Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-03-03
one never wishes to weep before ones

to rebel ag'in it-no, you oughtn't.
You ought to be contented in the
condition you've been called to.
But I'm not hard-hearted woman,
I'm willing to have you stay with
me.-You can help me in the work.
you know.
A young gal like you can be use
ful if she's grateful and willing, so
I'll keep you Beulah More.
| don't keep vants-lazy idle
set, eating you out of house and
home"
| was only fourteen years old, but
j knew as we'll as / know now that
should be servant without wages,
and / should have preferred service
anywhere else.
But as she spoke, thought darted
into my head.
Grandfather had certainly spoken
of hiding a will somewhere.
If Istayed and rubbed and scrubbed
and busted diligently, l should dis
cover it if it was above ground, and
not stolen, as Mr. Curdle believed.
All, how delightful to discomfit her
at last!
How we'll worth the hard fate and
the hard work | knew | should have
to endure.
Yes, even her unpleasant company
could be borne with this end in view.
So | said. taking care not to speak
too eagerly, that | would stay, and l
gave myself year to find the will in.
A year is an eternity at fourteen.
That very day, old Miss Humph-
ries began to show me my position
by turning me out of my pretty bed
room, and sending me into garret,
with sloping roof.
| had had pretty carpet, white
curtains, bookcase, Turkish chair,
and dainty bed, all white and pink,
and toilet service pink and white also.
had never done any work, except
putting this room in order, for we
had two old servants besides a man.
Now | scrubbed floors and washed
windows and dishes, and had no time
to read or sew, OF wander in the
woods, or enjoy myself in the garden.
Miss Humphries sent all my school
girl friends from the door when they
asked for me- and it was only after a
long, hard fight that l obtained my
books, my sewing basket, and my
few window plants, with which to
make my garret more home-like.
My black suit became shabby.
| felt ashamed to 90 to church, and
| knew not where to procure other
clothing.
| was very miserable, but all the
while | never forgot my object.
Not only did | continue my search
all day, but at night | often pattered
about the house in my bare feet.
l had found many curious places
where will might have been hidden.
For instance, the posts of grand
fathers bed had hollow space in
them, covered with a carved cap,
shaped like pine apple, which came
off.
And behind the carved wooden
mantel-piece in his room-the origi-
nal house was an hundred years old
they said, and very curious-there
was receptacle that might have
concealed fifty wills.
The old woman never suspected me.
Besides, she was half the time
asleep, nodding in her chair.
She had a delight in seeing me al
work, and set me tasks as hard to me
as those the malevolent fairy put
upon poor Graciosa were to her.
Wherever / was sent ! went.
Who knew where the will might be
But now the year / had given my.
self was nearly over, and the malev-
olent fairy of my existence had OF:
dered me to white-wash the COW.
house-by the way, l always milkeC
the cow-and l had agreed to do i
with feeling upon me that endur
ance was almost at an end, that hope
was almost gone, that | must leave
that place if starved.
No wonder | was thin. and haC
lost my fine complexion.
The lime was mixed and the brusl
was found.
ssPut it on thick, Beulah,' said m,
task-mistress sswe don't want an,
of the boards to show
"Why, where's your stick? p
Il can't find one to fit, said |, dis
consolately.
"Oh, | can reach, l think"
"You can't" said she. ''The lde
of white washing with a short brush
Go and hunt up a stick. Why,
know where there's one-in your ow
room. | saw it to-day
"That's dear grandpa's cain,
said /.
Il don't care
"Get it" said she. "It's only
stick, cane or not.
Il won't use it in such way,
said ], ''grandfather's cane that h
used to walk with every day-that
used to ride on when | was a baby
Dear cid cane, that seems part {
him. ] wouldn't use it so for worlds.
81 ~