Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1885-01-24
NATHAN'S LESSON.
Taught by a Sensible and blessed
Old Maid"

O1d G1St1O.
'"There is no other way, Clara. am
the only relative she has left, and we
must invite her here for the winter,
anyhow. She and John stayed with
father and mother while I was roaming
here and there. Now they are all gone,
Martha's alone, and it's no more than
right for me to look out for her awhile.
III write Immediately
Eyes, Nathan; that is right I know,
but I can't help dreading it. I always
had horror of old maids;'" and Mrs.
Tracy looked nervously around the plain
kitchen of the little farmhouse.
'You needn't be afraid of Martha:
she isn't very old, and I venture to say,
none of the prying, disagreeable old
maids we read of.
In spite of his reassuring words, Mrs.
Tracy dreaded the arrival of her hus-
bands maiden sister, who he had not
seen since the day he left his New En-
gland home to try his fortune in the
new West.
But, as Clara soon discovered, there
u.
faced woman who came to them, whose
life had been so full of devotion to
others, and noble self-sacrifce, that
there had been no time for growing
hard and bitter because some of life's
sweetest blessings had been denied her.
The children, Bert and Mabel and
baby Ray, with the unerring instinct of
childhood, felt the depth Of he quiet
kindliness, and took her at once into
their loving little hearts.
Miss Tracy, although wholly unob-
trusiye, was naturally very observant.
This, together with the interest she felt
in her brothers family led her, before
she had been many weeks an inmate of
his house, to make discovery.
Nathan, in his desire to get on in the
world, was missing much that would
have made life pleasant. In thinking so
constantly of the future, he was losing
all the sweetness of the present. That
this was affecting the whole family was
only too apparent. 1t was seen in
Clara's anxious, weary face, and re-
peated in less degree upon the coun-
tenances of their children.
There seemed to be no rest for any of
them. No relaxation in the struggle for
existence. Nothing to vary the wearing
monotony of everyday labor, which,
like some huge Juggernaut, was crush
ing beneath its wheels all that might
have made life sweet and pleasant.
Martha shrank from interfering with
the habits of her brothers family; bus
looking ahead, she saw for them nothing
but sorrow and disappointment, and
felt that something must be done to save
them.
Watching for an opportunity to talk
alone with Nathan, she gladly accepted
his invitation one morning to ride with
him to town.
They were rolling rapidly over the
level prairie road, when Martha broke
the silence.
''It is truly exhilarating to ride in this
bracing air, over these fine roads, es-
pecially with so nice rig as you call
1t. The buggy is easy and the horses
really fine animals. You must be doing
well now, Nathan"
81 suppose 1 am, Martha; but it has
been hard pull, with losing crops,
sickness, etc. We're in debteyet, but
with hard work and economy l guess
we car. make it up in another year."
linen WllaG Will come next!
/ 81 intend to have nice large barn,
and some choice cattle; then shall
build good house and prepare to take
comfort. There isn't better farm than
mine for miles around, and | must
make the best improvements possible
Then, some day, we'll have the best o.
everything"
''But who will share it all with youp''
"Why, my family, of coursep' open
ing his eyes wide with astonishment.
"All except Clara, you mean.' sol
emnly.
"Why, Martha, how you talk. It il
for her I'm working-who else, I'd like
to knowP"
''Now, Nathan, just take few plair
words from your sister, who mean:
only kindness. I've had experience
and. in my Judgment, Clara hasn't vi
tality enough to take her through an
other year of hard work. [ have your
interests at heart, and would not need
lessly arouse your fears; but [ am con
vinced that your wife is wearing out
She must rest from this constant labor
or your children will soon be mother
less.
Don't, Martha, talk in that way
Clara is as well as usual. She was al
ways slender and delicate. I'd gladl,
have kept her in ease, but she knew sh
married poor man, and was willing t.
work up" He was little annoyed.
Il doubt not you have been kind an
good to her. and now that she ha
helped work up so far, I know yo
will be glad to give her vacation. Yol
do not realize what it is to care for thre
little children and do all the work tina
must be- done In farmhouse. Sh
might have been slender when girl
but not careworn. Tonight, if yo
will look at one of her old pictures, 20
| viii be convinced am right.