Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-07-15
For the Ellsworth American
How Sally Went to the Sea. shore.

How Sally Went to the Sea. shore.
We were sitting around the FIRE one win
ter evening watching the Goals as they
snapped IN the CRATE, roasting the ches,nu,s
before the cheerful blaze and thinking how
nice Il was TO be under shelter such an
evening as this. The night was dark and
dreary and the glow from the Fireplace
which filled The room, made it seem doubly
dismal outside. We had been sitting in this
manner for long time. when the silence
vas suddenly broken by Emily, the Young
Is, and pet Of the family. Who sniverinsly
exclaimed
How cold i, is tonight, Cam, we do
something lively ?"
Get Aunt Sally to tell you e story" .ug-
gested mother
20 yes. Aunt Sally, do tell US a story"
We all chorused, "a nice long one, mind"
After little cos1ing she consented. and
we drew our chairs closer TO the fire. and
F'NR1-ee ~ ka't Nsp>t atleHtioH 10 DeT mar
raiive, for Aun, Sally was .amou. for her
stories, and nobody knew better than We
how good they we're, for she had lived with
US ever since could remember, being an
old maid. However, she was not the kind
Of old maid We read Of in s,ory-books, bu,
was very Kind to US and never refused a re-
- tar
Well, she began, hardly know VIA,
70 tell you. Let me see. guess I'll tell
+ you Of how ! went to the sea-shor, one
summer when about twelve years old.
may have been little older. bot -.
somewhere along there. anyway. Ny own
mother died when | was FIVE wears old
father married again when | was ten. Nv
step-mother was stout, rosy little woman,
4 smart and healthy. too. She was consider
! ably younger than father, who was about
! ioriy-hve when be married her. She was
twenty-five. Father was well-,o-do lar
mer. and able 10 keep hired help, if he
wished. But my step-mother was saving
ana stingy, and every time father mentioned
I hiring girl she flew into a passion and told
HIM that II he was going 10 allow that lazy
girl OF his 10 grow up and be a shlftles.,
good-for- nothing woman, she wasn't, and
that as to hiring girl he might, if he
wanted 10, but that as soon as she came
/ she would quit the house. Father was
( quiet, easy-going man, who hated scenes, SO
( he would only say well, we'll. wife, we'll
+ let il pass, and go about his work as if moth
ing had happened As you may judge from
what you have heard. had good share Of
the work 10 do, and hardly ever got any
fan. But or one occasion ou,-witted nv
step-mother, and this is how did it: The
particular summer am speaking Of, tn.
work was harder than usual the DAYS long
er and hotter, and ! as q matter Of course,
more desronding.
( One sultry afternoon in July was sitting
in the front yard Smelling peas and feeling
very bitter against Fate for her unkindness
TO me- when the gate suddenly opened. and
saw my chum and particular friend Lucy
Larkin, coming up the front walk Lucy
ana had been chums ever since We were
little bits of things, abou, so high. We
never quarreled nor had any small fracases,
for she had such sweet disposition that it
was very hard to get angry with her. Like
myself she was the only child of a well-to-do
farmer. but her parents, unlike mine, kept
hired girl. and great many things which
had wished for thousands of times we're
Lucy's, but to crown all, they had summer
cottage by the sea-shore and it vas the one
wish Of my life, that Lucy would invite me
TO 60 with her some time. don't deny
that gave her great many hints on the
subject, but to return to my story. As she
came running up the walk, she cried out
20 Sally, Sally l have such good news
to tell you. We are going to the sea-shore
week from tomorrow and mother said l
might ask you to 60 with US. Won't We
have fun?" child-like speaking at once Of
the subject nearest her heart.
'.Are you really ?" asked, answering one
question with another in my excitement and
JOY. But at this moment thought Of my
step-mother, and my heart sank within me,
and l said mournfully: "But, Lucy, mother
won't let me go, know she WON'T"
30 yes she WILL" answered the cheerful
girl, nothing daunted by my reply. "ill 90
in and ask her directly"
Having finished my peas arose also and
we went into the house. As expected, We
received a storm of abuse in answer to
Luey's request Lucy being accustomed to
my step-mother's ways, now asked if l might
walk with her in the garden until tea-time.
10 this she received an unwilling assent.
As We s,rolled about among the flowers,
Lucy said hopefully:
perhaps your mother will change her
mind in few days. Anyway, I'll tell my
mother just how it is and she will use her
influence"
"No,' | replied, "that would only make
her worse, but tell you, Lucy. if can't 70
,cih her consent, III 60 without it,"
Seeing the look of surprise on Lucy's face
at this sudden rebellion, I added "Come
with me to our retreat in the apple-tree and
I'll tell you my plan"
Accordingly We climbed into the apple
tree and sat there talking and planning un-