The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-02-26

rnAr uIEssED OLD AAID.
.Thsss V no sshsr vsy, Clara A.
he oaly rslstivs she Aas lsit ed - mast
invite her here Tor The visssr. anyhow.
She sad John stayed With father ssd
mother vhils I vss roaming here go
there. Nov sAsy are aii gone. Aarthas
sloas, asd ~ no moro than right sor ne
y lssk ssl isr hss awhile III vriss i'm
-G.eN,ss.@Ap ! nJAIlDo-. sus
| I cssf hsip drss1ing Il. I lwsys had :
horror Of old maids asd Mrs. Trssy
locked psrvsusly around The kitchen Of
Tie little farm hsuss.
.,'You sssdst b afraid Of faElAs; she
IL ven ~ ~ sentafs e ~ nose
enRf& kaKSssbss Oh najds W
,kXe,T &EOAs#
In spits Of his rssssuripg words. Mrs.
Tracy dreaded The arrival sf her hustsnds 2
maiden sistsr. whom be had not ssea
since The day be left his New England
hoI r htry Ais f9r( the ssv West.
r. u fsar kspS ~ quiss. "a f.ssd
woman Who came 70 thsn. whose life had
bssn % full q devotion. 70 cthsrs. and 40
bls sell saorihcs. that there had been no
time for growing hard and bitter. because
some Of lifss sweetest blessings had been
yHshildrss ~ ..d nab.l .sd baby
RsMykh Tia n &Srrihg iasiiust q child
hood, islt the depth Of quiet kindness'
and tsok her at snos into their loving 1T
tls hssfbs. T lsI ~
Miss Tracy, although wholly unobtrs-
sive, was obssrvant. This, together will
the interest she felt 10 her brothers fan
Ily. led her, before she had been many
weeks an inmate Of his house. 70 make
discovery.
Nathan, ia his desire to get on in tn
world, was missing much that would have
made life pleasant In thinking 90 con
stantly Of the future, be was losing o.
lswsstnsss Of the present. That this VA
affecting the whole family was only to-
apparent. 1t was seen in Clsra's anxious
weary face, and repeated in less degrs
upon the countsssnces OF their children.
There seemed to be no rest for any
them. No relaxation in the struggle 10
existence. Nothing to vary the wearyinl
monotony OF every day labor. which, lik
some huge Juggsrnaut, was crushing be
ssath its wheels oil that might have mad
life sweet and pleasant.
Martha shrank from interference wit
tho habits Of her brothers family; bu
looking ahead. she saw for then nothin
but sorrow and disappointment. and 10
that something must be done to save then
Watching for ~ opportunity to tal
alone With Nathan, she gladly sccspte
his invitation, one morning, to ride Wit
him u town.
They we're rolling rapidly over the lev
prsiris road, whel Martha broke u
silence
"It is tssly sxhilsrsting % ride in th
brasiug aif, ever these fac roads. ssps
tally With 20 nics : rig, ls you call
\ The buggy is easy and the horses real
ans animals. You must be doing We
now, Nathan.
~ II suppose am, Martha; but 1t b
i been hard pull. with losing crops, sicl
ness, etc. We're in debt yet. but vi
bsra work ssd sconemy gusss We G.
II Atsitppsin another year"
TIlkThsn What will CONS nextSs
- II intend 10 have nice, large barn o
some shoics cattle; then l shall buil'
! good house and prepare 10 take comic
There isn't bottor farm than mine
miles around. and l must make the b
Improvements possible. Then, some d.
\ lvsll have tho best Of everything
I'LL '.But who will share it with your
4 "Why, my family, Of course" open
lily his ewes vide with astenisbment
"All except Clara, you mean, she g
sslsmnly.
"Why, Martha, hsw you talk ltY
u her rm working who else. Id lik'
al SssW NAss. iu.. tax. few p
wsrls from your sister, who means Q
. kisdpess. I've bad experience, and
~ judgement. Clara hasn't vitality emo
70 take hsr through another year OF b
vclk.. ihSss your interests st heart,
lrss xoald not needlsssly arouse your e
bat I am convinced that your wife is v
ing out. She must rest from this cons
,.., -, labor, or your children will soon be ~
y q srless. Az
"Don't, Martha. talk In that way
IN Is a we'll = usual. She was always
INT der aud delicate. I'd gladly have
w hsr 10 ease. bst she knew she marri
poor man. ani wss willing to work
I'm Hs Was . little annoyed.
Il doub. NJ you hays been kind
N 1fdbdae kss ena nov that she has he
svork MP 90 far. l know you will be
'ss' 70 give her vacation. You do not re
.sss vhat Il is to care for three children
..n. do al the work that must' be done
- farm house. She might have been
der when sirl, bat not care.wors.
night il you will look st one Of be
Iists ,ictures. tou vii be convinced that
sAR}pks I I'm. uhA &ivasy
"Hov much would il cost 70 sen
--- back 10 Ohio for tho winter' can
house."
's3imply out Of the question.
m veulant . anyhow, Martha"
u - ~