The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-03-08
ART TIE MAN
ny uELEN FORREST GRAvgl,

ny nELEN FORREST GRAVES.
"lt's the Last straw that breaks the cam
Ella back, "sald Lucy, bursting into tears.
The pleasant Juno sunbeams came peep
ing into the cool, stone paved dairy, wher,
pans Of milk and cream wero ranged II
orderly array; great stone pots Stood undel
the shelves, and a blue painted churn wa
already placed on the table for service.
Mr.. Bellenden was Justly proud Of hi
dairy. Not u chance guest came 10 The
house but was invited down to see Il; not q
n~ousekeeper in the neighborhood but SO.
cretly envled its many conveniences and
exquisite neatness.
"And it isn't the dairy alone" trium.
pbantly remarked Seth Btllenden. "And
you may 20 through the house from garrett
to cellar, and you'll never find a speck Of
duet or u stain Of lust. There neye! was
such a housekeeper as my wife," e
Mis- fe leaden wac young, toe-scarcely
Internationally. She had been the
daughter Of q retired army officer, delicate.
ly reared and quite ignorant OF uii the ma.
c linery Of domeatic lie until she married
Seth Belelden.
ut is very strange" Lucy had written
tn ner father. 1.-THE farm Is 80 beautiful,
You neVertaw such monstrous old button
ball trees, nor such superb roses, aud the
meadows are full Of red clover, and the
straw berries shine like jewels on the sun
! ny hil!sides. Butnobody sketches or reads,
l don't think there Ia a copy Of Tennyson
III tho whole neighborhood, aud no one
ever heard Of DOre or Millais. All they
think Of ia how many dozens Of eggs the
hens lay, and how many eteeses they can
make in a year. And the woman who has
Il o recipe for wslllss, ora new pattern
tor q horrible thing they call 'cnzy quilts
is the leader in society,""
But presently young Mrs. BelIcndea her.
sell ca,'9ht the fever, and became a model
housewife. Example is al!-poweriul, and
Lnty bryan 10 believe that the whole end
and aim Of lits wa domestic Thrift, money
slvirg and the treadmill of work.
"My dear" said Seth, III you thought
you could get along without Hepsy the
maid, I might be able 10 afford that new
reaper before the oat crop comes in.
"1ll try" said Lucy.
And after that she rose before day break,
and worked later into the night than ever.
"Whats the matter With your hands,
Lucy 2" Seth asked one day. '.They are
not 81 white and beautiful as they used
to be-"
Lucy colored as he glanced down ut the
members in question.
II suppose it is making the fires" said
she.
And then she took to wearing old kid
gloves at her sweeping and dusiing and
digging on. Of ashes.
"Aly coat is getting shabby" Seth one
day remarked.
"Why don't you buy another one y
asked his wife.
Seth laughed a short laugh.
"Whnt do you think Mrs. Higginbotham
has done I" said he. "She ripped up her
husbands old suit and cut II pattern by it,
and made q new one, and entirely saved
him ten dollars I" .F 81
II could do that!" said Lucy, with
sparkling eyes. Il will try i'll"
You can do anything, my dearp said
Mr.. Bellenden, admiripgIy.
And Lucy felt that she had her rich re-.
ward. = 'uI 1-..,I- ~ +
Company began to come as coon as the
bright weather set In.
All the afsciioua:e relations OF Mr.. Be!-
lenden soon discovered that the farm
house was cool and shady, that Lucy'a
cooking was excellent, and that the bed
rooms were neatness itself.
I Snna of than warn np.,, ponJ o,o,t.t, -
invite their relations as well; and SO the
house was full from April to december.
All the clersymen made their home
at Brother B~e!lendeu's when they came to
Silyan bridge for ecclesiastical conyeu-
tions; all the agents Tor unneard-oi articles
discovered that they knew somebody who
was acquainted with the Bsllendens, and
brought their carPet-bags and yatises with
that laiih in human hospitality which is
one CT liie's best gifts. 80 To-
Mrs. Bellendtnis fame went abroad
among the Decreases Of the n%eighborhood
in the matter OF butter and cheese; she
took prizes in the domestic departments Of
the agricultural lai1s, and tho adjoining
housewives took no trouble to make things
that they could borrow Of Mrs. Bel!cuden,
Just as well al not"
And one day, when poor Lucy, under
the blightipg Influence of u horrible aick
headache, was e%ndeavoring to strain three
or four gallons 81 milk inio the shining
pans, tho news arrived tia: Uncle Paul
was coming to the farm.
"Anotler guess! said Lucy, despair.
ingly.,
nd then size uttered the provcrb thai
heads our sketch.
t"Oh, it's only Uncle Paul 'paid Mr.
Bellendeu. "Don't iret, Lutte He's The
most ~peaceable old gentle man In the world.
He'll make no more trouble than a cricket.
Johns vito thought che couldn't have
him because she has no hired girl just
now" d. q
Neither have i" said Lucy, rebel.
liously.
"And sArah Eliza don't like company,
"And I am supposed 10 be fond OF III
observed Lucy, bitterly. 1aea
"Aud Reuben's girls don't want old
folks sts yiDg there. It's too much trouble,
they say" added Saith.
Lucy bit her lip 10 keep back the word
she might have uttered and said, instead:
I""Where is he 10 sleep? The Belfoldt
have the front bed room, and your cousin
Suean occupies the back, and the ioul
Miss pattersons sleep III the two hall cham,
bprs and the hired men have the ga1re'
ROOM"
Sac might have added that she and her
husband, and the baby, had slept in a
hot little den opening from the kitchen
for four weeks, vainly expt citing Mr.. and
Mrs. Bsliord to depart; and that she never
yet had n chance to invite her father 10 the
farm in pleasant weathar. "a
But she was magnanimous and held her
peace.
ION, you can find some place for him!i
said her husband, lightly. There's that