Connecticut western news., 1889-04-03
The girls gave a little start. "Already2" cried Abby.

"4ou couldn't, you know. You haven't been anywhere.
 At this moment there was myster- ious pumping sound on the doorstep-a knock-the entrance of gleaming piece of furniture, accompanied by two stout men.
 'I've bought a sewing machine for mother," said Esther, springing up so suddenly that the apples, pared and un- pared, rolled all over the floor. "And here it is! Seth Pollock, down at the store, is the agent. I've seen mother sit up and sew weary seams by hand, night after night, for so many years, after hard days work in the kitchen and washhousc, that I made up my mind she shouldn't endure it any longer; so I put Uncle Ebenezer's money into sewing machine-a present to you, mother dear2"
 Little Mrs. Hubbard burst into tears. "Essie. my darlingl But I cant let you sacrifice everything to me in this way"
 "Whom else should I sacrifice to, mother2" whispered Esther. "Who is my best friend and dearest counselor? Who do I love best in all the world9"
 The deacon's face gloomed:
 1T l. women folk idleness," snarled he. 'Hand scwin' was good enough for my first wife. I guess it wouldn't have hurt DebbY much. And if Esther was so anxious to get rid of her money, I could have used half ont to buy a new OK cart!"
 "But you have so many things, fath- err" pleaded Esther. "All your work, mostly, is done by machinery, and mother has to toll so endlessly."
 ''Humphv' commented the deacon.
 Millicent drowned; Abigail shrugged her shoulders.
 
 poor little ovcrworked Mrs. Hubbard, but Esther.
 'Tm very sorry" said Esther, ''that haven't enough money to help you with the piano, too. do so love music. I always longed for an instrument
 "Oh!" said Abby, with toss of her back braids, s'we shall have the piano all the same; so you needn't be afraid. It will only take us the longer to pay for it. One thing isayery -certain-you shall never strike note on it."
 Mrs. Hubbard followed Esther out into the kitchen. / "Oh, Essie,' said she, 'you shouldn't have thought of me. The girls are se- riously angry
 'I cant lpthat," said Esther. of they had any eyes, they would have seen, long ago, that this horrible sewing, in addition to everything else, was killing you!"
 ''But don t mind their refusing to let you share the piano, Essie," whispered the stepmother. ''Mrs. Pritchett has one at the parsonage, and I used to play wheu I was a girl. We'll go down every day or two, and will teach you. Abby and Milly laugh at Mrs. Pritchetts old-fashioned piano; but there's deal of music in it yet!' ....
 "I dew declare" said Gran 'ther Allen, as the maple leaves began to car pet the paths with scarlet, and even to scatter ruby jewels here and there in the road, "Deacon Hubbard's s wife is pickin' up deal! l never seen her step so light afore, and she actially sings at work-a thing she never did before!'
 s.It's the sewin'- machine" said his old wife. "I tock a seam over, yes day afternoon, and it jest made game O play outen the hull thing"
 So that, when Mrs. Judge Basset gave her May party the next spring, and in vited Mrs. Hubbard, the invitation was accepted.
 'I feel ever so much younger since that sewing machine came," said she
 Mrs. Basset had a grand piano, and a pianist who came from Bridgeport at SC much night; but when the company arrived, To and behold the professor had not put in an appearance.
 "Dear me-" said Mrs Basset, what am to do9 Won't any of the young ladies present obligc me with waltz, just to get the dancers on the foor?"
 'The young ladies present. giggled, looked at each other, but made nc move.
 Deacon Hubbard leaned across two intervening matrons and spoke to Mil iicent.
 Daughter" said he, ''you car play9"
 Millicent grew pale.
 'I couldn't strike note, pa" said she "Tm too nervous"
 Abigail, then?"
 ooh, please don't ask me! I should only break down!" twittered Abby shrinking back.
 The deacon frowned.
 But in the midst of his wrath ligh step passed him. Esther, in her simple white serge dress and blue ribbons wen up to the piano, and quietly seating her