The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-06-06
1 v AT TI IlI. :

NJ AT TIg mn.
aIts the lat straw &ha& breaks the
samsls back. !" aid Lucy bursting into
lsaxs.
The pleasant June sunbesms came
Pesping into the cool, Stone paved dairy
where pans Of milk and cream were
rangedin orderly array great stone pots
stood under the shelves, and ! blue
painted churn was already plaosdon the
table for service.
Mr.. Bellenden was Justly proud Of
his dairy. Not . chance guest came to
the house but was invited down to see
Z; not housekeeper in the neighbor-
hood but secretly erxied its many con-
vsniences and exquisite neatness.
"And il isn't the dairy alone" tri-
umphantly remarked Seth Bellenden.
"And You may 60 through the house
from garret to cellar, and you'll never
ind speck Of dust or stain Of rust.
There never was such housekeeper as
my wife. !" :
Mrs. Bellenden was young, too
scarcely three-and-twenty. She had
been tho daughter Of retired army
officer, delicately reared and quiteignor-
ant Of all the machinery Of domestic life
until Ghe married Seth Bellenden.
"It's very strange" Lucy had written
to her father. "The farm Is beautiful.
You never saw such monstrous old out
tonbaal trees, nor such superb roses, and
the meadows are full of red clover, and
the strawberries shine like Jewels on the
sunny hillsides. But nobody sketches
or reads. I don't think there is copy
Of Tennyson in the whole neighborhood,
and no one ever heard of Dore or Mil
lais. All they think of is how many
dozens of eggs the hens lay, and how
many cheeses they can make in year.
And the woman who mas new recipe
for wafaes, or new pattern for hor-
rible thing they call crazy quilts is
the leader in society"
But presently young Mrs. Bellenden
herself caught the fever. and became a
model housewife. Example is all pow
erfu1, and Lucy began to believe that
the whole end and aim Of life was do
mestic thrift, money-saving and the
treadnIill of fwork.
my dear, }" said Seth, "ifyou thought
you could get along without Hepsy,
the maid, I might he able to afford that
new reaper before the ont crop comes
in"
"IM try" said Lucy.
And after that she rose before day
bleak, and worked later into the night
than ever.
"What is the matter with your hands,
Lucy" Seth asked one day. "They
used to be-"
Lucy oolored as s,le glanced down at
the memiers in question. "Isuppose it
is making the fires,r said she.
And then she took to wearing old kid
gloves at her sweeping and busting and
digging ont of the ashes.
my coat is getting shabby" Seth
one day remarked.
"Why don't you buy another one?
asked his wife.
Seth laughed q short laugh.
"What do you think Mrs. Higgiu-
botham has done ?" said he. "She has
ripped up her husbands old suit and
cut pattern by it, and made o new one
and entirely saved him ten dollars!"
II could do that!" said Lucy with
sparkling eyes. II will try it."
You can do anything my dear" said
Mr.. Bellenden, at1miringly.
And Lucy felt that she had her rich
reward.
Company began to come as soon as
the bright weather set in.
All the affectionate relations of Mr..
Bellenden soon discovered that the farm
house was cool and shady, that Lucy's
cooking was excellent, and that the bed
rooms were neatness itself.
Some of them were even good enough
to invite their relations as we'll; and SO
the house wAs full from April to Decem-
ber.
All the clergymen made it their home
ut Brother Rellenden's when they came
20 Silvan Bridge for ecclesiastical con-
sentions; all the agents for unheard- of
articles discovered that they knew some
body who was acquainted with the
Bellendens, and brought their car
petbags and valisea with that faith in
human hospitality, which is one of
LIES best gifts.
Mrs. Bellenden's fame went abroad
among the Dorcases of the neighbor-
hood in the matter of butter and cheese ;
she took the prizes in the domestic de-
partments of all Ele agricultural fairs,
and the adjoining housewives took no
trouble to make things that they could
borrow of Mrs. Beflenden, "just as we'll
as not"
And one day, when poor Lucy, under
the blighting influence Of horrible
sick headache was endeayoring to
strain three or. four gallons of milk into
the shining p ans, the news arrived that
Uncle Paul whs coming to the farm.
Another gnest!" said Lucy, despair
ingly:
And then she uttered the proverb
that heads our sketch.
"Oh, it's only Uncle Paul!" said Mr..
Bellenden. Don't fret Lutiesl He's the
most peaeealle old gentleman in the
world. He'll make no more trouble
than q cricket. Johns wife thought
she couldn't have him because she had
no hired girl just now"
'tNeither have II" said Lucy, rebel
liously.
"And Sarah Eliza don't Like COM
pany."
".And am supposed to be fond of it!"
observed Lucy, bitterly.
"And Reuben's girls don't want old
folks staying there. IT'S too much trou-
BILE, they say" added Seth.
Lucy bit her lip to keep hsck the
words she might have uttered and said.
instead:
Where is he to sleep? The F,elfords
have the front bed room. ard your
Cousin Susan occupies the back, and
the four Miss Paftoraona s1oo,, IN +Io +v.o