The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-09-19

"jell" or jam, or preserves.
And only one pair of hands to do
it all, for Mother Doubleday was
crippled with rheumatism, so she
could do nothing but sit in her
easychair and knit; and Farmer
Doubleday and his two stalwart |
sons had their hands full with the |
sheep, and the teams, and thrifty |
acres of fields and meadow to cult
vate.
To-bc-surc Tom, the youngest son
did what he could to help Bessie.
He carried in the wood for her,
brought her a bucket of fresh water
from the old well in the back yard
as often as possible, and helped her
drive up the COWS from the back
pasture, where they delighted to
stray at milking-time.
But with all his endeavors, Tom
could not do a great deal, and Bes-
sic was often tired enough when she
crept up stairs to her little room at
night to find the only rest she knew
out of the twenty-four hours.
She kept up a cheerful heart,
however, and ever dared to think,
secretly of the time when she wonld
have a home of her own, with only
two "do for"
For Bessie and Martin Satterth-
waite were keeping company" and
though he had not actually propos-
ed to her, they were looked upon by
the Saiterthwaite family and the
village folks generally as engaged
couple.
"An' Il good match it'll be fur her
too" sighed Mother Doubleday,
half regretfully "but | dunno
what we'll do without her. Sich
another gal amt to be had, fur love.
nor money"
She's too good fur Mart Satterth-
waite" grumbled Tom. "It's
a-throwing herself away to marry a
mullet-head like him."
But nobody minded what Tom
said, and Bessie's market was look
ed upon as already made.
4 4 :: !: Il y X
maria Maria !"
The click of the sewing-machine
suddenly stopped, and a sour-faced
: girl looked up GROSSLY from her
work.
"What do you want ?" she de-
manded. 81 never get II chance"
"Maria, Martin Sattcrthwaitc's
down stairs askin' fur you Hurry
i an go down !"
Maria Bogwood started up eagerly
, at her sister-in-law's announcement.
"Martin Satterthwaite ! What
do you reckon he wants ?" she cried
turning to q square-framed looking
glass on the mantle-shelf.
"To see you, he said an he's all
spruced up, like he'd come a-coWt-
ing. Mebbe he's fell in love with
;. you.
~ ''Mebbe he has"
Maria smiled camplacently as she
smoothed her straight, black locks
and carefully adjusted staring red
" bow at her throat, and went dowr
- to receive the visitor.
y Martin stayed some time, anG
when he left he was engaged to Miss
Maria Bogwood, who triumphantly
announced the fact to her sister-in
} law.
n 81 said so ~ cried little Mrs
a Thatcher, delighted. 81 said h,
9 looked like he'd come accounting
and so he did. He's mighty well
IT to-do, an you're lucky to git him
II Maria"
10 "Oh ofcourse you're glad to b
1T rid of me !' retorted Maria, ill-nat
y uredly. "But | wouldn't have hin
ut anyway, only to spite Bess Moore
IN She's been trying to ketch him, al
n summer, an she hain't got him
n after all !"
4 X IL IS i y
y, "Keeping company with Mari
- Bogwood ? Oh, Tom, it can't b
'" true w
he "I'm afraid it is" returned Ton
as gravely "and-and, Bessie, the
say he's engaged to her Don't CT
aV Bessie !" he added, gravely. "ATa
w tin Satterthwaite amt worth tei
from you"
'e- | amt crying !" declared Bessi
/ though the tears were slowly drol
at, ping from her downcast eyes. "Bl
no Tom, don't don't tell anybody
be felt bad about it ~ she urged, b
'e- seechingly.
"Tell anybody What do yc
sic take me for ?" asked Tom, with ;
p indignant flush ON his handson
face. 81 brought you the ne,
nd myself on purpose to keep anyboc