Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-07-15
I'll Lucy suddenly exclaimed

nov, oaity. Tome, ana suiting the action
to the word, she jumped lightly to the
ground and following her example went
into the house, while she saun,ered slowly
homeward.
Tha, night and the next forenoon, had
to work harder than ever, my step-mother
all the while lashing me with her tongue,
for daring to think of such thing as going
to the seaside "in the middle of the sum
mer's work" as she expressed it. At length,
after the dinner dishes were washed and
everything in the house put TO rights, she
said TO me, sally. you may 60 down to the
village now and get something for supper"
Accordingly equipped myself speedily,
being glad to &c, an opportunity for carry
ing out nay plan so soon, and having told
my step-mother that as it was very warm |
would no, hurry, and might not be back be-
fore FIVE o'clock, set out. walked slowly
down the front walk and down into the
road, but no sooner was out Of sigh, of the
house than quickened my pace, and in a
few minutes was at the entrance Of the
principal store of the village. After had
done all the shopping went to place
which my step-mother had not mentioned
in her directions, namely. the doctors office.
On entering the dusty little room, the first
objec, that met my eyes was the doctor
himself, stout. savagelooking little man
who had been our family physician for
years. On seeing me he said grutfiy, "How
do you do. young LADY, Who is sick a,
your house now. hey?"
Twas quite accustomed 10 his rough
ways and unhesita,ingly replied. Nobody,
bu, l would like to talk to you about some
thing. doctor"
"You would, would you? Well, well. We
sill see. Take sea, and tell me what you
want"
| took the protfered chair and having
seated myself, unfolded the following plan
which was the result Of our soloarn in the
apple-tree. He was to give me some med
ever chose to take it, The doctor. Of
course, would be called, and in this manner
would get his pay. Twas 10 90 20 the sea-
side for my health. you understand. often
wonder. children, how in the world got
pluck enough 10 ask the good old doctor to
do this for me, bu, did. OF course be
wouldn't be fairly paid. But | never
thought OF that. child as was. didn't
expect my s,ep-mother 10 give in the FIRST
around sick people so badly. tina, after few
days, she would be glad TO let me 60.
Af,er had finished the story Of my plan.
the doctor went to little closet IN the
corner Of the room, and taking thence
small bottle Of white pills, he handed 1t 10
me. remarking grimly, as he did so, Take
these, and have no fear for your health"
Late that night was suddenly taken
with spasms. Ny father sen, hastily for
DIR, Gibbs. who shook his head gravely over
me and said. The girl needs rest. She is
oyerworked. 4 summer by the seaside
will cure her But If she goes on working
wiihou, immediate rest, she will 20 of in
one of these spssms."
When he had departed, my step-mo,her
turned to father and said angrily, STUFF and
nonsense Old Gibbs don't know ~ha, he
is about. The idea OF tina, girl being over
worked She don't DO enough to circulate
her blood, that. what's the matter with her
She shan't 60 TO the sea-shore one inch"
My father demonstrated but in vain. She
was ine1orable. and as was al. right the
next morning, though looking little pale
she Get me at work again. Tha, nigh, |
was again taken with spasms. and DIR. Gibbs
again declared tina, if | had to work any
more al present without rest, il would be the
ruin Of me. Blu, this did no more good than
on the previous night. and indeed my step
mother freed her mind TO Dr. Gibbs himself
this time, instead Of TO father. The next
morning she was about 10 set me at work
again. when 10 my great surprise father IN
terfered at this point. He said quietly, but
firmly; 81 don't wish the child to do any
more work at present, Mary She shall go
to the sea-shore next week, If she wishes"
Then turning to me, he took from his peck
e,-book twenty-dolar bill saying as he did
so, Here child. take this and get what
clothes you need"
With that he walked away and left nv
step-mother standing there, almost rooted
to the spo, from rage and surprise But |
no longer feared her, knowing that had
champion in my father, and as ran over to
Lucy's to tell her of the success Of our plan,
| was the happies, girl in the village Every
thing went off smoothly after this, and we
started for the seaside the following week.
And now, as it is almost ten O'Clock.
will defer till another time the telling of
what We did there. So saying Aun, Sally
rose and retired to her room, and we fol
lowed her example, wondering how the
hoydenish girl, which she had described
could develop into the staid, sober old
maid.