Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-05-30
LEARNED A LESSON.

LEAhNEU "A LIAoDUNs
The July sun was beating down like
. rain Of molten fire on the little farm
house roof, and the branches Of the
trees hardly stirred In the breezeless
air, as Mrs. Lathrop came In from her
blackberrying expedition, her basket
filed with the sparkling jetty treasures,
and her face scarlet with the fatigue
and heat.
She threw herself down In o chair
without . word Of CHEEKY greeting for
the three healthy prattling little ones
who swarmed around her with thou
sand and one eager questions.
Mamma, did you ever see such .
nice doll as Tom has made for me out
Of an old piece Of wood2 Look, il has
got black beads for eyes and real hair.
And"
''Me tiss mamma; mesit on mamma's
lap" boldly announced three-year old
Josie, commencing to climb into the
desired citadel.
But Mrs. Lathrop pushed them all
peevishly away.
s'Don't talk so loud, Tom. Take the
ugly wooden fright away, Nell Josie.
II you don't 60 and sit down peaceably
I'll box your ears. Don't you know
I've got to carry these berries up to the
Grange yet, and aren't you willing to
leave me one solitary moment Of peace p
Tommy withdrew sulkily. Nelly
looked distastefully at the doll, which
had been so beautiful in her eyes but
moment ago. Josie began to whimper
under his breath. But they were quiet
that one point, at least, was gained.
Mrs. Lathrop's meditations were not
over pleasant that morning, IS she
slowly and toilsomely climbed the weary
hill which uplifted its hemlock- fringed
crest between her own little farmhouse
nest and the terraced lawns and closely
shorn greensward Of Ellsworth Grange.
Emmeline Lathrop was poor, and
somehow the yoke Of poverty had never
pressed SO heavily on her shoulders as il
did on this especial morning.
The Ellisworths had just bought the
Grange and come there to live during
the summer months, and Mary Ellis
worth had been Emmeline's schoolmate
ten years ago.
They had set side BY side on the
wooden benches 10 the old red school
house, IN their calico gowns. eating APP
pies and gingerbread out Of the same
lunch-basket; and now she was the wife
Of q hard-working farmer, with three
little ones 70 mend, and make. and con-
trive FOR, and Mary, no whit prettier or
more attractive than herself, had mar
ried q wealthy merchant. and had her
maid, and her carriage with it's liveried
goodman, and her diamonds.
Emmeline was thinking Of al these
things as she trudged slowly along with
the heavy basket Of berries weighing
down her arm.
Why were the gall and the honey Of
this life so unequally distributede Why
should she toll, and slave, and eat the
bread Of labor, rising up early and lying
down late, while Mrs. Ellsworth. her
superior ia no one particular, sic IN silk
and jewels, with servants at her beck
and CALF
Why had she been such fool as TO
marry George Lathrop, who had only
his farm and his own strong right hand,
when. BY waiting : year or two. she
might have done IS well FOR herself IS
had Mary Wyndham
It was wrong-it was unjust: and Mrs.
LathrCp repined bitterly within herself
Is she walked slowly along the broad
gravelled drive with blossoming shrubs
on either side. and glimpses Of fOun-
tains. marble ntatuary. and parterrea %
Of rainbow-hued flowers beyond.
Nor did her envious panga grow less
Is she approached the house Il was
stately structure Of eray-stOne, With
Venetian awnings &c ell The windows, and
en- octagonal tower rising up in the
middle, with mimic battlements. and :
dag floating ont in the summer air,
while on either side Of the fight Of
broad stone steps = ssulptursd vaae was
lilled with flowers and trailing plants.
Mn. Iathop stood hesitating where
10 "a. She had not met HRS. Ellsworth
since the family had come down to the
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