The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-08-21

under tho shelves, and
I'D churn was already
"a the table for service.
-. Bollendcn was justly proud of
ais dairy Not a chance guest came TO
tho house but was invited down to SEQ
1t; not housekeeper in the neighbor-
hood. but secretly onvicd its MANY, con-
venionces and exquisite neatness! j.,
'"And it isn't tho dairy alofie, "tri-
umphantly remarked Matthew Bellcn-
don. And you may go through the
house from garrot to cellar and you'll
mover find speck of dust or stain of
rust Thorc never was such house
keeper as my wife!'
Mrs. Bcllcnden was youno. too
scarcely throc4and-twcnty. Sho had
been deGcatelylrcarcd and quito ipno-
rant of all the machinery OF domestic
life, until she married Matthew Bcllen-
don. .
Its very strange" Lucy had writ
ten to her father. ',''rhc farm is beau
Cful. You never saw such monstrous
Old clm-trecs. nor such superb roses,
and the meadows arc full of red clover,
and tho strawberries shine like Jewels
on tho sunny hillsidcS. But nobody
sketches or reads. l don't think there
Is q copy of Tennyson in the whole
nelGhborhoOd, and no ono ever heard
OF Doro or Millais. All they think of is
how many dozens of eggs the hens lay,
and how many chooses they can make
In yoar. And the woman who has q
new receipt for homemade wine, or q
now pattern for patchwork quilts, is
tho leader of society,"" ...
But presently young Mrs. Bellendon
, herself caught the fever, and became a
model housewife. r. Example Is all-pow-
orful. and Lucy began to boicvo that
tho whole end and aim of life was do
mcsf'c thrift. moncy-saying,' and the
trea ill of work.
"My dear" said Matthew, 'if YOU
thought you could get along without q
servant this year, might. DO ablo to
afford that now reaper before tho oat-
crop comes in"
'.Ill try" said Lucy.
And after that she roso before dav-
break, and worked later in tho nipht
than ever.
,''Whnt is the matter with your hands.
LucyP' lcr husband asked, one day'
Ihoy are not SO white and beautiful as
they used TO be"
g. Lucy colored as sho glanced down AZ
tho members in question. -. -.
81 suppose it is making fires" sho
said.
And then she took to wearing kid
gloves Mt her sweeping and dustne
and digging out of ashes.
My coat is getting shabby" Mat
thew one day remarked.
,'pta1y don't you buy another onoP"
asked his wife. ~- T..
Matthew laughed n short laugh.
"What do you think Mrs. Higgins
has donop" said he. "Shc ripped up
her husbands old suit and cut pat
torn by it, and made n new one and
saved him two pounds"
81 could do that" said Lucy, with
sparkling eyes. ~ will try it. ;"
You can do anything, my doar!"
said MIR. Bellonden, admiringly
, And Lucy felt that she had her rich
reward.
Company began to como as soon as
nice weather sot in.
All tho affectionate relations of Mr..
Bellondon soon discovered that the
arm-hQBse was cool and shady, that
Lucy Esooking was excellent, and that
tho bedrooms woro noatncss itself
oome OF thcm woro even good enough
9to'inVito thoir rotations as we'll: and 80
Sho house was full from April to De-
cembor with visitors who brought their
carpot-bags and valises with that faith
I'm. IN human hospitality which is ono of
iite's best gifts,
Mrs. Bellenden's famc went abroad
among tho Dorcasos of tho neiDhbor.
hoodin tho matter of butter and dbeeoo.
sho LOOK prizos in tho domestic donort'
ments Of all the agricultural fairs md
tho adjoining housewives tool -"
trouble to mako things that tboy 0c conIJ I1
borrow of Mrs. Bellenden, Y%iust 9 as
well rs not \. 7 - 80 90
And ono day, whom poor Lucy, under
tho blignting influence of horrible
sick headache, was cndoavorino to
strain throo or four gallons of milk into
ttlhU5hining pans, tho nows arrived that
hcI husbands Uncle Paul was coming
to the farm
|,n.';A''Othef +, ~; guost!" said Lucy, despair
- And then she uttered tho provcrb
That heads our sketch.
- ,Oh, it's only Uncle Paul!" said Mr..
Bellenden, Don't fret, Lucyl Hos
Inc inc most peaceable old gentleman in
the the world. He'll mako no moro trouble
tnan a cricket. Johns wife thought