The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-10-30
A Bitter Cup.

Mr.. Martin had Just come in to tea. l
was one of those sultry. summer evening"
when the leaves hang stirlessly on thu
trees, and the dull, electric fires blaze along
the east, foreboders OF storm.
II had been very hot all day, the farm
hands had Jagged at their work on the low
land meadow, and all the worlds wheel,
seemed to revolve as if they were weight
cd. Mr.. Martin was very tired, and, with
all, little cross.
Perhaps Mrs. Martin was tired, too
She, poor soul, had been up since 4 o'clocl
in the morning. She had washed, taken
care Of four cows milk, prepared 'three
meals for the hungry farm hands, been
up in the quarry woods to search for Q
family Of adventurous turkey chicks,
soothed the sorrows OF teething baby,
and menaed up the suit OF clothes which
Betsey Blim, the tailoress, has declared
mot worth q needle O. thread!' because
Thomas, her husband, had said that "will-
full waste was woful want" and that there
was deal Of wear in the suit yet, il only
there was q stitch taken here and there.
But her cheek was pink and her eyes
sparkling when Thomas came in, for oil
the heaviness in her heart, and the dull
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 a Boston educa-
tlon."
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
blno bows.
"Loek, Thomas" cried Mrs. Martin,
'its Essiel She came home
TN days before she expected to.
eyes, / ssc," said Mr.. Martin, in the
ccld, measured tones which always damp
ened his wiie's enthusiasm like so many
drops OF freezing water.
"How do you do Esther Ruth. what
NC you putting cold chicken on the table
I@? Corn beef is plenty, / am sure; you
lxl great deel better save the chicken
or the mems br, ,,akfast. Working folks
ave hearty appetites.
Esther likes cold cl icken, whispered
lrs. Martin. "And ="
IN one need want al. .vthlng better
ian good corn beef" judi, 'ieusly pro
ouut ed Mr.. Martin. "Put til 9 chicken
lck into the pantry, and the ap. ple Ieily
ith 1t. Good stewed gooseberr. 'es are
lish enough for anybody. We uuss
'onon ize in little things as well as la vge
les, II We don't want to end our days .
lie poor hOu'e."
And Mrs. Martin sorrowfnlly obeyed,
lille Esther watched her brother.in. law
ith lsrge, grave eyes, betokeaing great
Irprise.
At the end Of the week, Mr. Martin ad-
'essed his sister.in.law with serious pur.
,se
"Weli, Esther" he said, you've been
re a week now"
"ycs, said Esther. Eve been here a
,ek."
"A week is good long visit. " remarked '
E. Martin.
"lts long enough for some things. t
ID Esther. r
''Mrs. Martin thinks she would like to j
We .ou stay went on Mr.. Martin after
,azzled glance at the blue, shining eyes. !
md although. Of course, every one adds
the expense Of a family like this. I've )
objections Of giving you home, pro. 4
led yon are willing 10 earn it by hard b
1fk, and"
"siop." cried Esther. jumping ap. II !
vent naked you for home yet And ! b
n't mt an 10 And yon are only making 9
The offer because Dr. Dolan says Ruth
u bn ak down unless she has a strong .
idset van, 10 help her with The house a
fi. Bot there is no money that would b
e mie 10 make myself such q drudge as b
Or y uth is" .
III ity .ioiiyr' said Mr.. NJ Young
ma a. you don't consider who you are D
kii q to. 4
~ es, l do. said Ester. With emphasis Al