Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-05-09
CLARA'S WAY.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

BY AMY RANDOLPH
Hazlenut farm was at its prettiest when
Clara Field came to live there. TIE old
house, with its square, old-fashioned
porch. vine.covered gable-ends. and
newly-painted green blinds. gllmmered
white through the emerald freshness Of
the maple trees; tho grass was purpled
all over with wild violets, and the dim
old woods on the mountain side wore 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
at tho rising moon and drew long sigh
of contentment.
"Oh, John, how beautiful this is! l" she
said softly. "How happy we shall 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 these exquisite 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 old place.
But rather think there'll be something
to do besides read and row and sketch. u
The next morning. when Clara came
down to breakfast in white bunting
dress, with cherry bars all over it,
Aunt Keziah looked at her In owl.eye ed
surprise.
:" Ny dear" said she, "if you and John
expect to get on in the world you'll have
to keep earlier hours than this.''
.,.Aant Keziah. it's only seven
O'Clock, - said Clara, srtlessly elancing up
ct tho clock.
"Humph!" remarked Aunt Keziah, as
she placed tho broiled ham on the table,
each slice surmounted by the golden disk
of delicately fried egg. Johns broth.
er. William lives on the next farm. and
his wife has been up since daybreak, I'll
60 BAIL"
"Since daybreak ?" echoed Clara.
"Wby. what can she possibly find to
busy herself with ?"
"Just exactly what you ought to busy
yourself WITH" said Aunt Keziah, taking
. pan Of buttermilk biscuits out of the
oven, and dlling the crooked handled lit
tie pitcher with thick, clothed 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 Ke-
ziah's memorable face, but she asked no
more questions. After breakfast, how
ever, she put on her little gypsy hat, with
its dropping brim and its wreath OF
daisies.
"John," she said to her husband, who
was busy giving directions to his farm
hands. I am going across the meadow to
Wills wife,"
John looked at his young bride rather
obviously.
Are you, pet ?" said he. "Don't you
think it would be good idea to help
Aunt Keziah in the pantry ?"
Clara laughed and shook her head.
"She is all tied up in pockst-handker.
chiefs and bib-aprons, white Washing
she said. II can't white-wash."
my mother always did all the white.
washing that was done in tho 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, q little
shortly. Money doesn't grow on every
bush like blackherries, and the women of
Hazlefield are taught to be proud Of their
industry aud thrift"
Clara shrugged her shoulders, and trip.
ped 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 ID life in the country" said the
bride to herself, 81 think I'll 60 back to
teaching in the city,
"Will's wife, was summoned from the
dairy to receive her visitor.-She had met
Clara before, and welcomed her with a
smile and cordial pressure of the hand,
II thought, Of course, you would have
been over to see me before now," said
Clara, reprcaehfully.
II did intend to come, said Mrs. Will,
apologetically, shut I was up last night
darning the children's stockings till past
midnight"
She had dropped into . chair with a
hand pressed to her sides, pale, wearied
spiritless looking creature. with her
abundant brown hair huddled into net,
. large crash apron tied around her waist
and sleeves rolled up high about the thin
elbows that had once bsen round and
dimpled.
"Allce," said Clara. ''tell me what you
have done to-day and what you do other
DAYS. Aunt Keziah il holding you up ~
model to me. and want to hear what it
il that you actually have accom-
plished."
Mrs. Will smiled.
YES" she said, ''they tell me that I
am good worker. And do get along
we'll, for my husband has laid up deal Of