Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-01-31

days than was generally the case. IL
has been said that every house has n
skeleton in its closet, bit happy that
house whose skeleton occupies its own
closet and stays where it Is put. 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 will 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 yet 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 doing than for
talking, yet 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
civilizations 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 the sweet, rich
cream. Every evening she looked 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.
"Do you wish more light, GeorgeP"
she asked, one evening, as she left her
chair on the south piazza and stepped to
the milk-room door. Eyes, if you
please" answered George. Dolly soon
appeared with a candle, saying: Here
is just what you wish for, them" and
she smiled brightly as she dipped out
some of the warm milk for mixing her
mornings bread. That is true,n said
George; but his eyes rested on Dolly,
instead of the candle she had brought
him.
In the early mornings they churncd
and worked over the butter together.
II was hard work, but with now and
then an exquisite little passage of poetry
in it, too When George stopped for =
moment to rest and take breath, Dolly
would offer, with sweet feeling in her
tones, to churn for little while, and he
would let her try for turn or two of the
crank.
1T takes hard turning to get the rich
ness out of things, doesn't itP' said
Dolly, one morning when the butter
came with q little more difficulty than
usual. Il used to think so last winter"
returned George. winter cream is
hard to manage, and then you were not
here to help me" and he looked up at
Dolly with an expression of such intense
appreciation of the state of things when
she Uas there to help him that, though
she hardly knew it, an added tint glowed
in her bright young cheeks.
Eyes" he went on. Il used to think
some mornings that life to IN earnest
man was good deal like churning Win
ter cream. But then |, for one, shall
keep turning the crank.
He spoke quietly and with smile, but
Dolly felt, with an instant thrill of pleas
urc, that strength and excellence were
near and ready to serve her.
The summer passed. The floor of the
butter-cellar was nearly covered with
well-lilled 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 and
widowed sister. He was detained sew
eral weeks, and finally wrote TO George
that they must do the best they could
with the butter and no longer rely upon
him to attend to it. On the evening after
they had received the letter two neigh
bors called and reported that they had
sold for thirty cents a pound. The even
ing papers had reported only twenty
seven cents as the latest price, and they
advised the Browns not to sell for few
days, etc.
During the evening, rs the two men
were talking, there were occasional in
dications that storm was about TO break
over the luckless members of the Brown
family. There were low muttcrings of
thunder, few short, sharp flashes of
lightning, and now and then barbcd
arrow flew through the air.
A great hero rises TO the occasion and
Aunt Sally rose. The family were left
alone about nine clock. Dolly went TO
the kitchen to make some preparations
for the morning breakfast. Aunt Sally
followed, with heavy, threatening step
Have you noticed how lovely the
moonlight is, Aunt Sally" asked Dolly.
Moonlight! What do you s'pose /
care bout moonlight when the butter
amt sold? M know Jest how twill
be. IT won't be sold t all; twill stay
Ill tllc SUtttI ull WluttT, III we Sldll L plI
fifteen cents q pound for it. | should
thought you and George d known enough
to tended to it fore this time. Never
see such tarnal easy set as this family
all be-"
"Why, Aunt Sally" answered Dolly,
lit hasn't been week since the Smiths
sold. Buyers generally come along about
this time. Father most always sells TO
some of them, you know. / don't think
we need worry about it,"
mo, you won't worry, I'll warrant.
No danger of anybody worryin' in this
house, but me. don't s'posc, if the
house was burnin' down, one of ye'd
stir, unless We was pulled out by main
strength. Talk about your father! Who
ever knew him to do anythingP Std o.
stayin' to home m mindin' his own
business, he must go galavantn' of to
Kansas, TO see his sister, cause she
happened TO be sick. Whatif she haint