Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-06-12
) MEAN HET.

MEAN HET.
: Away up among the Boston mountains,
IN Arkansaw-near a stream so rapid
thatit seemed torrent of hurry and worry
there stands an old stone house. Here
and there, high up among sudden coves
and down below in little valleys, luxur-
liant crops of grain and grasses grow.
The place is owned by old Nathan Bill
lngsly, a man whose reputation for piety
spreads far beyond the boundary lines of
the county. Mrs. BilIingsly was pale
and pious. She worked so hard in sum-
mer, cooking for the hired men, that she
barely had the strength in winter to en-
ter the revival work of the circuit and do
herself justice. To this devoted old
couple only one child had been born, a
girl who had grown up to be anything
but joy to her parents. They had been
married many years when the child was
born, and the old man, in an ecstasy of
delight, declared that the little thing was a
sunbeam that had fallen on to the shady
side of his life. Years failed to verify this
hopeful assertion. The gi1l, known all
over the neighborhoOd as Mean Het, was,
to her parents, q constant cause of vexa-
tion, and sometimes she was the cause of
humiliation. She was small and of ex-
ceeding fleetness of foot Her face was
Of that peculiar paleness which no exer-
else tends to redden. Her eyes were as
dark as the interior of cave.
Hettie," said Mrs. Billingsly one
evening, "where have you been all day?"
She took a small fish from her pocket,
threw it on the table, pointed to it and
said:
"Worked all day for that little perch
Lost all my bait, and had to catch this
young sinner with cricket"
" You ought to be ashamed of your
SELF"
"I am. Anybody that couldn't do
better than this" again pointing at the
fish, "ought to feel ashamed. Got any
thing to eat, handy9 am hungry as a
wolff
''Ah, child,' sighed Mrs. Billingsly, as
she turned to the cubbard to take
down the dishes containing the dinner
which had been kept for the girl, "
don't know what is to become of you.
Hettie, do you know that you are sixteen
years old to-day?"
"This curly mustard makes splendid
greens, don't it2"
"Did you hear what I said to you2"
"Yessum. never would know how
old l am unless you were to tell me.
Sixteen years old-sixteen. Why, don't
feel old, mother, and after all am not
as old as you are."
"Hettie, don't be so foolish"
"Why, mother, is it foolish to tell the
truthG If l were to say that am as old
as you are it W ould be foolish and at the
same time it would be untrue"
"Hush, child. Here comes your father.
He is mad."
The old man entered the room.
"Het, where have you been2"
"Fishing."
'Tll fish YOU"
He walked out toward an apple tree.
The girl dropped her knife and fork.
Mother, he's going to whip me. Don't
let him. know Pm mean, but it hurts
SO when I'm whipped. Please don't let
him whip me"
The old man, stripping the leaves
from an apple tree sprout, walked in with
deliberation which showed his strength
of purpose.
''Ive fooled with you as long as am
goin' to, you good-for-nothin' thing,
Ill-n
'Hellom some one called at the gate.
The old man dropped the switch and
went out. Mrs. Billingsly and the girl,
seeing that the old man was conducting
someone toward the house, went into
the sitting room, where they were pre-
sented to young Mr. Wilkins, the newly
appointed circuit rider. The young
man, during a course of theological
study, had grown pale, but his face COL
ored when Hettie, with mischievous
frankness, extended her hand.
81 am under many obligations to you"
said Hettie, still holding the hand of the
blushihg preacher.
The old man glared at the girl. The
old lady violently cleared her throat.
obligations to me9 Why, Miss Bill
lingsly, do not understand you."
eyes, am. Father was just about to
larrup me with an apple tree sprout wien
you came"
"Leave this room," demanded the old
man, "Go on, tell you. That switch
is still handy, and you shall feel it vet "
The girl left the room. The aston
ished Mr.. Wilkins sat down, and recov.
ering somewhat from his embarrassment,
said
"Brothcr Billingsly, how is the con-
dition of the church in this neighbor.
hoodW
'Prctty fair"
"At the last meetin'," remarked the
old lady, 1--WE had three of as bright
conversions as ever saw. There has
been a little backslidin' lately, caused by
bran dances an the like, but with the
right sort of work the church can be put
in first rate condition. This is your first
charge, amt it2"
'fYes, l have just come from college
Although Ihave never been actively en-
gagged in the vineyard, yet 1 beliye that
l can do good work. / have"
The minister uttered an exclamation
and ran out into the yard. His horse
was galloping away. A giggling CIR
drew back behind a corner of the house.
She had unhitched the horse. The
preacher by climbing fences and crossing
rugged pisces, succeeded in catching the
horse, but at least two hours were spen