Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-07-27
AUNT DEBORAH'S DRUDGE,

I had workel in Aunt Deborah's
kitchen till nobody exp ected anything
else of me. I had been retained in the
house on sufferance at first, because
Aunt Deborah's brother, my father, had
run through all his property and was
only distinguished for his shiftlessness
and the size of his family. suppose ]
was never missed from that superabund-
ant home circle; anyway, they never
came to see me nor never inquired
after me, that know of.
Aunt Deborah had a great deal OF
company, being a rich and childless
widow, and fond of society. But no
one ever noticed me. L was not even
snubbed, for it was not worth while to
snub mere drudge like me.
My cousin, Elsie A llston, was also a
member of my aunt's family, but she
received very different treatment from
that which fell to my lot. Her father
was auntie's favorite brother; therefore
she was educated and was understood
to be certain of home and life's com.
forts always and of q fortune at Aunt
Deborahs death.
Yet 1 did not envy my fortunate
cousin, for while was let alone, and at
least took pride in the consciousness
that I earned my own living, Elsie was
continually being tainted with her de-
pendence, and was kept in abject SER
Witty by constant threats of disinherit-
ance.
Elsie would have been kind to me if
l had allowed it, but had q sort of
pride which forbade me to receive pat
ronage from any one. l must be re-
eeiYed on an equal footing or not at all.
The only pleasure of my life was un-
Limited liberty to use the books in my
Aunt's great and ever. increasing library
Ny rough work untitled my hands for
sewing, fact for which I was suffi-
GENTLY thankful, as it increased my
leisure hours.
For the first two or three years OF my
stay read novels exclusively. But
ono of the novels hoppened to have q
noble and aspiring woman for its hero.
inc. Somehow, the story of that life
haunted me day and night and I re-
solved to be something worthy of love
and respect, whether ever received my
reward or not.
My first step was to map out line OF
thought and conduct, and q course of
reading. My intellectual nature was
to be nodded By some of the best books
IN my aunt's library, and that ideal
woman of whom had read was to be
my moral lever, lifting me into an
atmosphere OF self-forgetting holiness
and love. believed that if Aunt De-
borah's drudge never had an opportu.
nifty of showing her devotion to the
human race, her own soul would grow
rich by the quiet effort.
It had been years since I formed this
zesolut on when Mr.. Gleason, forming
one of party of visitors, came to my
Eunt's house. But having company to
cook for in the summer had come to be
settled thing, and all company meant
TO me was more drudgery and less time
TO read.
There was no prophetic voice to whis
per to my heart on the morning of Mr.
Gleason's arrival that my fate, my hopt
and my despair. my blessicg and my
misery, had come to me. he was only
one more guest, to be cooked for and tt
be waited upon by the drudge.
One day Elsie came to me with he
sweet, weak face tearfol and pleading
"You must help me, Hannah" sale
she.
"Help you do what, child?"
"To keep Aunt Deborah's goodwill
and marry Mr.. Gleason. You see Mr.
Gleason is very poor, and if aunt threat
ems to disinherit me it may lessen m!
chances of getting him"
think my astonishment and DISCUS
showed themselves in my face as an
swered:
Shave you so little confidence il
your promised husband2 So little faith
and yet willing to be his wife2"
She made an impatient gesture.
"You don't under stand" she said
slowly and unblushinyly. "He ha
not yet asked me to be his wife, but b
will. am sure he will He does nc
love me very much, but when We ar
married and he sees my devotion
will be different"
Then she put her face in my apro
and sobbed bitterly, and knew by h'
tears that she had many misgivings.