Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1888-02-28
written for the OIfcrd Democrat
One Summer.
nv ALICE.

/ 10 Indicate that the coming summs
would. In any way, differ from the one
tha, had preceded Il. There wire warn
days when the sun melted the snow o.
the roofs. laid bare the stone walls. an
even made visible the top, of some Of th
knoll.; cold days and stormy days. whel
|, seemed as though winter had COM
back TO stay bu, .,ill. though very 'los
ly. winters grip on nature vi. relaxing
and slmos, before one knew IL, the gfoun'
80. bare. and ye.. the grass was actual!
looking green Ia the sheltered doof.yart.
and on the sunny, southern slopes,
cheering sigh, to eyes ,hs, had cared q
long on a wide eIpAnse Of snow. relieves
only by the lifsles.. looking trees. A ht
tie later. and down among the pines
where. to all appearance, there was moth
ins 20 be found but ru..ei-oolofed pine
needle. aud dead leaves. you nigh, scrsP'
away the rubbish and you would soor
come 20 the dingy. una,,rletiye leaves Of
the trailing Arbais (or msy.a1vsr. Al
the children called them aud 10 almost
hidden from sight. you came nPoa th'
lovely blossoms. some white a. nev.fAll'
en- snow. others blu,hihs q vivid ro.'
color. With innumersble shades between
Yet. lovely a. they we're. With fragrance
fully equal to their beauty; teaching u',
II &c would bat heed the lesson, that
lives. which, 10 outward yies ate barren
and unAiuAe,ivs. may oonisin hidder
germ. which shall blossom into beaui,
and fragrance.
soon the les-ss. ooaxsd by the warm
sun. were bursting their bonds, aud the
Wild cherry ahd plum tree. wsre huge
bouquets dropping their snowy petals 'c
the groaud =, the rustic every bfette,
Vet this ne~.born lovslins. was only =
part Of the usual order Of ,hing', jus, a
wsre the hot, lsnguorOa. days which
of,sa come In the early par, Of May ant
deprs,s the .,rsngih aud energy TO an
unusual degree.
"ls.. thing, wsre jus, . they Away
bad been. aud jus, a. they Away. woald
b.. she would Dc glad Of anything fOf .
change" said Ellen Green . ,h'
placed the lAs; of a pile Of milk Pan'
vhich she bad beca washing. a, the si'eh'
en- stove TO dry.
There al, BE- change for the wor.e
daughter" said low voice from The
depth. Of an easy chair Ia the 'i,,in.
room.
"oh. mother. -i,h father over head lnd
ears in debt. with you an Invalid And
likely TO be. With the boys wsArins Gnd
tearing ogi their clothes, faster than
Can make new ones. don't see ho-
thisg, could be much worse. II | onll
bad money enough. We would see dids''
en-, times here. don, see Why some
have everything 20 make them happy,
While other, have nothing"
"You make q great mistake II you
,hink money and hsppias" 'ynonomou'
terms. my dear Ba, know you have
hard time. too hard for = girl Of youi
.ge. wish could make IL easier foI
you" said Mu Gr,en. with Sigh.
"No~. mother. you know do mol
mean that. You have done everything
ior me thu, you could. and more than yoa
ought. and | know !, ]. great deal hard
sr Coz YOU than me. ba, ihi, has beer
such hArd. hard day. For oHe thing u
has been 30 ,ul,ry. and thea Il seems a.
though everything bad come wrong cod
TO-. a. grandmother says"
"Whieh all show. ,hA; you are thor
ogghly tired out do lie down on ,h'
lounge and r,.,, and ls, Frank strain ,h'
milk when they bFing !, in"
"Abd .pill bali u !, on the bu,,sry
door. TO say no,hing Of sp.,,sring !, on
hall do1en shelves. No. thAnk you
mother. | have learned 20 my cos, ~ha'
Fuuk'. help amounts to; bat | feel .om'
better already. guss. talking over my
troubles ha. done me some good. though
| ,,ill wish We wers rieh, and | should
like change"
One night. week later. Ellen VA
partially wsksnsd from long aud ,roub'
led sleep. She hsd confused sense o
hsa, and oppression. ys, could no, arouse
herself enough TO open her eyes. Sh'
thought she mus, BE- having nightmare
bat /. swapping. cracking sound Ia ,h'
open chamber reused her TO the full %.
session Of her faculties aud she jumPeC
up to fnd the open chamber fall oisnoke
wi,hoa, stopping 20 dres', she gA,hereC
her clothes in her arms, hing open ih'
door Of the boy.' room aud reused them
and in lee. time than i, tAkes TO write 4,
the frightened family were together. Th'
ffe "a. under such heAdssy thu, oil!
some clothing ard bedding stored dowr
stairs were saved. No one knew hos
the IRE originated. /, ". probabl!
caused by defective chimney.
Mr.. Green had boush, hi. farm l.rssl!
on credit, and had found I, 80 difficult
TO met hi. pay men,s that, on the plea 0
economy. he had neglected TO insure hi
property. 80 now he found himself with
out resoures,. Hi. friend. volunteered
10 give him some help abou, lumber An'
work IL he rebuilt bat he said TO hi
wife, "lt i. no use. | have no, paid
cent on the debt. for two or three year.
/, /. only by the u,mos, self.denial thu
We have paid the in,eres, aud taxes.
cannot take this burden Of added deb
upon me. II were younger | might d,
IL. A. IL Is, | feel as II Il would era.l
me. Our neishbot'. have Offered to tax
u. in for little while I; you and are Il
stay here q, Mr.. Browns. The ehildrei
ATE invited 10 stop at Mr.. Mor,on's an
Mr Joys until We have time TO plan 70
the future. As ys, there is only on
thing decided in my mind; ] will sdver
iise the farm for sale aud cell !, to ,h
fr, man Who will give me two.,hird. 0
iis value. II iss good farm and nigh
be made profitable; bu, ! have bee
crippled all the time for want Of means
and have no, beer able to give It half
chance"
Ellen came every day to see her moth
er and do VIA, she could for her comfort
Eddie vent to school. while Frank an
hi. father hoed their crops.
They sll felt thA, they could no, tire,