The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-08-04


days than was generally the case. 1t
has been said that every house has o
skeleton in its closet, but happy that
house whose skeleton occupies its own
closet and STAYS where it is mt. 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 viii 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 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.
he could not always express them. He
was the direct opposite of Aunt Sally;
he was more famous for dOipq than for
talking, vet 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 bear 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
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
dish of Strawberries and allowed to
help himself to some of he sweet, rich
cream. Every evening she boxed her
self to the straining of the milk, to be
sure that no particles of dirt were left in
it; but she soon found She could trust
George Sterling.
.s'Do you wish more light, George"
she asked, one evening, as she left her
chair on the south piazza and stepped to
the milk-room door. Yes, II YOU
please answered George. Dolly soon
appeared with candle, saying: Here
is Just what YOU wish for. then, and
she smiled brightly as she dipped out
some of the warm milk formiNing her
mornings bread. THAT istrue, said
4 George; but his eyes restel on Dolly,
instead of the candle she had brought
him.
In the early mornings thy churned
and worked over the butte together.
1t was hard work. but wit now and
then an exquisite little passae of poetry
Il in it. too. When George stopped for n
moment to rest and take brath. Dolly
would offer, with sweet fleeing in her
tones. to ehurn for little vile, and he
would let her try for turn o two OF the
crank.
1T takes hard turning to et the rich
ness out of things, doesn' it?'' said
Dolly, one morning when the butter
/ came with little more difficulty than
usual. Il used to think so lstwinter,
returned George. Winter cream is
hard to manage. and then yl were not
here to help me, and he Looked up at
Dolly with an expression of sch intense
appreciation of the state of things when
she lcas there to help him that, though
she hardly knew it, an added int gIowed
in her bright Young cheeks
'Yes, he went on. Il usd to think
some mornings that life to IN earnest
man was a good deal Ike chuning win
ter cream. But then L, for one, shll
keep turning the crank.
He spoke quietly and with smile, bni
Dolly felt, with an instant thrill of pleas
tire, that strength and excellence were
near and ready to serve her.
IS The summer passed. The floor OF the
/ Eutter-eeliar was nearly covered witt
well-flIed tubs. "A little before the time
for selling Farmer Brown had been
| called to distant western State, on ac
! count of the sickness of his only ant
widowed; sister,. He was detained sew
eral weeks, and finally wrote TO Georg'
that they must do the best they coul6
with the butter and longer rely upoI
him to attend to it. On the evening afte
they had received the letter two neigh
bors Called and reported that they has
sold for thirty cents a pound. The even
ing papers had reported only twenty
seven cents as the latest price, and the.
l.advised the Browns not TO sell for afev
days, etc.
Is During the evening, rs the two mel
were talking, there were Occasional in
| dications that storm was about to breal
over the luckless members of the Brown
family. There were low mutterings Q
thunder, few Short, sharp flashes o
lightning, and now and then barbe,
7 arrow flew through the air.
! q A great hero rises to the. occasion an,
Aunt Sally rose. The family were lef
alone about nine o clock. Dolly went I,
the kitchen to make some preparation
flor the morning 5 breakfast AuntSall,
| followed, with heavy, threatening step
4 " Have you noticed show lovely tn
/ moonightis, Aunt Sally, asked Dolly
Moonlight What do you s'pose
care bout moonlight when the butte
amt sold? M know Jest how 'tw'l
be-. T won't be sold t all; twill stay
in the saiIter oil winter, NJ we shant 81
fifteen cents pound for it. | should
thought you and George known enough
Ito ,tended to it fore this time.aNeFe
i See. such a tarIlal easy set IS tins faniil.
\ all be. "@
4 y.hy, Aunt sally, answered Dolly
lis'it hasn't been a week since the Smith
sold. Buyers generally come along abou
this time. Father most always sells t,
some OF them, you know Idon't thinl
4 we need worry about it.
'sNo. you won't worry. I'll warrant
No danger of anybody's woryin' in thi
house, but me. l don't spose, if tn
house was burnin' down, one of sye'
stir, unless We was pulled out by mai
strength. Talk about yourfatheri VIII
ever knew him to do anything? Std G
stayin' to home N mindin' his ow
business, he must go galaYantin' off t
Kansas, to see. his sister, cause sh
happened TO be sick Whatif she hahn
no husband2 Folks have to die. [ s'pose
| What d She ever do for him, I'd like t
know - 4 She was with a million O
money, don't s'pose she'd give i'm
cent?
| "Well. guess tomorrow mornin,
George Il know what to do, and we''
better go.to bed now, Aunt Sally. Tn
very tired
GEORGE What'll he know about it