Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-10-02
Miscellaneous.
The Last Straw.

The Last Straw,
STORY OF poMf>Tic LIFE ,>p LABOR
"lt i The last straw that breaks the cam
ell back, said Lucy. bursting into tears.
The pleasant June Sunbeams came peep
M into the cool. Stonc-paVed dairy where
pans o; milk and cream we're ranged in or
derly array. Great stone pots stood under
the shelves. and blue-psinted churn Was
already placed on the table for service.
Mr. Belienden was Justly proud Of his
Galrl. Not chance guest came to the
house but was invited down to see it not
hou,ekeeper in the ncighborhood but Sc
c!,tly cnvled ~ many conyenenccs and eN-
Gu.s.te r.afntS>.
And il isn't the iairy alone" triumph
4a'., remarked Matthew Belleudcn. '.lou
m 20 through n" house. from garret to
t.. ar. aEi y,u'. never find a speck of dust
ora ,,a:a cfru,;. Their never va. such a
aagsektspc as my VII"
Mr.. l,.ienleu WAS Young. too scarcely
three I-twcn'y. She had been de,icate,l
tc red, and va, 9ui'c lgaorant Of al the
machinery of dom, >;lc K INIT. s.e mar
red Mathew Beilcnden.
Its very strange" Lucy had written to
her father. The farm j. beautiful. You
never saw such mon>rou, old elm trees nor
such superb roses, and the meadows are full
Of red clover. aud the straw berries shine
like Jewels on the >unuy hillside. But no
body skc'che, or reads. don't think there
j. a copy Of Tenn, son in the whole neigh.
borhooj. and no one ever heard Of D,re or
Nillai> All they think ~ +. how many
dozens Of egg, the hens lay aud how many
cheese. fhey Chm make in 4 wear And nj.
woman who ha, a new recipe for home. made
wine or new pat,4rn for patcbwork ouiIt,
i the leader Of soei.ty.'
Bot pres,ntly you1p Mrs. B-Ilend.n her.
self cau,h, the fever and became model
bou,evif.. rx,,,,l. !. .u.,ov.,r,,l .rJ
Luc, begap 10 b.Ij,ye that the whole end
And aim Of lirc VA, domestic tbrift mor.y.
saving and the treal.uilI Of work
NV dear" sand Matthew. III ,ou
thought YOU could get along wi,bou, A ser.
yant this wear mlgh, Ne All. TO afford ,ha,
new reapfr before The oat CROP come. jn."
MN try." sand Lucy,
And after tina, She sro>. before d,, br.aL
and worked later IN the night than ever.
"Wha, is the matter Win your hand.
i.tll y - d
They are no, 50 white and h.au,Ifll p. they
used u be
Lucy colorel A. She ylance.i down a, the
members m question.
II suppose i, is mas.n, fires she said.
And then She tr,S TO wearing Kid gloves
at her swee,vig and du,tIng and digging
ou, Of a,ses.
my coat is getting shabby" Matthew
4
WHY don't YOU buy another one ," AK
ed his wife.
Matthew laughed short laugh.
What do YOU think Mrs. Higgins has
done ?" said he. She ripped up her hus-
bands old SUI. and cut a pattern by IT and
made a rew one, ard saved him ten dol
lar>.
Il could DO that. said Lucy with spark
ing ewes. Il will try IT,
'fou can DO ANYTHING, nv dear said
NJ. Bellendtu almlr.ns!y.
And luc' i,lt Tia, he had her reh lc-
"ard.
Company Logan To come a. soon Is nice
weather s-t IN.
Al. tie aiicc'iunate relatives of Mr.. Bel
lenfen 500" d'scoNereG that the farmhouse
was cool ard ,haIt. that Lucy's cooking
Wa excellent. and that tie bedrooms were
neltnrss itself.
>ore otthen, ~ere even good enough 10
invite thtir relatives a, we'll; and so tie
house ras full from April 10 December with
visitors who nrolgft Their carpet-hags and
ya.l>es ~lth that faith IN human hospitality
which is one Of life's best gift.
Mrs. Be!.enden fame went abroad among
the Dorcases Of the neighborhood in the
matter Of butter and cheese; She took prizes
IN the domestic departments of all tie asri-
cu.iura! fairs. and the adjoining housewives
took no trouble 20 make things that they
could borrow OF Mrs. Belenden lust as
well as not,
And one day when poor Lucy, under the
blishting influence of horrible sick-hesd-
ache, was endeavoring TO strain three or
four gallons of milk into the shining pans,
the news arrived that her husbands Uncle
Paul was coming to the farm.
I "inother guest said Lucy despalring-
I ly.
And then She uttered the proverb that
heads our sketch.
''Oh, its only Uncle Paul - said Mr.. Bel
lenden. "Don't fret, Lucy. He's the most
| peaeeabie Old gentleman IN the world. lie
will make no more trouble than cricket.
1ohh "ie thought she couiuht nave MIN
because she has no servant Just now"
Neither have y said Lucy rebellous-
ly.
"And Sarah doesn't like COMPANY
Il am supposed to be fond of it, OBJ
served Lucy bitterly.
"And keuben's girls don't want old folks
staying there. It's too much trouble, they
say added Matthew.
Lucy bit her lips to keep back the words
she might have uttered and said, instead
! Where is he to sleep? The Belfords
] have the front bedroom and YOUR Cousin