Torrance had been entertaining
aQuilting Bee that afternoon, and she
had just got the frame out of the way,
the dishes washed, and the apartments
generally ''tidied," when there came a
meek tap at the door, and there in the
yellow April twilight stood small figure
in gray travelling shawl, and holding
bag.
''Sakes alive p said Mrs. Torrance,
"Who be you?'
81 am Emily" said the girl. "Please
let me in, for am tired and cold. I've
walked all the way from the station,
and I've had nothing to eat since noon"
"Well, I never p said Mrs. Torrance.
"You're the city schoolma'am amt
you, rs went out to live with Cousin
Shadrach And he's dead, and the
money has all gone to the Baptist Widow
and Orphan Fund You didn't make
much by that move, did your And you've
stylish enough for you before. Well,
come in, come IN -
And Mrs. Torrance, who was essen
TALLY kind-hearted woman, albeit she
could not repress the sneer that rose to
her lips, moved the low rocker to the
fire, and flung another log on the and
irons.
Cousin Shadrsch had been the family
Apple of discord ever siuce they could
remember. He was rich, he was eccen-
trio, he was Grabbed. He had shut the
door in the faces Of all his relations,
until, toward the last, sick and feel be,
he had signified his desire that Emily
Alden should come and take care of him.
And Emily had gone.
There had been spice of jealousy in
the family as regarded Emily, for long
time. Emily had been looked upon as
"proud" and "stuck up" because, in
stead of entering factory, or learning
the dressmaker's trade, she had elected
to be teacher. She had never visited
Job Torrance's family until now-now
that Cousin Shadrach had villed His
money to the Baptist Widows and Or
phans-her own mother was dead, and
her step father, a pompous old whole
sale grocer, objected to step-children, SO
that there seemed to be no other haven
of refuge left to her.
Who could blame Mrs. Torrance for
a momentsry feeling of triumph, when
Emily Alden came thus to her doorstone
in the twilight of that April day.
But she helped her off with her
things, made cup of tea for her, and
finally escorted her to little room IN
der the roof-tree, where the floor was
covered by homemade rag cBrpet, and
the bed decorated with a rainbow ''Job's
troubles quilt, and you could look out
of the window into greening meadow,
where whip poor-will planted its mel
ancholy refrain.
II hope you'll sleep WE'LL" said Mrs.
Torrance. we eat breakfast at five."
And then she went away.
Early as was the breakfast hour, EN-
lily was awake at least an hour before
it. As if the tumultuous glee of the
robins and blue birds in the old orchard
would permit any one to sleep. And
as she lay with her cheek against the
pillow, watching the rosy dawnlight
creep up the wall, she heard the sound
of voices in the meadow below her case
ment.
What liz she like mother ?" said |
Job, Junior, who was milking.
"Oh, she looks we'll enough" Mrs.
Torrance carelessly responded. "Little
and dark, with big shady eyes, and a
real Torrance mouth. Doesn't talk q
great deal, and is dressed shabby, as
one might expect"
"Poor thing" said Job, pityipgly.
"Well, said Mrs. Torrance, sharply, |
" | can't say but think she deserves
all she got. Them Aldens always were
as proud as Lucifer."
"Youn keep her mother, of course ?"
" I suppose so" said Mrs. Torrance
SCI don't suppose she's got anywhere
else to go"
There was no more delicious doing /
for Emily now. She rose hurriedly,
dressed herself and came down stairs.
"Aunt Dorcas," she said, as she en-
eountered that lady trying ham and
eggs over the kitchen fire, "what is
there in this neighborhood for woman
to do2" J
"Eh ?" said Mrs. Torrance in sur
prise.
"To earn my living, 1 mean," ex-
planned Emily. " Is the district school
supplied with teacher ?"
Mrs. Torrance nodded as she placed
the slices of frizzling ham on blue
edged plate. and arranged the eggs in
golden spheres above.
els there factory hereabouts?" pur-
'ued Emily.