The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-03-24

cent, calico dress then, and did all her
| own work. After that they bought a
little farm some thirty miles from the
city, and there they lived some ten years.
l used to think that those must have
been Helen's dark days-cooped up in a
dismal country cottage, working like a
slave from morning till night. | often
thought of it when | saw her rolling in
her blue satin-lined landeau, too listlesS
almost to hold up her dainty parasol.
But this sudden trip to Italy. 1t was
''apropos of nothing" Helen said, for
Birdie could not endure the sea, and no
| foreign country ever agreed with her.
A day or two before they sailed | re-
marked to Jack that it would forever
remain mystery to me why people who
had delightful homes like Torricelli
could ever leave them, uni ess absolutely
obliged to do so, and especially that
they could leave them to roam over the
world without any specific object, sleep
ing in the dingy crypts of steamers. and
paying double for food that must
make them sigh for their French cook at
home.
Jack looked at me. think he was 90
ing to say something serious, but instead
he declared that was envious of their
prospect of enjoyment, and then pressed
me to join them. Helen and Birdie also
urged me. told her | would not re-
linquish the fun of running Torriceli a
couple of months for anything, and that
| would wager her ladyship's idle serv-
ants would not have quite so much
leisure when once | was in charge.
The family left at noon. The next
morning sent for Hobson, the butler.
/ told him that during my management
would have all tradesmens bills sent
directly to me when goods were de-
livered. There would be no dinners
Hudson looked aghast-no dinners,
repeated, only little lunch at one
o'clock for me and any friend who might
call. Then | went over the larder with
him, and took note of what supplies
there were, locked the Wine-cellar, and
kept the key. BY that time ! no doubt
had the reputation, from butler to soul
lion, of being an lawful screw" II
always seemed as if neither Jack nor
Helen cared how much was ordered, nor
how enormous the bills were. | could
not endure such lack of system, and
told Helen so. 80, WE'LL" she re-
piled, ''you don't suppose l could
hint to that butler, for example,
that he is not going all right? know
we pay for wine enough for large
family. We use very little at our din
ners, you know. But what can be done?
Jack won't interfere with Hobson's man
agement, and as for me I'm quite afraid
of the creature. You can overhaul his
works if you dare. Better let him alone,
though. Take everything easy, and en-
joy this Eden, as you call it, as best you
may" And then she told me to use
her room and her writing desk, and if
the house should get on fire, to save a
big ledger in the under-closet of it. ut
is an old journal, cousin. You might
like to look at it, but it would probably
bore you. Perhaps it wouldn't, though.
You are little sentimental l thought
the speech rather strange, and often
thought of it afterward.
Days passed before | had leisure to
m5j in the es flo4Af Rs oarnal As Was
written in a cumbrous old ledger cover
ing several years of Helen's early life,
but not one word after her installation
as mistress Of Torricelli. For three days
l spent every spare moment upon that
journal. | think nothing ever so aston
ished me. 1t was a revelation.
EXTRACTS FROM HELEN's JOURNAL.
" PHILADELPHIA, March -, 1S6-.-Jack has
decided that we are to leave the city. How, or
exactly when, we don't know. We have such
hard struggle TO live. We never know from
IN ~, vk,nN
be from Jacks writings. | live in daily appre-
hensOn of the time when we shall have to use
the little sum so carefully boarded for Brides
education. Birdie is having great trouble
with her teething and Jack looks at times
almost haggard. We must get out of these
little stuny rooms before another heated term
o, for the sight of Gods green earth, and for
one long breath of balmy air! Jack says:
Yes, we must go, dear, but it is a leap in the
dark. don't feel So believe in the cOun-
try. God seems nearer there. | lived in the
country till | was twelve years old. | know
how to take care of chickens, make butter and
Fcultivate flowers. He smiles ineredulously
when | tell him this, and signing, kisses me and
Birdie. ], too, have had miSgiVings but not
now, for the doctor hints that Birdie is in dan
ger, and Jack, he says. needs q change. When
think of my treasures in danger feel as if [
had the strength of an army.
" PLAINvtLLE, New jersey, March 10
Birdie seemed worse. and Jack made me bring
her down here to stay with the Hodges till he
packs up our things. 1t is too bad that the
dear boy has to do all the work alone. | hope
he won't forget to bring pussy. We are to stay
| here while we look around for Il cottage and
an acre of ground The land here is too high,
| and feel sure there is malaria, though the
residents of the place all deny it. | feel ii in
the damp air. and smell it in this nasty ,stickey
| clayey soil. Coming down to the ferry bought
| bagful of seeds. o, how / long to begin
| farming! I'm not bit blue over the prospect
| though we must take BRIDES money to buy
| our cottage and land. Jack is a little dubious
| about this leap in the dark, though he won't
! admit. know, though, by the way he plays
| his violin. | never limited this to him, and so
his precious old friend is my secret ally
JERSEY PINE BARRENS, April ). 18G--Here
| we are actually settled in our new home almost
| a month. Birdie has learned to walk and is
| already much better. Jack and | can not ex-
| press our joy over the change, nor sufficiently
| censure our folly in living so long cooped up
| in the city. We are half mile from little
| settlement that is sure to grow rapidly, as it
has railroad just opened. A nice cottage of
| seven rooms, a chicken yard and house, and a
big wood-shed over the back door. There is
| no well, though, and Jack has to bring all the
| water in keg placed on a wheelbarrow from
| lake almost quarter of a mile away, for
| that is only little further than our nearest
| neighbours, and Jack prefers to get it there.
| We must have well by-and-by. We put all
| our savings, except few dollars, into this
place. The poor man who built il could not
| pay his mortgage, and was on the point of los
ing it for $500. As 1t is, he got $500 to go West
with, for we gave $3.50 The place. if any
| where else, could sell for 81 900 easily. There
is ever so much land all around, with little
pines and oaks and the huckleberry bushes are
| just a tangle. How ! long for them to get
ripel
q There is a big garden spot cleared. The
| varanda on the north side. o, il is delightful to
sit on our little Veranda and listen IN the mock.