The Washington critic., 1885-08-27
FR0WNS AND SMILES.

A'iH' bllEEo lli i''l'l' ~ lhio'bN''
She owned ne much herself. And
mistake must be patent, indeed, before
Mrs. Briggs would own to it. For she
was Of those high -nosed, domineering
females who pretended to an almost
supcrhuman foresight, and belive they
can read character as if it were an open
book.
II never was so disappointed in
girl in my life, said Mrs. Briggs. 81
Sought she had some grit about her.
But there; | might as well have an old
dish-rag in my kitchen as Meta Mil
| ton.
Meta, herself, if the truth were to be
told was equally disillusionizcd. She
| had fancicd that life in the country
was all roses, new mown hay and
nightingalcs; and when 1t came to
| getting up ut day break, churning by
the half hour in blue mold smelling
cellar, scrubbing kitchen floors and
| baking hot cakes for tablcful of shirt
| slcCvcd farm hands. she was completely
taken aback.
There were no lanes wherein to lin
ger at dusk (Mr. Briggs was great
deal too careful of his land to let any
| part of ii run to waste), no picturesque
well.swceps or ivy-clad ruins.
Cabbages grew in rows; onion
| patches threw their perfume on the air,
and directly in front of the door there
was field of monster tobacco leaves.
"And Of you've any time to spare"
said Mr.. Briggs you'd better lay it out
in picking the plaguey worms off the
tcrbacker instead of cutting round the
country artcr wild flowers"
| Meta had been q shop girl in
Bridgeport store before she came to
her cousin Briggs. Her health had
failed, the doctor had advised country
air, new milk and change of scene.
Mrs. Briggs, on being written to, had
unwillingly consented that Meta should
spend the summer there.
"She must be a poor creature, indeed,
if she can't earn her board and little
more into the bargain" said Mrs.
Briggs, who was one of those gripping,
grinding task-mistresses who think of
trade and profit alone.
But Meta had not passed triumph
antly through the ordeal Perhaps she
had not fully rcgained her strength.
Perhaps she had become discouraged
with the endless treadmll of work
which Mrs. Briggs provided for her.
She was pale, pretty girl, with fair
hair, large, sOrrowful blue eyes, and n
color that came and went with flick
ering brillancc.
And it's my opinion" said Mrs.
Briggs, who was in the habit of flying
around the house with her head tied
up in a cotton pocket handkerchief,
chat she spends deal too much time
a-fXing and primpin' afore the glass
white lace at her throat every day and
ribbon bow and white aprons on an
afternoon. Checked Bingham is good
enough for me and it ought to be for
her"
At the end of the first month Mrs
Briggs told Meta with engaging frank
ness, and she had not proved equal to
the emergency.
II guess we don't want you here no
more" said Mrs Briggs "You ain t
got no more strength than rabbit,
and, anyway, there amt no calculation
about you. You may do very well as
a store-gal, but you won't earn your
bread at general housework."
Meta sighed.
"But what am I to do?" she said /;
where am to go?"
That's your affair" said Mrs.
Briggs.
And then she went to take her bread
out of the oven.
John Perkins, the nephew of the old
deacon who lived in the brick house
on the hill, and had more money than
the best arithmetician in Yellow Plains
could count, came to carry Meta and
her poor little trunk to the station.
So that when Farmer Briggs sent
over word that his horse was lame and
asked for the loan of Deacon Perkins
roam colt to carry Meta Milton to the
station, John himself volunteered to
act as charioteer.
Going away, hcy?" said John when
they had ridden short distance in 81.
lcncc.
YES" said Meta, sadly, Il am go.
ing away"
Didn't like the folks" said John,
II tried to like them" said Meta,
"but Mrs. Briggs was not suited with
me. The washings were too heavy
and it gave me pain in my side to lift
the tubs.
"You do look rather SLIM" observed
John.
/ And he chcwed a straw in silence fol-
, some time before he asked with some
abruptness:
And where are you bound for ?"
81 don't know" said Meta. 81
| can go back to the store because my
lost place Is filled; and it is very hare
to get work anywhere Mt this time OF
the year The doctor said ought tC
stay year ut least in the country; but
Mrs. Briggs has got another girl and
, Here John Perkins suddenly ar
, rested the course of the roam colt anC
began turning him scientifically round
"Dem Dear !" said Meta, "hav,
we got into the wrong road p
mo" said John Perkins. Not ~
! know of. But if the doctor sale
you ought to stay year, then yea
, you stay"
"But whcrc?" said Meta.
, "With us, said John Perkins. 'Tv,
took notion to you, Meta. The frs
time ! ever set eyes on you | said t,
| myself, Here's the girl for me = auC
} If you'll marry me, Meta, I'll do m!
2 best TO take care of you and be gooC
| husband, -
marry youg' repeated Meta, anC
| she looked timidiy into John Perkins
honest blue eyes, and then she added
"Nes, Mr. Perkins | viii"
t shall we 90 right to the pars)ns?
I said John.
} III suppose SO, " said Meta,
} ITS the best way" said John II
l | begin u job | generally like to 80 OF
| with il.
, So they were married Meta wen
, back TO Mrs Briggs house until he
| young husband could break the new
r to his uncle Mrs. Briggs received tn
1 bride with some faint scmblunce of wei
| come,
, John Perkins is Il likely fellow,