The Worthington advance., 1882-10-05
LOVE ON A FARM.
Are YOU nv Aunt Dorcas?''

Are You my Aunt Dorcas?"
Mrs. Torrance had been entertaining
Il quilting ee that afternoon, and she
had just got the frame out Of the way.
the dishes washed. and the apartment
generally 'tidied" when there came a
meek tap at the door, and there in the
yellow April twilight stood small figure
in a gray travelling shawl, and holding 4
bag =. -
"Sakes alive" said Mrs. Torrance.
"who he your
II am Emily" said the girl. "Please
let nc in, for l am tired and cold. I've
walked all the way from the station. and
w" had nothing to eat since noon."
"Well never!' said Mrs. Torrance.
YOU'RE the city school ma'am amt you,
'S went out. to live with Cousin Shad-
ach? And he's dead, and the money
as all gone to the Baptist Widow and
Orphan fund. You didn't make much
by that move, did you? And you've
come to us now, thought we wasn't sty-
lish enough for you before. Well, come
in, come in"
And Mrs. Torrance who was essential
ly kind-hearted woman, albeit ehe
could not repress tho sneer that rose to
her lips, moved the low rocker to the
fire, and threw another log on the and
irons.
Cousin Shadrach had been the family
apple OF discord ever since they could
remember. He was rich, he was eccen-
trio, he was grabbed He had shut the
door in the faces of all his relations, un-
til toward the last, sick and feeble, he
had signified his desire that Emily Al
den should come and take care of him.
And Emily had gone.
There had been piece of jealousy in
the family as regarded Emily. for long
time. Emily had been looked upon as
proud" and "stuck up," because, in
stead Of entering factory, or learning
the dress makers trade, she had elected
to be teacher. She had never visited
that Cousin Shadrach had willed his
money to the Baptist widows and or
phans-her own mother was dead, and
her step-father a pompous old wholesale
grocer objected to step-children, 80 that
there seemed no other haven of refuge
left to her.
Who could blame Mrs. Torrance for u
Imom1entary feeling of triumph, when
Emily Alden came thus TO her doorstone
in the twilight ofthat April day.
But she helped her of with her
things, made a cup Of tea for her, and
finally escorted her to little room un-
der the rooftree, where the floor was
covered by home made rag carpet, and
the bed decorated with rainbow "Job's
troubles quilt, and you could look out
OF the window into u greening meadow,
where a wh;p-poor-wili chanted its mel
ancholy refrain.
II hope you'll sleep WE'LL" said Mrs.
Torrance" We cat breakfast at FIVE"
And then she went away.
Early as was the breakfast hour, Emf
~ was aYR ke ut least an hour before it.
As if the h,multuous glee of the robins
and blue in the old orchard would
lay with her cheek against tie pillow,
watching the rosy dawnliyht creep up
the wall, she heard the sound of voices
in the meadow below her easement.
"What is she like mother?" said Job,
Junior, who was milking.
"Oh, she looks we'll enough" Mrs.
Torrance carelessly responded. Little
and dark, with big shady eyes, and a
real Torrance mouth. Doesn't talk a
great deal, and is dressed shabby, as one
might expect"
Poor thing" said Job, pityingly.
'Well," said Mrs. Torrance, sharply,
II can't say but what l think she de-
serves all She 8 got. Them Aldens always
were as proud as Lncifer"
"You'll keep her, mother. of coursc?'
II suppose SO" said Mrs. Torrance.
~ don't suppose she's got anywhere
else to Co."
There was no more delicious doing for
Emily now. She'rose hurriedly, dressed
herself and came down stairs.
"Aunt D0rcas," she said, as she en-
countcred that lady frying ham and eggs
over the kitchen fire, "what is there in
this neighbOrhOOd for a woman to dor"
TO earn my living, l mean!' ex-
planned Emily. "Is the district school
supplied with teacher?'
Mrs. Torrance nodded as she placed
the slices of frizz.ng ham on q blue
edged plate, and arranged the eggs in
golden spheres above.
"1s there factory here abouts?' pur-
sued Emily.
used to be-" said Mrs. Torrance.
But they failed, and it's been shut up
for ten months"
''Do you know of any one who wants
girl?' pursued the city cousin.
Mrs. Torrance set the coffee pot on the
table, blew the horn for Job, and then
responded to her niece's query by a
counter-question.
.'Why don't you stay here?"
Because" said Emily, with spirit, II
want to earn my own living"
swell, you can earn it here, can't YOU?
| was calculating to hire girl this
spring. And il you'll work honestly for
it, I'll give you the six dollars q month
l was going to pay hired help"
Emily's pale face frightened.
"Should like that" said che. And
then Job came in, tall, handsome and
flushed, his curls vet wet from the
spring into which he had dipped them.
and sprig of trailing arbutus pinned in
ti''s young glrl whom he had never be.
fore seen.
80 Cousin shadrach seely is dead"
"Yes," said Emily.
"Did you like him?"
"No," confessed the girl. He was
cross and sur]y, and had no sympathy
with anybody: But tried to be kind
to him. And he kissed me once before
he died, and said l had been a good
GIRL"
"And then went and left his money to
the refuge far Baptist widows and or
phans" said Mrs. Torrance. ''That's
Cousin Shadrach all over.'
"He had right to do as he pleased
with his money" said q Emily, faint glow
rising to her cheeks.
"WelI, it's alt over and gone." said
Mrs. Torrance. ''Tbere's no use talking
about it now
And she sighed softly to think how
many of life's hard angles might have
been avoided in the future, if only
Cousin Shadrach had been less inter.
ested in the Babtist widows and or
phans.
At the end Of a month Mrs. Torrance
vas forced to acknowledge that Emily
mad we'll earned the six dollars q month
and board. The girl certainly had about
ller that wonderful magnetic power.
which philosophers dub Executive
ability :" and Now Enn1ouI ro,,.n