The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-06-30
AHEAD OF TIME.
Sister Anna's Suicide.


"Now, I'm going to show you why
struck out for myself"
l had been driving mile OF two wit
my CHEEKY friend, DR.. Mary Stedmas
and until that moment was unaware @
any motive for the ride other than tn
usual one of pleasure to US both.
VI have q warm place in my heart TO
my native Vermont" she went on
sand knowing how l love il, 1 am SUR
you have often wondered why did no
remain here instead of seeking bom,
aud profession for myself among
strangers"
! had often speculated on this yer,
subject, but there was no time to con
less 1t, for at that moment nv com
Panion reined up suddenly, and with 6
eatsIayH prlsk "Here we are !" inmbeu ironr tho
"This," pointing to weather. beaten
but still comfortable looking house, sis
the homestead. Since the death of our
parents my eldest brother has lived
here. You needn't be at all disturbed, .
as naturally hesitated about intruding
among strangers, "for my sister.in.law "
expects u.s."
How cool! how neat! how ahady
and comfortable were my first ex.
clamatiOns as followed my leader into
the Old-fashioned parlor.
"Just so," she responded d,ily.
"And, my dear, you might search from
cellar to garret OF this great house, and
though you stood upon ladders and
peered with q microscope on your
hands and knees, you would never be
able 10 find n.y."
Mrs. Sledman looked as ber sister.in-
law had described her-"like very sad
and troubled ghost" She was pain.
fully thin and haggard, and at least q
dozen times during our short call l no.
ti;ed her mournful eyes fill with tears.
%Uh, YES" our nc nJstess r.,i.. a
"there is never any end to work"
"Been making butter to-day?"
ga little over forty pounds this morn
ing"
"Before breakfast, suppose?"
The DOCTORS tone was somewhat
crisp.
81 churned at four aud have just
worked my butter over. don't mind
so much when churning doesn't come
washing days; but, you see, cream has
got to be attended to whenever it is
ready"
"Been washing, too?" my friend en-
quired.
"Oh, yes! And II did seem as IL
had every garment In the tnb that there
was in the housew
$50 you've made forty pounds OF
BUTTER" said the doctor, "washed-snd
what else?"
"Not much else beside the regular
work. picked some beans for dinner
and made few pies; that's ALL"
At this point my friend, much TO my
surprise, turned the conversation into
other channels, and soon after VIC tooh
at seems to me you have neglected
an opportunity" remarked, as soon
as we h6d driven away.
81 supposed you'd think So" my
companion answ cred; "but you can
forim no conception of the amount OF
breath have wasted oil that very case.
am regarding it now solely from a
scientific standpoint. think can
calculate the length of that woman's
days within fraction of time"
81 should think your brother wouldn't
allow his wife - work So" l remarked
"What does he know about its" said
the doctor. "He comes into the house
for the three meals that are prepared
for him, and when night comes he goes
to bed and to sleep, or he drives ovel
to the village and spends his evening"
with his friends. My brother work
hard, but he works out Of doors, ant
that saves him. Sarah has an excellen
Reputation as wife and housekceper al
over the country. She has helped m,
brother 'lay up'-in Vermont vernac u
lar several thousand dollars. II doesn'
take prophet to see that anothe
wife will have the benefit of this one
toll, though 1t is probable, IL she come
from this section of the country, she'l
not have sense enough to be beneflte,
by anything!"
"If your sister-in-law would onl,
have o servant" Isuggested.
"a servantm said the doctor. SD
you think my brother and his wife ar
strong enough to bear the finger Q
scorn that would inevitably be pOinte
at them should they employ servant
II Is far better, my dear, to work one
self to death than to be called lazy an
shiftless and extravagant. II this wer
not the case, they would not think the
could afford servant. My brother
dominated, soul and body, by the spir
of economy, and his wife is q reflectio
of himself. Here we are again." IN
friend continued, coming to stop b,
fore the door OF q more modern an
more pretentious mansion. an
youngest sister lives here. II seem
singular, doesn't It, that have neve
introduced you to my relatives before
The truth Is, you and are only PEE
plexities TO these good people. w
turn them out of their beaten tracks e
a while, with no other result than to ad
TO their hard work and anxieties. TIE
years ago my sister Anna was as hes
thy q girl as there was Ia Vernon
aud the brightest and wittiest one ,
the family. l had some hopes that 81
would keep out of the treadmill. and,
! she did marry farmer aud settle dow
! ! here, that she would furnish an exsu
q pie of common sense TO her neighbori
: but she is just like the rest, only wors'
perhaps"
!, All this as the doctor hitched IN
: horse, and we walked up the Ion
grsveled walk.
I Sister Anna was sc0ldlng one Of hs
!. children when We entered the hous
and va m a.a An MOI. han hafo.a aha ho