Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-07

!. mouse, ana whose nusDanO was lying nelp.
less with a broken limb.
After | had retired to my little room
over the kitchen, heard them talking to-
gether.
"Poor gal. she's so young, and looks so
tired. | wonder where she's lramping
?"
"She amt no tramp, she's run away
from somewhere or nuther. Just look at
them baby bands of hern, and at that silk
dress
''If she wasn't stranger. Tidy, |
would hire her to do the work, while you
went round with the wagon. We're los
ing heaps of money by this leg O. mine.
Eggs is cheap now and plenty. and we
could lay down sight of them if could
only get around.'
"Mebbe we might trust her," returned
the woman. I'm say suthin to her in
the mornin'."
Tired as was could hardly sleep that
night. My hopes were so excited by what
| heard. | was up early, and after break
fast asked Mrs. Brayley, as she said her
name was. if she knew where | could get
work
Can you do housework?'
Il never have, but would work very
cheap if | could get place."
why didn't you try around homer"
because thought would like stran-
gers better.''
at amt a very good sign for young
girls to be trampin' around alone. If |
knew you, now, might give you work
My old man buys eggs from the farms
around here-if had someone to do the
homework l could 60 around with the
Cart
Nv face fell l would have to learn
everything was set about. A thought
struck me.
why couldn't | 60 around with the
cart?" / asked, quickly.
"Wall, you might 90, p'raps," said the
man. speaking up for the first time. but
Pa have to trust you with nv horse and
wagon and my money-what if you should
run away?"
ooh! | wouldn't do that!'' returned
earnestly. "Besides, could use my own
money. Do let me try
What we say, Hammer? 1t wouldn't be
much risk. Kin YOU drive a horse?''
1t wouldn't do to be too ignorant, so l
answered quickly:
Yes"
"Wall, do believe you'd do the square
thing, Hammer, you co out with her and
help her hitch up. | guess she kin try"
"Hanner" did most OF the hitching up
In few minutes. the old gray horse was
brought around, and | went to Mr.. Bray
ley for instructions.
"Wall, now. my gall said he, kindly.
''if you use your own money, | will buy
yonr eggs of you at cent advance on
every dozen. and give you board and
lodging. What do you say?'
"As you please, Mr.. Bravley, I'll do the
best cam
81 believe you, or shouldn't trust you
with my old horse"
Then followed instructions as to which
roads | was to pursue. and | Put on my
hat and gloves, mounted the rcketv old
wagon, and started out in business for
myself.
The first day / bought hundred and
seventy dozen; and after that some days
more and some days less.
Mr.. Bravley chuckled over my success
and paid me regularly every day.
"You do better than | ever did," he
said. and proved his words by going to
work in his garden when he recovered,
and leaving me still in possession of the
cart.
The summer went by pleasantly. the
farmers wives gave me butter milk to
drink and fruit to eat. as | went about
gathering up their eggs, and | gained
nearly one-half IN weight.
often laughed at myself as | thought
of my mother. What would she say if
, she knew? Well, did not intend that
, she should know. never would inform
, her of my whereabouts at any rate
extended nv business trip one day
almost to Aunt Susie's. had been long
, ing to hear from some one had known,
and even the sight of her house did me
good. But turned resolutely about when
had gazed on her abode, when William
such was the name of my Bucephalous
decided to rest his stately form for a
t season. In vain tried to urge HIM on ::
he braced himself for a contest and would
not stir.
These performances did not brighten me
any. | was becoming used to them, so |
phi'osophically pulled a novel from my
pocket and began to read.
NV attention was drawn from nv sub.
lect bv an approaching carriage, and it
had come out of Aunt Susie's gateway. A
moment found myself sitting stock still
in the road, but plying the whip in vain
attempt to escape from Loren Ingersoll,
my sister Maud's intended Nv eggs
were certainly in danger, for William
showed disposition to overturn me if |
did not desist- did so, and Mr. Inger-
soil exclaimed:
"Ny darling Abbie, you are found at
last"
Il have never been LOST
why, Abbie, didn't you know your
father was spending money like water to
find you; that Carl, and your mother and
sisters are almost insane upon your ac
count, and have been looking for YOU
everywhere"
81 did not know it. am scarcely worth
as much trouble as that
"Abbe. you are" he returned in a
plaintive voice. You have almost broken
our hearts"
They must be very brittle" returned.
thinking that likely he was married to
Maud by this time. "Well, you NAV tell
them that am comfortably situated. and
intend to take care of myself for the rest
of my life"
sAbbie When your mother ia ween