Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-07-11
A BITTER CUP.

Mr.. Martin had just come in to tea.
1t was one of those sultry summer
evenings when the leaves hang stirless-
ly on the trees, and the dull electric
fires blaze along the east, foreboders Of
storm.
1t had been very hot all day, the
farm-hands had Jagged at their work
on the lowland meadow, and all the
worlds wheels seemed to reyolve as if
they were weighted. Mr.. Martin was
very tired, and withal, little cross.
Perhaps Mrs. Martin was tired, too
She, poor soul, had been up since four
o'clock in the morning. She had wash
ed, taken care of four cows milk, pre-
pared three meals for the hungry
farm hands, been up in the quarry
woods to search for family of ad'
venturous young turkey-chicks, sooth-
ed the sOrrows Of a teething baby, and
mended up the suit of clothes which
Betsey Blim, the tail0ress had dcclar-
ed mot worth a needleful O thrcadr
because Thomas her husband, had
said that "willful waste was wof1l
want" and that there was a deal of
wear in the suit yet, if only there was
stitch taken here and there.
| But her cheek was pink and her eyes
sparkling when Thomas came in, for
all the heaviness in her heart and the
duh pain in her back, for little Esther
had come home from boarding-school.
Esther, the Youngest sister of all, the
darling of the family circle from which
Mrs. Martin came--the pet for whom
they all had scraped and pincled 50
that she, at least, might have a"Boston
education"
And Esther sat in the windOw-seat,
grown into blooming young woman,
with bronze-brown hair lying in fluffy
masses over her fair forehead, porcelain
blue eyes, and dress all trimmed with
ribbon bows,
"Look, Thomas" cried Mrs Martin,
eXcitedly: cts Essiel Essie come
home two days before we expected herr.
eyes, see" said Mr.. Martin, in the
cold, measured tones which always
dampened his wife's enthusiasm like
SO many drops of freezing water.
"IIow do you do, Esther? Ruth, what
are you putting cold chicken on the
table for? Corned-beef is plenty, am
sure. You had great deal better
save the chicken for the mems break
fast. Working folks have hearty
appetites."
esther is fond of cold chicken"
whispered Mrs. Martin. "And-"
"No one need want anything better
than good corned-beef,' judiciously
pronounced Mr. Martin, "Put the
chicken back into the pantry, and the
apple jelly withit. Good stewcd goose
berries are relish enough for anybody.
We must economize in little things as
well as large ones, if we don't want to
end our days in the poorhouse."
And Mrs. Martin sorrowfully obey
ed, while Esther watched her brother
in-law with large, grave eyes, betoken-
ing inward surprise.
AT the end Of week, Mr. Martin
addressed his sister-in-law with serious
purpose.
"Well, Esther" said he, you've
heen here week now"
"YPs," said Essie, I've been here a
week."
"A week is good long visit" re
marked Mr.. Martin.
"It's long enough for soUc things
said Essie.
"NIrs. Martin thinks she would like
to have you stay" went on Mr, Martin,
after apuzzlcd glance at the blue, shin
ing eyes, "And although, of course,
every one adds to the expense in a
family like this, I've ne objections to
giving You home, provided you are
willing TO earn it by hard work.
And"
stop" cried Essic, jumping up,
81 haven't asked you for home yet.
And don't mean to. And YOU are
only making me the offer because
Doctor Dorian says Ruth will break
down unless she has strong maid-
servant 10 help Der with the house
work. Blu. there is no money that
would hire inc to make myself such a
drudge us poor Ruth is
"lIoity-toity!' said Mr.. Martin.
"Goung woman, you don't consider
who you are talking to-"
YES do" said l,ssic, with cmphali3.
"1o a B.uejeard to Il stock. u stone, a
man who is grinding MS Mifo's life out