Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-19
AUNT DEBORAH'S DRUDGE.

| had worked In Aunt Deborah's
kitchen Till nobody expected anything
else of me. had been retained in the
house on sutferance at first, because
Aunt Deb0rah's brother, nay father,
had run through all his property, and
was only distinguished 6y his Shift
Iessness and the size OF his family. [
suppose | was never missed from that
uperabundant home circle; anyway,
they never came TO see me, nor ever
inquired after me, that know of.
Aunt Deborah had a great deal Of
company, being rich and childless
widow, and fond Of society. But no
one ever noticed me. 7 was not even
snubbed, for it was not worth while to
snub a mere drudge like me.
Ny cousin, Elsie Allston, was also
q member of mg aunt's family, but
she received very different treatment
from that which fell to my lot. Her
father was aUnty's favorite brother,
therefore she was educated, and was
understood to be certain Of a home
and life's comforts always, and of a
fortune at Aunt Deborah's death.
Yet I did not envy my fortunate
cousin, for while I was let alone, and
at least took pride In the conscious
ness that [ earned my own living.
Elsie was continually being tainted
with her dependence, and was kept in
abiect servility by her constant
threats of disinheritance.
Elsie would have been kind 10 me
if / had allowed it, but 7 had q sort of
pride which forbade me to receive
patronage from any one. I must be
received on an equal footing, or not at
all. The only pleasure Of my life was
unlimited liberty to use the books in
my aunt's great and ever increasing
library. My rough work untitled my
hands for sewing, q fact for which I
was sufficiently thankful, as it increas-
ed my leisure hours.
For the first tBo or three years Of
my stay / read novels exclusively.
But one of the novels happened 30
have a noble and aspiring woman for
its heroine. Somehow, the story of
that life haunted me day and night,
and l resolved 10 be something worthy
of love and respect, whether ever re-
celyed my reward or not.
My first step was to map out line
Of thought and conduct, and q course
of reading. My intellectual nature
was to be nodded by some Of the best
books in my aunt's library. and that
ideal woman Of whom I had read was
to be my moral lever, lifting me into
an atmosphere of self forgetting holi-
ness and love. [ believed that if Aunt
Deborah's drudge had never had an
opportunity of showing her devotion
TO the human race, her own soul
would grow rich by the quiet effort.
1t had been years since / formed
this resolution when Mr.. Gleason,
forming one of party of visitors,
came to my aunt's house. But having
company to cook for IN the summer
had come to be settled thing, and
all company meant to me was drudg-
cry, and less time to read.
There was no prophetic voice to
whisper to my heart. on the morning
of Mr.. Gleason's arrival, that my fate.
my hope and my despair, my blessing
and my misery had come to me. He
was only one more guest, to be cook
for aud to BE- waited upon by the
drudge.
One day Elsie came to me with her
sweet weak face fearful and pleading.
"You must help me, Hannah, !"
said she.
"Help you do what, child9"
ITO keep Aunt Deborah's good will
and marry Mr.. Gleason. You see Mr..
Gleason is very poor, and if aunt
threatens to disinherit me it May less
en- my chances of getting him"
I think my establishment and DIS
gust showed themselves in my face as
answered
''Have you so little confidence In
your promised husband? So lit
tie faith, and yet willing to be
his wife,"
She made an impatient gesture.
"You don't understand, she said
slowly and INCREASINGLY. He has
not asked me to be his wife, out ne
will. I am sure he wilt He does not
love me very much, but when we are
married, and he sees my devotion, it
will be different"
Then she put her face in my apron
and sobbed bitterly, and I knew by
ner tears she had many misgivings.
Show can I help you2" I asked.
ST don't know" she replied through
ner tears; ''but you can manage any
thing, am sure. Aunt Deb says you