The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-01-12
PAYING THE DEBTS.

INV . - - - ~ u
John Ramsay was working on his
farm. his loose dress displaying to adj
vantage the tall. muscular figure. and a
broad straw hat shaded handsome face.
The hands that guided the pillow were
strong, but whittier and more delicate
than such pursuits usually allow.
Daisy Hale sat watching him. Her
dress was print, but made with flounces
and ruffies. Her short golden hair was
curled into fringe over her forehead.
and gathered in long curls into a comb
behind, above which was a very iaunty
hat, covered with puffs of white muslin
and bows of blue ribbon.
Presently the farmer drew near her,
stopping his horses while he leaned in
dolently against the pillow.
You look deliciously cool under this
great tree, he said. And-heml-very
much dressed for nine o'clock in the
morning!
In tivepenny calico she said con-
temptuously, When are you coming in
At noon, to dinner.
It's too absurd, she broke out, angry
tears in her eyes, for you to be doing
the work of labOTing man. | thought
would do something besides work on
farm.
And let the farm go to ruin. That
would be poor way TO pay my debts.
Your debts she said, looking aston
ished. Do you owe debts
Certainly. You and are both very
heavily IN debt, Daisy. / think when
Aunt Mary took us in, poor little orphans
l her nephew. you her second cousin
Third cousin, she interrupted. since
you are so particular / know what you
mean, but l am very sure that Aunt Mary
never intended us to drudge on the hor.
rid old farm!
Do you know that all the money she
saved in life of hard work was spent
upon our education and she has moth
ing now but the farm. Are you blind
that you cannot see how the four wears
she has been alone here have aged her
While we were living at ease at college
and school. she has oiled for us until
she is wearied out
But you could send her money, il you
were in the city in some gSntlemanly
occupation.
Perhaps so, ten or twelve years from
now. Today propose to work this farm
ana see how many bushels of corn | can
raise on it.
He might as well have said what he
meant, she thought ,springing down and
starring for the house. He thinks
ought to cook, and wash, and make but.
ter and work like a servant girl, when
have studied so hard and tried to make
myself lady, that he might not be
ashamed Of me.
And yet in her heart she knew that he
was ashamed of her, and that she de-
served it. She vas not all selfi,hness
and heartlessness, though there had
grown a thick crust of both over her
better nature. Her ideas of ladies and
gentlemen depended largely upon cloth.
ing and pursuit, and she had not yet
quite realized how much more nearly
Johns standard reached the desired
point than her own.
As she drew near the house the sling
of Johns words penetrated more and
more through the crust that had drawn
over her heart until fresh stab met her
at the door. Looking in at the open
door she saw white head bowed in
weeping, a slight figure shaken by sobs.
Quickly she was on her knees besides
the low chair, her arms around the
weeping woman.
o, Aunt Mary, what is il? Oh, please
don't cry so! Oh, what has happened
Why, Daisy dear, through sobs that
would not be checked at moments no
tice-don't mind me. I'm only tired,
dearie-only tired.
Tired AT seventy, homework does
become WEAKNESS She was very
tired, this patient old woman who had
given her life's work for others; first, for
her par ents; then for an invalid broth.
er lastly for the orphan children with
other innumerable acts of neIghborly
kindness.
1t was new TO her to be caressed, 10
have tender hands lead her to her room
and loosen her dress, a tender voice
coax her to lie down.
Now | will darken the window, Daisy
said and you are to rest. Sleep if YOU
can, until dinner time.
But Daisy, You cannot make the din
nsr.
will try. was the quick reply; and
Aunt Mary submitted.
Washing the potatoes, Smelling peas,
frying ham, making coffee, allowed
thought to be busy, and Daisy sighingly
put away some Of her day dreams over
her homely tasks,
cannot be lady, she thought and
John won't be gentleman, but will
Try to pay my share of the debts.
She had taken off her hounces and hat
and put on plain dress and large check |
apron and was aslonished to find her
self happier than she had been since she |
returned home.
When John came to dinner he was |
astonished TO find Aunt Mary quite |
dressed up, as she blushingly said, in a |
clean print dress aud white apron, her |
lear old face showing no signs of heat |
Dr. WEAKNESS, while Daisy with added |
bloom and bare white arms, was carry
ng in the dinner.
The new girl at your service, she said |
'aucily, as she pulled down her sleeves.
Dinner is ready, sir.
But her lips quivered as he bent over
md whispered. God bless you, dear
Forgive me if was too hasty this morn.
ng.
Dinner over, John returned to his
blowing, and Aunt Mary firmly refusing
% cit in idleness, was allowed to wash
cups and shucers, while Daisy made
hort work of pots and pans.
John said but little as the days wore
IN and still found Daisy at her post.
nd the young girl herself was surpris-
ID to find how much she enjoyed the
life that had seemed to her a mere
lrudgery.
With younger hands to carry on the
domestic sffalrs, they ceased to engross
,very hour of the day, and John en-
outraged Daisy in making use OF the
tiff shut up parlor as a daily sitting
Dom. A pair OF muslin curtains at each
window were skilliully draped to keep
tut the flies, the center table r signed its
raw vase of stiff artificial flowers aud
Itand Of wax fruit to make room for
iainty work baskets and the periodicals.
Over the shiny horse hair sofa and
hairs pretty bits Of embroidery were
Trapped, and fresh flowers were supplied
zach day.
And John, bringing to his task the
ame will and brains that had carried
Inn through college, was inauguratlng
new order Of affairs on the farm and
made work pay well.
Once more came June day, when
Daisy sat in the fields, and John stood
Gaming against the fence beside her.
-Four years OF earnest loving work had
eft traces upon both young faces. en-
,obhng them. and yet leaving to them
III the clad content that rewards well
ioing. Many hours OF self denial both
rad met bravely; many deprivations
both had borne we'll. Daisy wore a
black dress. and upon the hat on John
was band Of Grape, but though sad
less in their voices there yet rang tone
If happiness.
You love me Daisy John had said to