Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-10-24
THOU ART THE MAN"

TITS the last straw that breaks the
camel's back" said Lucy, bursting into
tears.
The pleasant June sunbeams came peep
ing into the cool, stone paved dairy, where
pans of milk and cream were ranged in
orderly array; great stone pots stood un-
der the shelves. and blue-painted churn
was alreadey placed ON the table for SER
vice.
Mr.. Bellenden was justly proud of his
dairy.
Not chance guest came to the house
but was invited down to see it; not a
housekeeper in the neighborhood but Sc
cretly envled its many conveniences and
exquisite neatness.
''And it sn't the dairy alone. !" triumph
antly remarked seth Bellenden. "And
you may 60 through the house from gar
ret to cellar, and you II never find speck
of dust. There never was such house.
keeper as my wife"
Mrs. Bellenden was young, too-scarce.
ly three and twenty. She had been the
daughter of retired army officer, deli
cately reared and quite ignorant of all the
machinery of domestic life until she mar.
ried Seth Bellenden.
tits very strange" Lucy had written
to her father. 1.-THE farm is beautiful
You never saw such monstrous old but
tonball 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 OF
reads. don It think there is copy of Ten
nyson in the whole neighborhood, and nc
one ever heard Of Dore or Millais. AL
they think of is how many dozen eggs the
hens lay, and how much cheese they car
make in a year. And the woman who
has new recipe for waff1es or new pat
tern for horrible thing they call crazy
quilts, is the leader in society,""
But presently young Mrs. Bellenden
herself caught the fever. and became q
model housewife.
Example is all-powerful, and Lucy be.
gan to believe that the whole end and
aim of life was domestic thrift. money
saving and this treadmill of work.
my DEAR" said Seth, ''if you thought
you could get along without Hepsy, the
maid, might be able to afford that new
reaper before the oat crop comes i'm
I'm try" said Lucy.
After that she rose before day break. and
worked later into the night than ever.
"What is the matter with your hands
Lucy?" Seth asked one day. 'They are
not 80 white and beautiful as they used
to be-"
Lucy colored as she glanced down at
the members in question.
II suppose it is from making fires,
said she.
And then she took to wearing old kid
gloves at her sweeping and busting ant
digging out of the ashes.
"My coat is getting shabby Seth on
day remarked.
"Why don't you buy another one2'
asked his wife.
| Seth laughed short laugh.
"What do you think Mrs. Higginb0t
ham has done?" said he. "She has rippe,
up her husbands old suit and cut pat
tern by it and made new one, and en-
tirely saved him ten dollars.
81 could do that!' said Lucy, wit
sparkling eyes. "I'll try it,
"You could do anything, my dear,
said Mr.. Bellenden. admiringly.
And Lucy felt that she had her rich re
ward.
Company began to come as soon as tn
bright weather set in.
All the affectionate relations of MI
house was cool and shady, that Lncy
cooking was excellent, and that the be-
rooms were neatness itself.
Some of them were even good enoug
to invite their relations as we'll ;and so tn
house was full from April to December.
i All the clergymen made 1t their hom
at Brother Bellenden's when they cam
to Sylvan Bridge for ecclesiastical conven
tions; all the agents for unheard of art
Giles discovered that they knew somebod
who was acquainted with the Bellendens
and brought their carpet bags and valise
with that faith in human hospitalit
which is one of life's best gifts.
Mrs. Bellenden's fame went abroa
among the Decreases of the neighborhoo
in the matter of butter and cheese; sh