Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-09-12
THE LAST STRAW.

1t is the last straw that breaks the
camels back, said Lucy, bursting into
tears.
The pleasant sunbeams came peeping
into the COOL stone-paved dairy, where
pans OF milk and cream were ranged in
orderly array great stone pots stood
under the shelves, and blue
painted churn was already placed on the
table, for Mr.. Bellenden was Justly proud
OF his dairy. Not chance guest came to
the house but was invited down to see
1t; not house-keeper in the neigh
borhood but had secretly envied its
many conveniences and exquisite neat
ness.
"And it isn't the dairy alone" tri-
umphantly remarked Matthew Bellenden.
And you may go through the house
from cellar to garret, and you'll never
lind a speck of dust or stain of rust.
There never was such housc-keeper as
my wife"
Mrs. Bellenden was young too, scarcely
three-and. twenty. She had been deli
cately reared and quite ignorant of the
machinery of domestic life until she mar
ried Matthew Bellenden.
ITS very strange" Lucy had written
to her father. "The farm is beautiful.
You never saw such monstrous old elm
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. don't think there is copv
of Tennyson in the whole neighborhood,
and no ever heard of Dore or Ieillais,
All they think of is how many dozens of
eggs the hen lays, and how many cheese
they can make in a year. And the
woman who has new receipt for home
made pie, or new pattern for patUlr-
work quilts, is the leader of society"
But presently young Mrs. Belienden
herself caught the fever and became a
model housewife. Example is all-power.
full, and Lucy began to believe that the
whole end and aim of life was domestic
thrift, money saving and the treadmill
of work
'My DEAR" said Matthew, 'if YOU
thought you could get along without
servant this year, l might be able tc
afford that new reaper before the oat
crop comes in."
'I'll try" said Lucy.
And after that she rose before day
break. and worked later in the nigh
than ever.
What is the matter with your hands
Lucy?" her husband asked one day
"They are not so white and beautiful
as they used to be-"
Lucy colored as she glanced down a
the members in question:,
81 suppose it is making fres," sh,
said.
And then she took to wearing kit
gloves at her sweeping and busting ant
digging out of ashes.
"My coat is getting shabby" Mat
thew one day remarked.
" Why don't you buy another one9'
asked his wife.
Matthew gave short laugh.
= "What do you think Mrs. Higgin
has done2" said he. "She ripped III
her husbands old suit and cut patterl
by it, and made a new one and savet
twenty dollars"
" could do that" said Lucy, witt
sparkling eyes. 81 will try it.
" You can do anything, my dear 7
said Mr.. Bellenden, admiringly.
And Lucy felt that she had her ricl
reward.
Company began to come as soon a
nice weather set in.
All the affectionate relations of MI
Bellenden soon discovered that the farm
house was cool and shady, that Lucy
cooking was excellent, and that the bed
rooms were neatness itself.
Some of them were even good enoug1
to invite their relations as well; and s
the house was full from A pril to Decem
Der with visitors who bought their car
pet-bags and valises with that faith i
human hospitality which is one of life
best gifts.
Mrs. Bellenden's fame went abroa
among the Decreases of the neighbol
hood in the matter of butter an
cheese; she took prizes in the domesti
departments of all the agricultural fairs
and the adjoining housewives took n
trouble to make things that they coul
borrow of Mrs. Bellenden, 'just as we
as not"
And one day, when poor Lucy, unde
the blighting influence of a hor~A,l
sick headache, was endeavoring to strai
three or four gallons of milk into th
shining pans, the news arrived that he
husbands Uncle Paul was coming to til
farm.
"Another guest I" said Lucy despair
ingly.
And then she uttered the proverb tina
heads our sketch
ooh, it's only Uncle PaulW said MI
Bellenden. Don't fret, Lucy. He's I'll
most peaceable old man in the worlt
He'll make no more trouble than
cricket. Johns wife thought sE
couldn't have him because she has II
servant just now"
Neither have II" said Lucy, rebe
lious y.
"And Sarah don't like company"
81 am supposed to be fond Of It'll" oil
served Lucy bitterly,