The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-07-22
THINGS BEING EQUAL.

FThings are not equal in this world, !"
sighed Hester Thorn, sitting down at
the end window of the farm house, and
letting an open letter fall from her hand
on the floor.
"What is it now, dear?" asked her
sister Ruth, who was lying on the chintz
lounge that was drawn up under the two
front vine shaded windows. ''Any new
trouble?'
Eyes. Oh. dear it is nothing but
trouble, Ruth. am tired, tired, tired
of it all have lost the school. The
committee prefer teacher from the city.
And how are we to get through the year
now? have just been reading about
the grand doings among the court peo-
pie in England, and among our own
aristocracy in this county-balls, parties,
operas, and all the rest of it'll my
heart is gray as our old Irish nurse
used to say 0 Ruth what have they
done to deserve SO much sunshine in
their lives? and what have we done to
merit all this trouble and misery In
ours?"
Hester dropped her brown head on
her folded arms, and fairly cried aloud.
''It does seem hard" said Ruth, when
she grew more composed; "but God
| knows best what is best for us, dear
And am afraid / have been little sell
fish lately, while you have been toiling
and thinking so hard. It has seemed SO
sweet to me to be free from pain, after
| that long fever, that I have thought OF
| little else. To see the sun and the green
| leaves, and to hear the autumn whistle
of the birds, has been such blessing,
that have scarcely known how to be
grateful enough for it,
"And I'm grateful. too, Ruth, that
you are getting well again, cried Hester
'and know that every one ought to be
/ thankful, if they can eat, drink, and
sleep we'll, and be free from sickness and
| pain. But, Oh Ruth, all the same there
is the doctors bill to pay, and all the
bills of the year The farm we canno
work ourselves, and I'm sure tina
CONCEAL takes advantage of my Ignorance
in the way he manages it and the lanG
does not furnish half we need, though
while our poor father lived, it supported
us all; and now that have lost this las
chance the high SCHOOL, really ant
truly, Ruthie, don't know what is to b.
done I"
'tThe debt must be paid. and paid a
once" said Ruth decidedly. II see bu
one way, Hester"
"What is that %
Mortgage the farm"
Hester was silent.
.'And for the sake of his old likin
for our father, think Steadman Rich
ings would lend you what you need,
continued Ruth, watching her covertly
Hester started. A crimson blus
! dyed her face and throat, but still sh
did not speak.
Hester, come here and tell me. Ho
, was it between You and Mr.. Richlngs
asked her sister gently.
The tears rose again in Hester's brigl
dark eyes. She looked out drearil
across the reaped fields, toward the hig
: hills where the Rlchings homestead don
+ mated the town.
!, CT don't know, Ruth" she sait
: HE used to come very often to 81
9 me-"
r 81 know"
q ''And I thought he loved me. I hs
/ reason to think so, Ruth. looked TO
y ward, confidently, to being his wife, a
!. | though he had not said the decisi,
j. words. He was here one evening-tl
o evening that cousin John Thorn can
= from the city-and he never can
= again.
o "But did he not write to you?" asks
Ruth.