Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-06
Gales aud Sketfhes.
A FINANCIAL SUCCESS.

seashore. | was to be left out as usual,
and we were having family talk over 1t
at the breakfast table.
ssShe will never amount to anything.
Mr.. Gladding; there's no use in taking
her. She is only fit to become farmers
wife. and | only wish some ploughman
would take her off my hands. Look at
her-her complexion is just like toad's."
"a toad carries a jewel in his fore
head" replied, carelessly.
.sRetta, that is no way to speak of our
daughter" said my father in feeble ex-
postulation. "Abbie may not be as hand
some or as tractable as Maud or Mabie,
but still she has many of the family traits.
and we should not forget that she is
Gladdlng."
Family traits l should like to have
you point them out. Do you call freckles
and tan family traits? If there is anything
in a girl that | dislike, it is the needless
Independence which Abigail exhibits.
am ashamed 70 have her about with me-"
Poor papa ouailed before the anger
which scntilated from my mothers eyes
and Carl, my languid brother, tried to
say something in my behalf.
Come now, mother, don't be so hard
on Aboie. She's "a rather good Sort if
she does give us drill on the sword eX
ercise every time she eats "
| laid down my knife and fork in de
spair. had been using them rather rap
idly while this tlattering conversation had
been going on but do not believe that
put my knife to my lips.
Yes remarked Maud, little en-
h., al falt hmm inf cd
in nv life as did the dav Mr. Ingersoll
took dinner with her. He watched her
every movement-taking note of her
gaucheries, presume
You are mistaken. sister," | put in,
defiantly at was case of mutual at
traction"
Carl laughed aloud, at the impossibility
of the idea, suppose. Mother locked
carving knives at me, and Maud reddene
as much as the powder on her face would
allow. and said with pepperish sniff:
IL don't care. mother is in the right to
have her at home we are all ashamed of
her looks, and Mr.. Ingersoll will never
countenance i'll manners. We might as
we'll give up going if she is to go with
US. am quite sure that she would dis
grace US all"
Poor Maud, how she will feel when
Mr.. Ingersoll refused her the light of his
countenance on accounto of her i'll manners
When one is twenty-five how sad it must
be to see ones last hope scramble from
sight, like the beaux from our sister
Maud's over-anxious pathway"
There was another laugh, in which even
Mabel joined, in spite Of mothers frown,
Il IL Il,
grly:
'Stop this senseless behavior! Mr..
Gadding. | should think you would know
better than to encourage her by laughing
at her You know how anxious am to
have the girls make financial success
when they marry. Now, no gentleman
OF fortune would notice young lady
whose sister had no regard for decencv,
a female clown, in fact. She has sealed
her own fate, she goes down to Susan's
for the summer"
II shall not 60 to Aunt Susan's this
summer
''You will CO. said mother. firmly
Though however she can countenance
you cannot see."
"Whv do you not wish to 90 to your
aunt's?' asked papa, kindly. 81 thought
YOU liked 1t there"
because Aunt Sue has all she can do
without me thrusting myself upon her.
know Uncle John thought ought to be at
home instead of incoming around there
last summer. when | was not wanted
There is nowhere in this world where I
am wanted. | have no home, but know
| will not sponge my living out of my
poor relations" l replied. desperately
struggling with the tears which were de.
termined to come.
Mother shrugged her shoulders, and
sailed grandly from the room. Mabel
alone stopped to comfort me.
There, there Abbie, do not get up
scene. Mamma will take you around
with her when Maud and are married"
Il am afraid shall never be taken
around, then"
There ~ exclaimed Mabel That's
just the way YOU lose all your friends, ;"
and then she too left me.
Looking back at it now, do not sup
pose they really meant to be unkind
Mother had all she could do to provide
for the wants of my brother and fashona-
BILE sisters, and she really had an antipa-
thy to every homely person. | was plain
and outspoken, regardless of peoples
opinion, and my sharp tongue dashed my
sisters numerically.
suppose deserved part of it. but oh I!
did deserve it all Under all my SEEM
ING unconcern, had tender heart, and
felt then, as | pray | may never feel
again, secretly ashamed of my own face
and person.
Mabel had been gone but few minutes
when papa came to my side.
"Abbie, have been thinking of some
thing. Now YOU know your mother will
never give up plan about your going to
Susan's, but think. as you do, that it is
not right to ask her to care for you every
summer but if you will keep secret I
have something to give YOU"
wondered what it could be as | prom
ised. Papa so generally seconds mother
in everything.
''Be sure you remember not to tell
now" he cautioned me. II have a hun
dred dollars which will give you. and
you may pay your board to your aunt
That will make it all right. and mother
will never know"
He looked so relieved at getting out of
the dilemma SO easily, that | fastened to
assure him that it was Just the thing. He
counted out the money and gave it to me
then and there
Now make it up with your mother and
the girls; tell them you are ready to 90 TO
Aunt Susan's, but don't let them know |
t,..%