The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-02-06
INTERESTING STORY.
THE BROTHER-IN-LAW.

lib BKUIHEk-lN-LAW.
The slant February sunshine was stream
ing cheerfully across the kitchen floor
the fire il the cooking-stove snapped and
cracked, and the kettle sung merrily when
Mr.. Selden came in from the barn with the
trimming milk pail. Mrs. Selden started
from the brief doze that had momentarily
overcome her, even while the last ragged
stocking, pulled over the dry gourd to be
darned, was held in one hand, and the
darning needle in the other.
@ Asleep, eh p said the farmer, dryly.
" don't have the time to take maps in the
daytime !"
q am sorry" said Mrs. selden, color
ing. :" But dropped off before knew it.
The washing was very heavy this morning,
and got over-tired, suppose"
I Work is always heavy said Mr.. Sell
den, gloomily. Supper amt ready yet !?
And the hired man is waitin' out in the
shed, and you are sittin' here asleep. Get
out the cold pork and beans as quick as
you can. Time once lost can never be
found again. Every minute counts in
FORM work
Mrs. Selden put aside the stocking bask-
st, and made all the haste she could, in a
nervous, uncertain way--and just then the
door opened and tall, handsome young
man entered with cluster of dark-green
mistletoe in his hand.
See what I found in the woods" said
he. You used to love mistletoe, Fanny,
when you were girl"
I" It's very pretty" said Mrs. Selden,
with quick, sidelong glance at it, for her
husbands eye was upon her, and she felt
its cold scrutiny. Put it on the window
sill, Carlos. l am too busy to look at it
just now. Supper is behindhand ~
. And is that any reason you should hur-
ny yourself to death % retorted her brother
as he took the heavy iron kettle from her
hand. 9 You will kill yourself with these
ponderous weights yet. -
I "Humph n remarked Mr.. Selden. g You
don't seem in any hurry, young :"
. Why should be- p said Carlos Dorr,
carelessly, as he flung himself into seat by
the window.
You've been all day trainpin' about the
woods" said Selden, and you've fetched
home bunch o. mistletoe !"
" Yet have not been unoccupied." said
Carlos, quietly.
g shouldn't make much profit at the
years end" said his brother-in-law grimly,
"if worked in that sort of way. Come,
Fanny, make haste, the sun is down, and
the chores are all to be done yet. And
don't want to be disagreeable, Dorr," with
sinister glance, I" but if you mean to stay
ON here much longer, shall expect you to
help around the place little"
Dorr took his seat composedly at the
table, beside his sister, whose faint color
varied painfully, as she looked from one 70
the other of the speakers.
But 1 don't mean to stay on here" said
he.
Humph!" said Selden. That was
good offer Deacon Sloane made you to work
his farm on shares. s'pose you'll accept
that ~
1 am not fond of farming" said Carlos
And there's fair lookout if you join
that lead-mining business st Ear Hill, :"
added Selden
Neither do intend to leone q lead
miner, y said Carlos, as unruffled as ever.
And Dutton Mill can be leased for a
song-a capital place for trade" persisted
Selden.
!" Thanks" Dorr indifferently answered.
g But don't think should shine MS mil.
ler'
Hunph,p growled Selden, as he carved
the cold pork into slices of portentous thick
ness, and served out solid masses of baked
beans with them. 81 see you don't want
to work, that's the matter with you"
Don't, John, said Mrs. Selden, appeal
ingly.
q 1t amt my duty to encourage idleness,"
persisted Selden, drinking off his tea in
scalding draughts. Here's Hannah. as
blooming girl, sufficiently like him in fea-
lures to declare their relationship as brother
and sister, but not at all resembling him in
expression, came in. "a She seems to think,
because she teaches deestrict school, that
she can set with her hands folded the rest
Of the day instead O. gettin' rag-earpet
under way or beginnin' sensible patch.
work quilt, such as my mother used to
Make u
Hannah Selden sat down TO the table
% Pm sorry was Late" said she 81
meant to help Fanny get tea. But the
Shakspearean Club was little longer than
usual. We finished Henry the Fourth
and"
Henry the Fourth ~ contemptuously
repeated her brother. :. What sort o use
is that trash goin' to be to your"
Nothing, I suppose" said Hannah
Except that / like it -
Likin' don't help to earn livin'," said
Selden, shortly. While the Hired man, eat
ng stolidly away at his end Of the tabl
stared first at one, then at another of the
disputants, vaguely conscious that there
was mental electricity in the air. As for
helpin', Fanny don't need no help. She's
able TO do her own work-and I don't want
no nonsense put into her head about being
a fine lady, with nerves and neuralgy, and
all That sort of thing. Well Where was
Il? Oh, about Carlos Dom. He's my wife's
brother, and Pm willin to treat him decent
but can't have no idlers about here. I'm
speakin' for his own good p -....t
THANK you, SIR" said Carlos.
In my household went ON Selden,
more irritated than ever, them as can't
work shan't eat !"
Well, / hardly come under that cate.
CORY" said Carlos. :" I can workout II
isn't in pitching hay and measuring out
bags of -four must claim the privilege
of choosing my own profession, and-excuse
me, Mr.. selden-of managing my own bust
ness
/" Mighty Independent, to be sure" >
growled the farmer. q But wash my
hands of you once for ALL And want you
to understand that after tomorrow, your
room will be wanted for them as is willing
to work for their Twin !"