Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-02-21
CLARA'S WAY;
Or, a Declaration of Independence


Hazelnut Farm was at its prettiest
when Clara Field came to live there
The old house, with its square, old-fash-
ioned porch, vine-covered gable-ends and
newly painted green blinds, glimmered
white through the emerald freshness of
the maple trees; the grass was purpled
all over with wild violets, and the dim
old woods on the mountain side were en-
brOidered with thousand flowers. And
the pretty young bride, standing on the
rustic bridge that spanned the brook, with
tufts of lilies on her breast, looked up at
the rising moon and drew long sigh of
cOntentment.
20, John. how beautiful this isr' she
said, softly. How happy shall we be-
We can walk in the woods and gather
wild flowers and ferns, and we can row
on the river. and have readings on the
lawn. and sketch all these equisite bits of
scenery, and life will be like beautiful
dream"
John Field whistled rather obviously.
"Of course, it will. my DEAR" said he.
"And I'm glad you like the place. But l
rather think theren be something to do
besides read and row and sketch"
The next morning, when Clara came
fn in h,,n
dress, with cherry ribbon bars all over it,
Aunt Keziah looked at her in owl-eyed
surprise.
MY dear" said she, ''if you and John
expect to get on in the world you'll have
to keep earlier hours than this"
"Why, Aunt Keziah, its only seven
o'clock" said Clara, artlessly glancing up
at the clock.
"Humphp remarked Aunt Keziah, as
she placed the brOiled ham on the table,
each slice surmOunted by the golden
disk of delicious fried egg. Johns
brother William. lives on the next farm,
and his wife has been up since daybreak,
I'll go ball.
Since daybreak ?" echoed Clara "Why,
what can she possibly find to busy her
self with?"
Just exactly what you ought to busy
yourself with" said Aunt Keziah, taking
a pan of buttermilk biscuits out of the
oven, and filling the crooked handled lit
tie pitcher with thick, clotted cream. "a
farmers wife can't sit down and fold her
hands. unless she wants to ruin her hus-
band outright"
Clara looked piteously at Aunt Keziah's
memorable face, but she asked no more
questions. After breakfast, however, she
put on her little gypsy hat with its droop-
ing brim, and its wreath of daisies.
John" she said to her husband, who
was busy giving directions to his farm
hands. 81 am going across the meadow
to see Wills wife,.
John looked at his young bride rather
doubtfully.
Are you. pet?" said he. Don't you
think it would be good idea to help
Aunt Kezia in the pantry?"
CLARA laughed and shook her head.
"She is all tied up in pocket handker-
chiefs and bib aprons, whitewashing, :"
she said. 81 can't whitewash."
MY mother always did all the white
washing that was done in the place until
she died." remarked John.
What was your father thinking of
that he didn't hire some man to do it for
her?' asked Clara, biting her lips.
people out this way do their own
work" observed John Field, a little
shortly. Money doesn't grow on every
bush like blackberries, and the women of
Hazelfield are taught to be proud of their
industry and thrift"
"Clara shrugged her shoulders and
tripped lightly over the dewy meadow
to where the pretty home of her brother
in-law, William Field, nestled in grove
of ancient elms and sycamores.
"If this is life in the country" said the
bride to herself, Il think I'll go back to
teaching in the city,"
Wills wife was summoned from the
dairy to receive her visitor. She had met
Clara before and welcomed her with
smile and cordial pressure of the hand.
Il thought, of course, you would have
been over to see me before now," said
Clara, reproachfully.
81 did intend to come" said Mrs. Will,
apologetically, "but was up last night
darning the children's stockings until
past midnight
She dropped into chair, with hand
pressed to her side, pale, wearied, spirit
creature, with an abundant
brown hair huddled into a net, a large
crash apron tied around her waist, and
sleeves rolled up high above the thin ell
bows that had been round and dimpled
"Alice," said Clara, tell me what you
have done to-day, and what you do other
days. Aunt Keziah is holding you up as a
model to me, and | want to hear what it
is that you have actually accomplished.
Mrs. Will smiled.
Yes" she said, "they tell me that l
am good worker. And l do get along
well, for my husband has laid up a deal
of money at interest. and we haven't had
a hired girl in the house in two years.
You see rise at four clock every morn
lng-one can accomplish so much before
the sun really gets hot. This morning |
L churned twenty pounds of butter.
strained and SKINNED the milk, scalded
the pans, fed the little pigs. and the
young turkeys and ducks and chickens,
and got the breakfast for VIII, two hired
men and the children"
stop minute" said Clara, who had
been listening with intent eyes of inter-
est. $50 Will has hired men?"
"Yes; he always keeps two in summer
and one in winter explained Alice.