Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-01-31
A Phase of Country Life.

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by Adelaide Lambert, NJ. d.
had often heard of Uncle Eneas and his
wealth, but had never seen him until grand,
He was cousin to grandmother, but out OF
respect to his age her children had been
taught to call him uncle We were pleased
with him and his old-fashioned ways and
gave him cordial invitation to pay rs Wis
it. In reply and as an apology for never
visiting us he said we had never "been to
see his folks" The ensuing winter passed
through the town where Uncle Eneas resi-
ded. I stopped and spent the night with
s'his folks" Cousin Louisa answered my
knock at the front door; she is Uncle Eneas'
unmarried daughter, and her name is pro-
nounced as if spelled Lowizy. On chair in
the hall was the butter for immediate family
use; in the sitting room every window was
filed with scraggly plants; some in pots,
others in tin pans and pals which had be-
come useless for household purposes, and had
been transferred to this ornamental use.
Louisa had humble, apologetic manners, that
were striking in contrast with the assurance
of a.widowed sister, Lo1inda, who was home
on a visit Louisa manifested a great will
hngness to assist me in laying aside my
wraps, but maintained silence which made
me fear my coming had displeased or incon-
venienced her. l exerted myself to be agree
able, but she remained silent Occasionally
she smiled a sickly smile, such as weak, suf-
fering people give in recognition of little at
tentions The kitchen opened out of the sit
ting room, and the door between the two
rooms stood open, SO that all the odors from
cooking were waited in as a foretaste. Upon
the kitchen stove was something boiling, in
which all the vapor of the culinary depart
ment seemed centered Tha sisters alterna-
ted each other, at short intervals, in ascer-
tanning, by means of fork energetically
used, how near this something" was to be-
ing sufficiently cooked. At dinner we sat
down to square table, such as were used
before the Introduction of extension tables
There was not sufficient room for all to be
seated at once. Louisa assigned ner place to
Lorinda and withdrew, refusing to listen to
her remonstrance.
After dinner looked around to see what
could find in the way of reading. 1 found a
kind Of medical work, CDR. Chae's Receipt
Book and several copies of some papers that
publish such stories as ''Squint Eye Zeke or
the Boy Pirate" Fortunately I had provi-
ded myself with book before leaving home.
Louisa was occupied in the kitchen and Lo-
rinda so engaged in sewing that l began
reading. I had just read 'His whole work
on earth is an emblematic spoken or acted
prayer, be the will of God done on earth
not tine DEVILS will or any of the devils ser
wants wills! He has a religion, this man;
an everlasting 1oadstar that beams the
brighter in the heavens the darker here on
earth grows the night around him." and sat
thinking of such life when my thoughts
were interrupted by Lorinda calling to Loui-
sa, did you see Jane Tompkins go by? Has
she had her cloak fixed over this winter!"
There is much truth in the assertion that
some people are nothing more than clothes
horses. l have wondered what the enjoy
ment of diseInbodied spirits of such people
would be- They would have no bodies to
adorn and they could not please by their
dress and graceful manners. Their thoughts
could not be entrctaining to themselves or
others unless they were greatly changed and
enlarged from what they We're while IN the
body.
At twilight Uncle Eneas came in The
conversation which followed his coming dis
closed to me what was his pride now in his
old age. 1t was not his children, but his
farms and mortgages. He looked upon eff
forts after moral and intellectual advance
ment as waste of time and energy. The
same time and energy directed to the making
of dollars and cents secured something tan
gible. His departed wife had shared in his
views and aspirations. They felt that in
giving birth, food and raiment to their off
spring they had fulfilled the whole sum of
parents duty.
1 had, it seems, arrived at an opportune
time for seeing my relative. Lorinda thrust
her head out of the door exclaiming, SIS
that yeou? Where did yeou come froma'
Jonathan, the eldest son, and his wife Phebe
had come to spend the evening Phebe had
5wo sons i'll whom she felt a mothers pride,
She took great pleasure in relating little in
;idents illustrative of their ability and, like
many mothers, was anxious to have them
shine i'll society. She told me with many
smiles OF Rodney taking girl" few even
ngs before to spend the evening at friends
ind knowing i5 was her privilege-how he
attained this knowledge she failed to state
% signify wish to return, had waited until
,hree O'Clock for her to avail herself of this
privilege, of which she was blissfully uncon-
'eious. Jonathan occupied a seat near me,
when Phebe playfully remarked that she
:eared Jonathan might be so attentive as to
,xcite her jealousy. He was long and lank
md had bright red hair. At Phebe's pleas
ng intimation of his charms his mouth ex.
ended to its full width in q smile which dis
played the relic of teeth he once nossessed
ohebes love [ suppose threw q chain over
lim invisible to any eye but hers.
Shortly after Jonathan and Phebe's arrival
Andrew, the youngest son, who lived upon
he farm with his father, came with his wife.
They had been spending the dav at her sis
er's. During the evening reference was
made to disease then raging in some cities
where shiploads of bags from foreign coun-
ries had been landed 1t was thought the
ags were infected. Andrews wife gave as
Ter opinion that .sthey hadn't ought to al |
ow them to bring them in from foreign |
PARTS, for there is no telling how much cpl |
lemic there are in them" Later in the |
vening the gentlemen retired to the kitchen !
0 smoke and talk over the spring work. |
'hebs, after their departure, observes to IIo- |
india: 'They say Mr.. Martins baby is sick |
gain; SO Sarah said and Mrs. Baker told her |
mother It's been sick ever since it's been |
Falkin'.'" The transition from sickness to |
cath was very easy, and Lorinda gave full !
etails of foneral at which some Of the be- |
eaved ones had not bewailed their loss as
oudly as she thought becoming to people
nder bereavement, This recital recalled
I'D memories to Lorinda OF her departed |
usband. After recounting some of his
1any virtues she exclaimed, s'Only to think, |
ere we set talkin' about him and where is
eg This passionate eNthatst of grief was
ollowed by az interval of silence, in which
heba withdrew to the kitchen and Lorinda
uietly wept, at least kept her eyes covered |
18th a handkerchief Presently she bright
ned and said, ''It is such comfort; he al
avs bought everything, but just before he
led did, and he said I was pretty good |
nancier; shall never see or make a billed
ag pudden without thinking of Myron'' At
le same time In the kitchen, Phebe was ex-
tedly stating facts concerning property left
y her father, lately deceased. 1t seems he
ad died at her mothers, and the brother
ad made charges that would cover the little
tate of their father. Phebe's sense of JUS
ce was offended. She recalled her justice
nder similar circumstance Uncle Eneas
as thoughtful as he listened to Phebe, as
he might be thinking of the contention
s lands and mortgages, Of which he was SO
'oud, would some day occasion.
AS I bade Louisa good night said, "You
ust be very tired, I fear ] have caused you
great deal of trouble. Her face frightened
L moment As if words of sympathy were
re but sweet to her." Her household duties
ere unremitting, but constant oc-
patioI. is wholesome remedy for an un-
sy or troubled mind, think Louisa had
armed the efficacy of this remedy. Her life
emed shern of every hope; she had reached
age, when the hopes and attractions of