Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-07-20
A BITTER CUP.

Mr.. Martin had Just come III 10 uea
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 reyolye as if
they were weighted. Mr.. Martin was
very tired, and, withal, a 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 teething baby, and
mended up the suit of clothes which
Betsey Blim, the tailoress, had declar-
ed mot worth a needleful o threadp
because Thomas, her husband, had
said that "willful " aste was wofll
want" and that there was deal of
wear in the suit yet, if only there was
a 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 pinched so
that she, at least, might have Boston
education"
And Esther sat in the window-seat,
grown into a 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, Thomasr" cried Mrs, Martin,
eXcitedly: ''it's Essie! Essie come
hometwo days before we expected her"
Yes, l see," said Mr.. Martin, in the
cold, measured tones which always
dampened his wife's enthusiasm like
so many drops of freezing water
"How do you do, Esther? Ruth, what
are you putting cold chicken on the
table for? Corned-beef is plenty, am
sure. You had a 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 with it. Good steWed goose
berries are relish enough for anybody
We must economic 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 a week, Mr.. Martin
addressed his sister-in-law with serious
purpose.
"Well, Esther" said he, you've
heen here a week now"
"Yes," said Essie, "Tte been here
week"
"a week is a good long visit, re
marked Mr. Martin.
Its long enough for some things
said Essie
Mrs. Martin thinks she would like
to have you stay" went on Mr. Martin
after puzzled glance at the blue shlh-
ing eyes. "And although, OF course
every one adds to the expense IN
family like this, I've no objections to
giving you home, provided you are
willing to earn it by hard WORK
And"
"Stopr cried Essie, jumping up
81 haven't asked you for home ye|
And l don't mean to. And you are
only making re the offer because
Doctor Dorian says Ruth will break
down unless she has a strong maid
servant to help her with the house
work. But there is no money tha'
would hire me to make myself sucn
drudge as poor Ruth is.
"Hoity-toityl" said Mr.. Martin.
young woman, you don't eon'lo''
who you are talking to-"
"Yes' l do, (" said Essie, with emphasis
10 Bluebeard, to stock, stone
man who is grinding his wife's HE OUT