The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-05-10

Lima had never felt so utterly misera-
bic in her life as then, while she logged
along the lonely, darkening. muddy
road, replying in monosyllab1es to her
companions chat.
She saw that he was trying to enter
tain her and though she considered him
simply horrible, at length tried to be
correspondingly civil.
''Is Aunt Dora well?''
''Eh?" sharply.
''Is my aunt Dora as well as usu-
alPn
''Never heard her called that before.
However, 1 s'pose she is. Law! she
don't have no time to be sick. You'll
soon find that out" meaningly.
AT length they drew up before low,
unpainted, rambling farmhouse, with
shutterless windows, bleakly unshelter-
ed under the cheerless sky.
Lima began to fear she should CRY and
cleared her throat briskly. The young
mans threw open the door.
''Wa1k in. You'll find her."
Lima passed directly into rude, I'M
painted kitchen as big as barn, lighted
only by n single small lamp. A great
dog growled inhospitably at her from
some dark corner, and if poor Lima had
known of any refuge, she would have
turned and fled from the accumulation
of horrors.
As she stood silent in the gloom,
door unclosed, and a tall scantily-dress-
ed woman came into the room and hay
ing both hands full, deity kicked the
door together behind her.
'tEh!' she said, sharply, advancing
to a small rickety table, and setting
down a milk pan and plate of brown
bread; $50 you've come have YEP"
'HOw do you do, auntie?" asked Lima
forcing herself to approach the very I'M
savory-looking lady and kiss her smoke
dried cheek.
I'm well," answered Aunt Dora,
placing her arms akimbo, and sharply
surveying her little niece.
A feeling of faintness came over Lima.
She sat down, unlimited, and the very
ugly dog came up and smelled at her
dress.
I'D as liefyou'd be ruggeder-looking,
remarked Aunt Dora, drily, as she turn
ed away.
Poor Lima! She had a very hard strug-
gle with herself not to break into pas
sionate sobs; but at length she conquer
ed, and clearing her throat again, at
tempted conversation.
"Did you expect me to-day, auntie?''
expect ye? Of course didr' sent
for ye.''
II know. Papa hoped to make the
journey with me, but he couldn't. But
did very well alone.
''Well, draw up to the table, eat your
supper, an get to bed. Inwant you to
help me tomorrow.
Quite quenched as to sociability, Lima
took off her things, handing her pretty
hat to her aunt, who surveyed the os-
trich plume with curiosity and an audi
bic sniff. and took a seat at the rickety
table, whereon was the sickly lamp, the
milk-pan, brown bread and some coarse
bowls and pewter spoons.
''Take hold"
And seeing that Lima hesitated, Aunt
Dora filled bowl with milk, broke q
slice of brown bread into it, and pushed
it towards the girl.
The lady's hands were very dirty; the
bread was very sticky and peculiar in
flavor, and Lima could only pretend to
force down few mouthfuls. She was
dizzy and faint, and would have given
much for a cup of her mothers delicious
chocolate.
Seeing that she did not eat, her COM
panion suddenly presented her with a
cup of very black-looking tea.
i s'pose yer tired,'' she said not un-
kindly.
Yes, aunt, I am very tired. I'll go
to bed at once, if you please
Mrs. Dora rose, with an energetic
alacrity peculiar to her, and seizing the
lamp, led the way up Il cold, dark stair
way to q bedroom, with damp, bare,
white walls, and a great feather-bed,
| piled with homemade quilts.
She sat down, with no apparent idea
of giving offence, watched Lima undress,
openly examined her skirts and stock
ings, and when the girl had shiveringly
| crept into bed between the sheets of ice,
took the light away.
IN call you in the morning." she
said
If the evening had been unpleasant,
the night was torture. 1t seemed tc
Lima that she should perish with cold
and dread of her forbidding surround
ings.
But not one moment all night did she
forget her sufferingS. just before dawI
y
when rude hand grasped her shoul
der.
Goodness me! This is pretty be
| ginning! Going to sleep all day? It's
past five o'clocki I've called ye already
twice"
Such a terrible day as that was! Mrs
Dora instructed her, in as few words a
possible, in washing stack of milk
cans and pans, and the soft soap an'
scalding water were anguish to he
hands.
Then she was set to pairing apples TO
pies, and an indelible stain of apple
Juice was set in the poor little fingers
which she regarded so ruefully tha
Mrs. Dora took notice.
ooh, We can't keep yer hands whit
here! 1 didn't get ye for that
Poor Lima! She stumbled about in he
aunt's long calico dress, irOned, swept
secured knives and forks, brewed yeast
and churned. She could not eat tn
breakfast of salt fish and potatoes or tn
dinner of fried bacon and eggs, the lat
ter being cooked to the consistency G
sole leather; and trembling with fatigu
she was at length caught with two grea
tears rolling down her cheeks.
!, For PHYS sake!' exclaimed Mrs
Dora '.Don't know nothin', an don
eat nothin', an now cryin'.
Lima sank into a chair in a tempest {
! tears.
'sOh, I can't help it! I'm so tired-an
$3.50 sick!'
Voices outside the door-a knock
There was Mrs. Dora's nephew, q tai
stout girl, very bashful, carriage col
tanning q sweet-faced, elderly lady an
: pleasant young gentleman.
t sHHow do you do, Mrs. Smith?'' sal
< the former. "There has been mi
l take. l expected my niece last nigh
My nephew was little late for the trai
and did not find her. This morning
express brings this-your niece.
0 mine with you?" Mrs. Smith nodded
4 Well, never!' she said, turning
: Lima.
e 80 that's your aunt-Mrs. Dol
Smith, of Oaklands-rich folks! L.
: Dorothy Smith. l thought it queer n
n sister should send on such Il peake
thing as you are!'
e Lima waited to hear no more. 81
d tore off Mrs. Dorothy's calico, hurrit