The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-08-03

often results from a little bodily exercise
made life considerably more enjoyable
to the Brown family on those particular
days than was generally the case. 1t
has been said that every house has a
skeleton in its closet, but happy that
house whose skeleton occupies its W
closet and stays where it is put. In
Farmer Browns dwelling it ate and
drank, weighed one hundred and sixty
pounds, and made the day troublesome
and the night weary.
The Young and strong can and will be
happy, but for those long burdened by
the cares and duties of life such skele-
tons are hard to have in the house.
George Sterling thought it was no
mans duty, or woman's either, to en-
dure such petty vet enormous trials as
Dolly and her kind father daily submit
ted to. and he and Queen Bess had many
an emphatic conversation on the subject.
The Queen George found a very interest
ing companion, for she listened well and
let him do all the talking. He could
talk better to her than to most of the
people about him. George had ideas
enough, but, like Richard Hathaway"
lC ~ " always CApICSo III liz
was the direct opposite of Aunt Sally;
he was more famous for doing than for
talking, yet no one who ever heard her
could doubt that out of the fullness of
her heart Aunt Sally spoke. George
Sterling's faithful heart was, so to speak,
gone. Dolly, with her sweet ways, had
carried it away, quite beyond recovery,
At first he was appalled, and troubled;
later, he grew quiet, resolving to do his
best, and doing it, and so gathering
strength to peal his fortune, whatever it
should be. He considered Dolly some
what above him, especially in mental
cultivation; and, besides, he was young
and had as yet very little in the world
except excellent, industrious habits and
a kind heart-a handsome fortune,
though, let me tell you, my dear young
lady reader.
The milk-room in the Brown house
was a pleasant place. I'm sure the
daintiest city lady would have thought
it nice. 1t was large, clean and cool,
and happy the person whom Dolly gave
a dish of Strawberries and allowed tc
help himself to some of the sweet, rich
cream. Every evening she looked her
self to the straining of the milk, to be
sure that no particles of dirt were left ir
it; but she soon found she could trust
George Sterling.
"Do you wish more light, George?'
she asked, one evening, as she left hel
chair on the south piazza and stepped tt
the milk-room door. Eyes. if yor
please answered George. Dolly soor
appeared with a candle, saying: "Here
is Just what you wish for, then," anC
she smiled brightly as she dipped out
some of the warm milk for mixing hel
mornings bread. THAT is true" sale
George; but his eyes rested on Dolly
instead of the candle she had brough
him.
In the early mornings they churned
and worked over the butter together
1t was hard work, but with now ant
then an exquisite little passage of poetry
in it, too. When George stopped for {
moment to rest and take breath, Dolly
would offer, with sweet feeling in he,
tones, to churn for a little while, and h,
would let her try for a turn or two of thu
crank.
at takes hard turning to get the rich
ness out of things, doesn't itP'' sale
Dolly, one morning when the butter
came with a little more difficulty thai
usual. 81 used to think so last winter
returned George. ssWinter cream i
hard to manage, and then you were no
here to help me-" and he looked up a
Dolly with an expression of suchintens
appreciation of the state of things whel
she Was there to help him that, thong
she hardly knew it, an added tint glove
!. in her bright young checks.
| EYES," he went on. 81 used to thin
, some mornings hat life to an earnes
! man was a good deal like churning win
| ter cream. But then 1, for one, sha
keep turning the crank.
. He spoke quietly and with a smile, bu
Dolly felt, with an instant thrill of pleas
ure, that strength and excellence wer
near and ready to serve her.
The summer passed. The floor of tn
butter-cellar was nearly covered wit
well-filled tubs. A little before the tim
, for selling Farmer Brown had bee
+ called to a distant western State, on ac
count of the sickness of his only an
r widowed sister. He was detained sew
eral weeks, and finally wrote to Georg
, that they must do the best they coul
, with the butter and no longer rely upo
him to attend to it. On the evening afte
they had received the letter two neigh
, bors called and reported that they ha
sold for thirty cents Il pound. The even
ing papers had reported only twenty
seven cents as the latest price, and the
advised the Browns not to sell for a fe,
, days, etc.
: During the evening, as the two me
, were talking, there were occasional il
liaofiDoS that n e+D,,o, ,roc about ~ hr.on
( over the luckless members of the Brow
e family. There were low mutterings
thunder, a few short, sharp flashes {
!, lightning, and now and then a barbe
+ arrow flew through the air.
A great hero rises to the occasion an
t Aunt Sally rose. The family were lie
e alone about nine o'clock. Dolly went
r the kitchen to make some preparation
for the morning breakfast. Aunt Sail
followed, with heavy, threatening steE
t "Have you noticed how lovely tt
moonlight is, Aunt Sally" asked Doll,
Y Moonlight! What do you s'pose
care bout moonlight when the butte
Y amt sold? IN 1 know jest how 'tw'
be. IT won't be sold t all; twill sta
in the suILer all winter, m we shan't g
1 fifteen cents a pound for it. 1 shoul
thought you and George'd known enoug
to tended to it fore this time. Nevt
see such a tarnal easy set as this famil
q all be-"
1 "Why, Aunt Sally" answered Doll,
t sit hasn't been a week since the Smith
u sold. Buyers generally come along abol
this time. Father most always sells
some of them, youknow. Idon't thin
we need worry about it."
"No, you won't worry, Fn warran
1 No danger of anybody's worryin' in tn
house, but me. L don't s'pose, if tt
it house was burnin' down, one of ye'
1t stir, unless ye was pulled out by ma
Y strength. Talk about your fatherl WI
: ever knew him to do anything? Std
stayin' to home m mindin' his oN
1 business, he must go galavantin' off
II Kansas, to see his sister, cause 81
a happened to be sick. Whatif she hain
.. no husband? Folks have to die. l s'pos
What'd she ever do for him, I'd like
is know. IF she was with a million
money, L don't s'pose she'd give i'm
re cent"
d "Well, 1 guess tomorrow mornil