Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-08-14
That Blessed Old Maid.

1
must invite her here for the winter, any
how. She and John stayed with fathe
and mother while l was roaming her
and there Now they are all gone, Mar
tha's alone, and it's no more than righ
for me to look out for her for awhile
I'll write Immediately"
"Yes, Nathan, that is right, l know
but can't help dreading it. L alway'
had horror of old maids! and Mrs. Ira
cy looked nervously around the plair
kitchen of the little farmhouse.
"You needn't be afraid of Martha; sht
isn't very old; and. l venture to say, no
like the trying, disagreeable old maid:
we read about"
In spite of his reassuring words, Mrs
Tracy dreaded the arrival of her hus
bands maiden sister, whom he not seen
since the day he left his New England
home to try his fortune in the new
West.
But, as Clara soon discovered, there
was nothing to fear in the quiet, sad,
eyed woman who came to them; whose
life had been so full of devotion to 9th,
ers, and of noble self-sacrifice, that there
had been no time for growing hard and
bitter, because some of life's sweetest
blessings had been denied her.
The children, Bert and Mabel and
baby Ray, with the unerring instinct of
childhood, felt the depth of her quiet
kindness, and took her at once into their
loving little hearts.
Miss Tracy, although wholly unobtru-
sive, was obseryant. This, together with
the interest she felt in her brothers fam
lily, led her, before she had been many
weeks an inmate of his house, to make
discovery.
Nathan, in his desire to get on in the
world, was missing much that would
have made life pleasant. In thinking so
constantly of the future, he was losing
all the sweetness of the present. That
this was affecting the whole family was
only too apparent. 1t was seen in Clara's
anxious, weary face, and repeated in a
less degree upon the countenances of
the children.
There seemed to be no rest for them;
no relaxation in the struggle for exist
ence; nothing to vary the weary monot-
ony of everyday labor, which, like some
huge Juggernaut, was crushing beneath
its wheels all that might have made life
pleasant. Martha shrank from interfer-
ence with the habits of her brothers
family; but, looking ahead, she saw for
them nothing but sorrow aud disappoint-
ment, and felt that something must be
done to save them.
Watching for an opportunity to talk
alone with Nathan, she gladly accepted
an invitation one morning to ride with
him to town. They were rolling rapid
ly over the level prairie, when Martha
broke the silence.
at is truly exhilarating in this bracing
air over these fine roads, especially with
so nice rig as you call it. The bug
gy is easy and the horses really fine an
imals. You must be doing well now,
Nathan"
81 suppose l am, Martha; but it has
been a hard pull, with losing crops, sick
ness. and so forth. We are in debt yet,
but with hard work and economy, L
guess we can rise above il in another
year."
"Then what will come next?"
81 intend to have nice large barn and
some choice cattle; then | shall build a
good house and prepare to take comfort.
There isn't better farm than mine for
miles around, and l must make the best
possible. Then some day,
we'll have the best of everything"
"But who will share it with your"
"Why my family, of cOursep opening
his eyes wide with astonishment.
"All except Clara, you mean," SOL
emnly.
"Why, Martha, how you talk! 1t is
for her I'm working-whO else, I'd like
to know"
"Now, Nathan, just take few plain
words from your sister, who means only
kindness. I've had experience, and, in my
judgment, Clara hasn't vitality enough
to take her through another year of hard
work. / have your interests at heart, !
and would not needlessly arouse your
fears; but l am convinced that your
wife is wearing out. She must rest from
this constant labor, or your children will
soon be motherless."
"Don't, Martha, talk in that way! |
Clara is as well as usual. She was al |
ways slender and delicate. I'd gladly |
have kept her in ease, but she knew she
married poor man, and was willing to
work up"
John Tracy seemed little annoyed
at his sisters plain spoken words.
81 doubt not you have been kind and
good to her, and now that she has help
ed work up SO far, l know you will be
glad to give her vacation. You do |
not realize what It is to care for three
children and do all the work that must
be done in a farmhouse. She might |
have been slender when a girl, but not
care worn. Tonight, if you look at one
of her old pictures, You will be convinc-
ed am right"
"Suppose | am; what them"
"How much would it cost to send her
back t, Ohio for the winter | can keep
house"
"Simply out of the question. She
would not go, anyhow, Martha"