The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-12-10
INTERESTING STORY.
META'S MARRIAGE.

Briggs would own to it. For she was one of
those high-nosed, domineering females who
| pretend to an almost superhuman foresight,
and believe that they can read character as
If it were an open book. ~,
| never was so disappointed in girl in
my life, said Mrs. Briggs. 81 thought she
had some grit about her. But, there
might as well have an old dish-rag in my
kitchen as Meta Milton :"
Meta herself, if the truth were to be told,
was equally disillusonized. She had fam
| eied that life in the country was ell roses,
new-mow'n hay and nightingales; and when
it came to getting up before daybreak,
churning by the half-hour in blue-mold-
smelling cellar, scrubbing kitchen floors
and baking hot-cakes for a tableful of shirt
sleeyed farm hands, she was completely
taken aback.
There were no lanes wherein to linger at
dusk (Mr. Briggs was a great deal too care
full of his land to let any part of it run to
waste), no picturesque old well-sweeps or
ivy-clad ruins.
CabbaSB grew in rows; onion patches
dung their perfume on the air, and directly
in front of the main door there was a field
of monster tobacco leaves.
And Of you've got any time to spare"
said Mrs. Briggs, you'd better lay it ont
in pickin' them plaguy big worms of the
terbacker, instead o. cuttin' round the coun-
! try arter wild-fowers ~
Meta had been shop-girl in a Bridge
port store before she came to her Cousin
Briggs. Her health had failed the doctor
had advised country air, new milk and
change of scene.
Mrs. Briggs, on being written to, had un-
willingly consented that Meta should spend
the summer there.
" She must be poor creetur, indeed il
she can't earn her board and little more
into the bargain" said Mrs. Briggs, who
was one of those gripping, grinding taskmis-
tress' who think of trade and profit alone.
But Meta had not passed triumphantly
through the ordeal. Perhaps she had not
fully regained her strength. Perhaps she
had become discouraged with the endless
| treadmill of work which Mrs. Briggs pro-
vided for her.
She was pale, pretty girl, with fair hair,
large, sorrowfnl blue eyes, and color that
came and went with Pickering brilliance.
And it's my opinion said Mrs. Briggs,
who was in the habit of flying around the
house with her head tied up in cotton
pocket-handkerchief and no visible collar,
" that she spends q deal too much time
a-ixin' up and prinkin' before the glass
white lace at her neck every day, and a rib
bon bow and white aprons of an afternoon.
Checked bingham is good enough for nue.,
and it ought to be for her.
At the end of the first month, Mrs Briggs
told Meta, with engaging frankness, that
she had not proved equal to the emergency
=" l guess we don't want you here no
more" said Mrs. Briggs. You amt got
no more strength than a rabbit, and, any
way, there amt no calculation about you.
You may do very we'll as o store-gal, but
you won't never earn your bread at general
homework.
Meta sighed.
d" But what am 1 to do" said She
where am to go"
"That's your affair" said Mrs. Briggs
And then she went to take her bread out
of the oven.
John Perkins, the nephew of the old dea-
con who lived in the brick house ON the
hill, and had more money than the best
arithmetician in Yellow Plains could count,
came the next day to drive Meta and her
poor little trunk to the stage-station.
John had seen Meta at church. He had
stood beside her more than once at singing
school and one night, when the cattle were
obstreperous, he had come to the rescue,
and helped Meta drive them home.
So, when Farmer Briggs sent over word
that his horse was lame, and asked for the
loan of Deacon Perkins roam cob to carry
Meta Milton to the station, John himself
had volunteered to act as charioteer.
"Going away, hey?" said John, when
they had ridden short distance in silence.
YES" said Meta, sadly, 81 am going
away"
/" Didn't like the folks ?" said John.
az tried to like them, said Meta "but
Mrs. Briggs was not suited with Inc. The
washings were too heavy, and it gave me
pain in the side to lift the tubs"
You do look rather Slim" observed
John.
And he chewed straw in silence for some
time before he asked, with some abrupt
ness
"And where are you bound for? 2"
&c don't know" said Meta. a. can't 90
oack to the store, because my place is filled
up and it's very hard to get work any.
where at this time Of year. Tho doctor said
I ought to stay year at least in the coun.
try; but Mrs. Briggs has got another girl,
and"
Here John Perkins suddenly arrested the
course of the roan-cob, and began turning
him scientifically around.
"Dear, dear !" said Meta. have we got
into the wrong road ?"
No" said John Perkins. mot as
know of. But if the doctor said you ought
to stay year, then year you stay"
e'' But where ?" said Meta.
4 E" With us !" said John Perkins. g I've
took o notion to you, Meta. The first time
I ever set eyes on you, said to myself,
Here's the gal for mel And if you'll
marry me, Meta, I'll do my best to take
care of you, and be good husband to
your 5
Marry you'll" repeated Meta, and she
looked timidly into John Perkins honest
gray eyes, and then she added " Yes, Mr..
Perkins, I will ~
Shall we 60 right to the parsons p said
John.
I'll suppose SO, said Meta.
Ifa the best way" said Joha. "f
begin job, generally like to go on with
it."
So they were married. Meta went back
| 70 Mr. Briggs house, until her young hus-
unnd could break the news to Ills uncle.
Mrs. Briggs received the bride with some
faint scmblance of welcome.
John Perkins is likely fellow" sale
she, and the deacon il the richest man in
Ya1lou plains xv41I at1<,x, Me- tl.k -.