St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-01-10
NATHAN's LESSON.
Taught by a Sensible and blessed
Old Maid"

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 / 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.
I'll write Immediately
s.Yes, Nathan; that is right / know,
but can't help dreading it. / 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 l 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-
band S 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
was nothing to fear from the quiet. sad
life had been so full of devotion to
others. and noble self-sacrifice. 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 Raw. with the unerring instinct of
! kehildhood, felt the depth of her quiet
kindliness, and took her at once into
their loving little hearts,
Miss Tracy. although wholly ur ~
. Sirusiye, was naturally very obse -ant @
This. together with the interest ela 81
h her brothers family led oer M hefor.
sAc had been many weeks on ;nmate =
j j his house. to make a dir covs,y
Nathan, in his desi - =, ee,t -, = ~,
world, was mlssi g much that woul,
haAe naue i.ie e,ieasant. In thinking 5,
constan'is oi the future, he was losin.
~ ne :" setness of the present. Tha
fnls '" = affecting the whole family wa
onls too apparent. 1t was seen il
.AAra's anxious. weary face, and re
in less degree upon the coun
tenances of their children.
There seemed to be no rest for any o
4hem. No relaxation in the struggle. fol
Existence. Nothing to vary the wearin.
monotony of everyday labor, which
Ike some huge Jugrernaut. was crush
Ef3ng beneath its wheels all that NIGH
have made life sweet and pleasant.
Martha shrank from interfering witt
the habits of her brothers family; but
looking ahead. she saw for them nothing
hut sorrow and disappointment, ant
u felt that something must be done to saw,
1hem.
Watching for an opportunity TO tall
alone with Nathan, she gladly accepted
his invitation one morning to ride witt
him to town.
They were rolling rapidly over tn,
Z level prairie road. when Martha broke
the silence.
at is truly exhilarating to ride inthi:
hraciug air. over these fine roads, es-
necially with so nice rig, as You call
N The buggy is easy and the horse:
really fine animals. You must be doing
q well now, Nathan. "
% Il suppose am, Martha: but it has
heen hard pull, with losing crops
sickness, etc. We're IN debt yet, but
With hard work and economy [ guess
we can make it up in another year.
.sThen what viii come neNt?''
al intend to have a nice large barn
and some choice cattle: then / shall
build d good house and prepare to take
comfort. There isn't a better farm than
mine for miles around, and | mus'
make the best Improvements possible
Then. some day, we'll have the best ol
everything. =,
..But who win share it all with you?''
..Why, my family. of counsel open
ing hisseyes wide with astonishment.
..An except Clara. yon mean, sol
emnly.
.sVhv, Martha. how you talk. 1t is
for her I'm working else, I'd like
to know?a
.Now. Nathan. just take few plain
vords from your sister. who means
nnlv 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.
yincsd that your wife j. wearing out,