Connecticut western news., 1885-05-20
LEARNED A LESSON.


 The July sun was beating down like rain of molten fire on the little farm house roof, and the branches of tn, trees hardly stirred in the breezelesl air, as Mrs. Lathrop came in from hel blackberrying expedition, her baske filled with the sparkling jetty treasures and her face scarlet with the fatigue and heat.
 She threw herself down fin chair without word of cheery greeting fol the three healthy prattling little ones who swarmed around her with thou. sand and one eager questions.
 Mamma, did you ever see such 8 nice doll as Tom has made for me out of an old piece of wood? Look, it has got black beads for eyes and real hair. And"
 s'Me tiss mamma; me sit on mamma's lap," boldly announced three-year old Josie, commencing to climb into the desired citadel. .s.
 But Mrs. Lathrop pushed them all peevishly away.
 Don't talk so loud, Tom. Take the ugly wooden fright away, Nell. Josie, if you don't go and sit down peaceably I'll box your ears. Don't you know I've got to carry these berries up to the Grange yet, and aren't you willing to leave me one solitary moment of peace ?''
 Tommy withdrew sulkily.. Nelly looked distastefully at the doll, which had been so beautiful in her eyes but a moment ago. Josie began to whimper under his breath. But they were quiet that one point, at least, was gained.
 Mrs. Lathrop's meditations were not over pleasant that morning, as she slowly and toilsomely climbed the weary hill which uplifted it's hemlock-fringed crest between her own little farmhouse nest and the terraced lawns and closely sborn greensward of Ellsworth Grange
 Emmeline Lathrop was poor, and somehow the yoke of poverty had never pressed so heavily on her shoulders as it dfl on this especial morning.
 Tho Ellisworths had just bought the Grange and come there to live during the summer months, and Mary Ellis worth had been Emmeline's schoolmate ten years ago.
 They had sat side by side on the wooden benches in the old red school house; in their calico gowns, eating ap- ples and gingerbread out of the same lunch basket; and now she was the wife of hard-working farmer, with three little ones to mend, and make, and con- trive for, and Mary, no whit prettier or more attractive than herself, had mar ried a wealthy merchant, and had her maid, and her carriage with its liveried coachman, and her diamonds. ..
 Emmeline was thinking of all these things as she trudged slowly along with the heavy basket of berries weighing down her arm.
 Why were the gall and the honey of this life so unequally distributed2 Why should she toil, and slave, and eat the bread of labor, rising up early and lying down late, while Mrs. Ellsworth, her superior, in no one particular, sit in silk and jewels, with servants at her beck and call? f
 Why had she been such fool as to marry George Lathrop, who had only his farm and his own strong right hand, when, by waiting a year or two, she might have done as we'll for herself as had Mary Wyndham :?
 It was wrong-it was unjust; and Mrs. Lathrop repined bitterly within herself as she walked slowly along the broad travelled drive with blossoming shrubs on either side, and glimpses of foun- tains, marble statuary, and parterres of of rainbow-hued flowers beyond.
 Nor did her envious bangs grow less as she approached the house. It was a stately structure of gray-stone, with Venetian awnings at all the windows, and m octagonal tower rising up in the Eulu0lOg WAlA A4A114C OhbblCnOubop uA1Ck R flag floating out in the summer air, while on either side of the flight of broad stone steps sculptured vase was filled with flowers and trailing plants.
 Mrs. Lathop stood hesitating where to go. She had not met Mrs. Ellsworth since the family had come down to the Grange, and she hardly knew whether her old schoolmate would receive her as friend, or merely as the farmers wife who had contracted with Mrs. Denison, the housekeeper, to supply the Grange family with berries and cream during the season.
 But the question was soon decided.
 One the Gothic easements of stained glass was thrown open, and Mrs. Ellis worth's own voice called her
 "Emmeline, Emmeline Come up here P
 She obeyed, and in a moment or two was in the luxurious boudoir of the lady Of the Grange.
 It was exquisitely furnished with velvet and satin, and white and gold and there were more articles of luxury scattered around than Mrs. LathroI ever knew the names of; and Mrs Ellsworth sat there in their midst, pale nnd languid looking, with her ring sncruatad Hngszs twinsd In ons another