Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-05-16
Fortune S Smiles and FroWns


Mrs. Briggs had made mistake
She owned as much, herself. And
a mistake must be very patent,
indeed, before Mrs. Briggs would
own to it. For she was one of
those higll-nosed, domineering te-
males who pretend to an almost Su
perluman foresight, and believe
that they can read character as if
it were an open book.
81 never WAS so disappointed in
a girl in my life" said Mrs. Briggs.
81 thought she had some grit
about her. But, there! might as
well lave an old diSll-rag in my
kitchen as Meta MiltonI"
Meta herself, if the truth were
to he told, w;ls equally disil1usion-
lied. She had fancicd that life in
the country was all roses, new.
mown hay and nightingaleS; and
when it came to getting up before
daybreak, churning by the half
hour in Il blue-mold smelling cellar,
Scrubbing kitchen floors and bak-
ing hot cakes for Il tablerul OF shirt
SIeevcd tarm hands, she was COM
| pletely taken aback.
There were no lanes wherein to
lingcr at dusk (Mr. Briggs was Il
great deal too careful OF his land to
let any part of it run to waste), no
picturesque old wellsweeps or ivy
clad ruins.
Cabbages grew in rows; onion
patches flung their perfume OH the
air, and directly in front ofthe main
door there was a field Of monster
10 And Ell you've got any time to
spare" said Mr.. Briggs, you'd bet
fer lay it out in pickin' them pla-
guy big worms off the terbacker.
instead o. cuttin' round the coun-
try AFTER wild fiowerSw
Meta had been shop girl in a
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 creetur, in
deed, if she can't earn her board
and little more into the bargain"
said Mrs. Briggs, who was one of
those gripping, grinding taSllmis.
tresSes who think Of trade and
profit alone.
But Meta had not passed trium-
phantly through the ordeal. Per,
haps she had not fully regained her
strength. Perhaps she had become
discouraged with the endless tread
mill of work which Mrs. Briggs pro
vided for her.
She was pale, pretty girl, with
fair hair, large, sorrowtul blne eyes
and color that came and went
with fickerlng brilliancy.
"And it's my opinions" said Mrs.
Briggs, who was in the habit OF
flying around the house with her
head tied up in cotton pocket
handkerchief, chat she spends a
deal too much time afxin' up and
prinkin' before the glass-white
lace at her neck every day and a
ribbon bow and white aprons OF an
afternoon. Checked gingham is
good enough for me, and it ought
to be for her!"
At the end of the first month
Mrs. Briggs told Meta, with engag
ing frankness, that she had moi
proved equal TO the emergency.
~ guess we don't want you here
no more,n said Mrs. Briggs. 'Yor
amt got no more strength than I;
rabbit, and, anyway, there amt nc
calculation about you. Ion may
do very we'll as a store gal, butyol
won't never earn your bread a
general housework."
Meta sighed.
"But what am I to do9" said she
; "Nhere am to go?2
) .That's your affair." said Mrs
Briggs
And then she went to take he
bread out of the oven.
! John Perkins, the nephew of til,
old deacon who lived in the brio
house on the hill, and had NOR
money than the best arithmetlcla
in yellow Plains could count, cam
the next day to drive Meta and he
5 poor little trunk to the stage stf
:: tion.
: John had seen Meta at church.
He had stood beside her more tina
!. once at singing school; and Oh
night, when the cattle were obstrt
: porous. he had come to the rescue
+ and helped Meta drive them home
0 So, when Farmer Briggs SCI
|. over word that his horse was lame
;, and asked for the loan of Deaco
Perkins roam cob 10 carry Met
5 Milton to the STATION, John himSe
= had volunteered to act as charlo
Ger.