Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-15

rRowSs AND SMILES.

owned as much nerSclI. Anu q miSt6Ae
must be very patent indeed, before Mrs
Briggs would own it. For she was one o
those high-nosed domineering females
who pretend to almost superhuman fore
sight, and believe they can read charac
ters az an open book.
II never was so disappointed in CIR
in my life," said Mrs. Briggs. II thought
she had some grit about her. But there
| might as well have an old dish rag in
my kitchen as Meta Milton.
Meta herself. if the truth were to be
told, was equally disillusionized. She
had fancied that lite in the country was all
roses, new mown hay and nightingales
and when it came to getting up at day.
break. churning by the alfhour in blue
mould smelling cellar, scrubbing kitchen
floors and baking hot cakes for a tableful
of shirt sleeved farm hands. she was com.
pletely taken aback.
There were no lanes wherein to linger
at dusk (Mr. Briggs was great deal too
careful of his land to let any part of it run
to waste. } no picturesque old we'll sweeps
or ivy clad ruins.
es flung their perfume on the air, and di-
TccLly III iTOut VI tuc HAIL uoOI tuciC w d.
a field of monster tobacco leaves.
And eff you've got any time to spare. "
said Mr.. Briggs, you'd better lay it out
in pickin' them plaguy big worms off the
terbacker. instead o. cuttin' round the
country arter wild flowers"
"Meta had been shop girl in Bridge
port store before she came to her cousin
Briggs. Her health had failed, the doctor
had advised country air. new milk and a
change of scene.
Mrs Briggs, on being written to, had
unwilingly consented that Meta should
spend the summer there.
''She must be poor creature, indeed, if
she can't earn her board and little more
into the bargain" said Mrs. Briggs, who
was one of those gripping, grinding task
mistresses who think of trade and profit
alone.
But Meta had not passed triumphantlv
through the ordeal. Perhaps she had not
fully regained her strength. Perhaps she
had become discouraged with the endless
of work which Mrs. Briggs pro-
vided for her.
She was pale, pretty girl with fair
hair, large, sorrowful blue eyes, and a
color that came and went with Pickering
ing brilliance.
"And it's my opinion" and Mrs Briggs
who was IN the habit of flying around the
house with her head tied up in a cotton
pocket handkerchief "that she spends
deal too much time a-fixin' up and prim-
pin before the glass-white lace at her
neck every day and ribbon bow and
white aprons of an afternoon. Checked
Bingham is good enough for me and it
ought tc be for her."
At the end of the first month Mrs.
Briggs told Meta with engaging frankness
ethat she had not proved equal to the
81 guess we don't want you here no
more" said Mrs. Briggs. You amt got
no more strength than a rabbit, and, any
way. there amt no calculation about YOU
You may do we'll enough as store gal,
but you won't never earn your bread at
general housework.'
Meta sighed.
"But what am I to do P" said she.
Where am to go?"
That's you're affair."" said Mrs Bri ggs,
And then she went to take her bread out
of the oven.
John Perkins, the nephew of the old
deacon who lived in the brick house on
the hill, and had more money than the
best arthmetcian in Yellow Plains could
count, came the next day to drive Meta
and her poor little trunk to the stage sta
tlon.
John had seen Meta at church. He had
stood beside her more than once at sing
ing school; and one night when the cattle
were obstreperous he had come to the res
cue and helped Meta drive them home.
So when Farmer Briggs sent over word
that his horse was lame, and asked for the
loan of Deacon Perkins roam colt to carry
Meta Milton to the station, John himself
had volunteered to act as charioteer.
Going away, heyp" said John, when
they had ridden abort distance in 81.
lence.
"Yes,'p said Meta, sadly. 81 am going
away"
Didn't like the folks" said John.
II tried to like them," said Meta; "but
Mrs. Briggs was not suited with me. The
were too heavy. and it gave me
a pain in the side to lift the tubs"
You do look rather SLIM" observed
John.
And he chewed a straw in silence for
some time before he asked, with some
abruptness:
"And where are you bound for p'
II don't know" said Meta. 81 can't
60 back to the store because my lost place
is filed; and it's very hard to get work
anywhere at this time of the year. The
doctor said ought to stay at least year
in the country; but Mrs. Briggs has got
another girl and"
Here John Perkins arrested the course
of the roam colt, and began turning HIM
round.
"Dear! dear?" said Meta, shave we
got into the wrong road?''
mo" said John Perkins. mot that
know of. But if the doctor said you
ought to stay year, then year you
stay
''But wherep" said Meta.
with us, said John Perkiug 1--WE
taken notion to you, Meta. The first
time ever set eyes on you, said to nv
self, Here's the gal for mel and if you'll
marry me, Meta, III do my best to take
care of you and be good husband to
you"
"Marry your repeated Meta. and she
looked timidly into John Perkins honest
gray eyes, and then she added. Eyes,
Mr.. Perkins, | will"
"Shall we 60 right to the parson's9"
said John.
IL suppose so," said Meta
"It's the hest wavn said John elf