Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-20
EMNELINE'S lesson.

IKE rain OF molten nre on the little
farmhouse roof, and the branches Of
the trees hardly stirrrd in the breeze
less air, as Mrs. Lathrop came in from
her blackberry expedition, her basket
filled with the sparkling jetty treas
ures, and her face scarlet with the
fatigue and heat.
She threw herself down in a chair
without word of CHEEKY greeting for
the three healthy prattling little ones
who swsrmed around her with thou
sand and one eager questions.
Mamma. where did you get such
nice berries? Can Nelly and me go
and pick some more2'
Mamma, did you ever STE such a
nice doll as Tom has made for me out
of an old piece of wood2 Look it has
got black beads for eyes and real hair.
And
Me tiss mamma; me sit on NAM
mas lap, boldly announced three.
year old Josie, commencing to climb
into the desired citadel.
But Mrs. Lathrop pushed them all
peevishly away.
Don't talk 80 loud, Tom. Take the
ugly looking fright away, Nell. Josie
If you don't 60 and sit down peaceably
I'll box your ears. Don't you know
I've got to carry these berries up to
the Grange yet and aren't you willing
to leave me one solitary moment Of
peace?'
Tommy withdrew sulkily. Nellie
looked distasteful at the doll, which
had been so beautiful in her eyes but
a moment ago. Josie began to whim-
per under his breath. But they were
quiet-that one point, at last, was
gained.
Mrs. Lathrop's meditations were not
over pleasant that morning, as she
slowly and toilsomely climed the
weary hill which uplifted It's hemlock-
fringed crest between her own little
farm house nest and the tearraced
lawns and closely shorn greenward of
Ellsworth Grange.
Emmeline Lathrop was poor, and
somehow the yoke of poverty had
never pressed so heavily on her shoul-
ders as it did on this especial morn
ing.
The Ellisworths had just bought the
Grange and come there to live during
the summer months, and Mary Ellis
worth had been Emmeline's school
mate ten years.
They had sat side by side on the
wooden benches in the old red school
house, in their calico gowns, eating
apples and gingerbread out of the
same lunch basket; and now she was
the wife of a hard working farmer,
with three little ones to mend, and
make, and contrive for, and Mary, no
whit prettler or more attactive than
herself, had married wealthy mer-
chant, and had her maid, and her car
riage with its liverled coachman, and
her diamonds.
Emmeline was thinking of all these
things as she trudged slowly along
with the heavy basket of berries
weighing down her arm.
Why were the gall and honey of
this life so unequally distributed 2
Why should she toll, and slave, and
eat the br cad of labor, rising up early
and lying down late, while Mrs. Ellis
worth, her superior In no one particu-
lar sit in silk and jewels, with servants
at her beck and call7
Why bad she been such q fool as to
marry George Lathrop, who had only
his farm and his strong right hand,
when, by waiting year or two, she
might haveIdone as well for herself as
had Mary Wyndham?
1t was wrong-it was unjust; and
Mrs. Lathrop repined bitterly within
herself as she walked slowly along the
broad graveled drive with blossoming
shrubs on either side, and glimses of
fountains, marble statuary, and par
terres of rainbow hewed flowers be-
yond.
Nor did her envious pangs grow
less as she approached the house. 1t
was a stately structure of grey stone
with Venetian awnings at all the win
dows. and an octagonal tower raising
up in the middle, with mimic battle
ments, and flag floating out in the
summer air, while on either side of
the flight of broad stone steps sculp.
tured vase was filed with flowers and
trailing plants.
Mrs Lathrop stood hesitating
where to 60. She had no. met Mrs
Ellsworth since the family had come
down to the Grange, and she hardly
knew whether her old school-mate
would receive her as a friend or mere
" as the farmers wife who had con-
tracted with Mrs. Denison, the house.
keeper, to upply the Grange family
with berries and cream during the
season.
But the question was soon decid.
ed.
One of the Gothic easements oi
stained glass was thrown open, and