Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-08-21
BESSIE'S CAREER.

A0 0'o"ihS CAO1Cu DelS were rlng-
ing softly across the fields; the sun
seemed to poise itself on the edge of the
horizon, and a slight figure toiling up
the steep road with heavy satchel in
one hand, was outlined against a cloud
of CRIMSON haze.
The station agent stared at it. Two
women, close by, shaded their eyes with
their hands, SO as better to follow its
course.
''1t is her!" said Mrs. Belts.
81 knowed her," triumphantly spoke
saiida spooner, ''the minute 1 set ewes
on her!'
"Dressed in bran-new chally!" said
Mrs. Belts.
"And shawl that cost five dollars if
it cost cent" added Salida.
'Bessie Blake always had it in her to
make spoon or spoil horn," observed
the station agent.
''Sings in city choir, don't she?"
said Mrs. Belts. ''And gives music
lessons! Well, some folks has ALI the
luck! My Louisa's voice is every bit as
good as hels, but nobody never went
into estacies over it,
The sun sank, leaving a fiery glow be-
hind; a sudden chill came over the land
scape.
Mrs. Belts and Salida Spooner resumed
their pilgrimage to the general store,
half a mile further on, and Silas Crit
tiths went to light the reflector lamp in
the station; while Bessie Blake, with
thrill of happiness at her heart, opened
the old gate, half hidden by lilac bushes
and dropping syringas, that led to the
farmhouse door.
"Mother is getting supper" she
thought. 81 can smell the eggs frying.
And Polly is saying her lessons to Kate,
and there's father reading the weekly
paper, TINT always comes on Thursday
night. Oh, is this a dream? or am |
really at home again?"
A shaggy old dog, asleep among the
sweet williams and cinnamon roses,
reused himself with gruff bark, at the
click of the gate latch; but in another
second he plunged wildly down the
path, wagging his stump of a tail and
bowling rapturously, to meet her.
"Oh, Bruno, you have spoiled my sur
prise!'' said Bessie, laughing, as the
whole family rushed out to greet her
"'1es, father, it's me, come home on a
visit. Don't squeeze me so, Polly, dear
Oh, Johnny, how you have grown !
Mother"
And here her sweet voice faltered as
her head dropped on the care-worn
shoulders, and she felt warm tears on her
cheek.
Half an hour later, they sat around the
fire which the chilly spring evening still
rendered a necessity, all eyes riveted on
Bessie. She had eaten and drank, she
had been kissed and embraced by every
member of the family, she had been
shown the tame blackbird the new Brah-
ma chickens and the choice geranium
slip given to ''mother" by the minister's
wife, and now she opened her little purse
and held up its contents.
"Oh," said she, GIVE been so saving
just for this! A five-dollar gold-piece
each for father and you, mother, and a
dollar bill for each of the children. I
was long time saving it, for you can't
think how it costs to live even in the
simplest way in New York"
Dir. Blake's hard visage softened.
80 you're doing pretty we'll, daugh-
ter said he. 81 always prophesied
that that voice of yours would make the
family fortunes. Didn't I. now?"
lis 1t a quartette, dear, or a full
cnolrT said Mrs. Blake, her knitting
dropping to her lap.
a faint color rose to Bessie's brow.
III Ism a choir at all, said she, nerv-
ousiy, stroking PolIy's tawny curls as the
chlld's head lay on her knee. 81 didn't