The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-15

morn of blosSOming, was equally sweet
and glorious with the nov unfolding one.
And if Lillian Gray is lovely and full of
woman'S promise. no less so was Miriam
Gray, standing in the May sunlight a
score of years ago. The woman looks at
the girl with an ineffable light of love
and yearning in her faded eyes. -.
"Lillie,n said she tenderly, II finished
your dress last night except the lace at
the neck and wrists, so you can have 1t
to wear this afternoon"
"Why, mamma" Lillian Gray re-
Joined, Il had intended to wear some
other. did not wish you to sit up when
you were so tired. You know | did
not"
''But wished you to have it, dear
her mother said fOndlv. THE other
girls will be dressed in white, and could
not bear that you should be disap-
pointed"
Her daughter went up to her and put
ting her arms around her neck, kissed
her pale mouth tenderly. 1t was a little
deed. but it sweetened that whole weary
day of toll for Miriam Gray.
"YOu had better dress before dinner,
Lillie,n her mother resumed $50 as to
be ready when they call for you"
IL will help you first about the din
ner,n the girl replied.
But her mother put her by with the
assurance that she could do quite well
alone.
The thoughtless though really I'M
selfish girl left the kitchen, and tripped
to her own little chamber and began her
simple toilet, while her mother, flushed
and weary, bent above the glowing range
and hurried to and fro, from pantry to
cellar, and from store room to table. in
her preparations for the midday meal.
Hurried? yes. she was always huTrying
to and fro in this domOin; she had hur-
ried for many years, would, hurry still,
no doubt. until some day when the power
was gone, and the reaction came, and the
WORKOUT machine refused to longer per-
form its accustomed functions. Then
the hurry would be over.
Farmer Gray came in from the field
flushed and heated, his great brawny
frame in striking contrast to the slender
figure of the woman, who fitted about,
while he washed at the great sink in the
corner, and then asked the stcrcotyped
question:
SIS dinner rcady?'
Yes she answered quickly. You
may call the men,
Without one smile for the weary face
opposite his own at the table, without
taking notice that her own plate of food
was scarcely touched, John Gray ate his
own hearty, well-cOOked meal in silence.
and, when he had finished, rose from the
table, followed by his farm hands. and
went out. At the porch he turned back.
you'll have to help me milk tonight,
Miriam" he called out. 81 don't want
to stop the team as long as we can see to
work, in this hurrying time"
1t was rarely the patient woman re-
mOnStrated with her lords dictatIons;
but this time a vision of the labor to be
performed that afternoon rose before her
and she said meekly:
II hardly see how l can, John, as Lii
lian is going ava? and will not be here TO |
help me about the supper"
keep her at home, them he said, |
grutlly. "Our work can't be put of for
her to run the roads"
Which elegant haranguc was simply |
equivalent to reiteratiOn of the pre- |
viOusly pronounced edict.
After the table was cleared. Lillian left |
with the gay party of 'picnickers' who |
called for her, and Mrs. Gray after seeing
her of, came back to her domain with
the old weary look in her face and re
Sumed her arduouS toll. She had failed |
to finish the weeks ironing in the fore
noon, owing to few little hindrances,
such as the Swimming of some twenty
pans of milk and the washing of the milk
pans, the working and packing of a tub
of golden butter, the washing and dress
ing of children for school, the chamber
work and washing of dishes for large
household, to say nothing of the thou
sand little triiles sandwiched between,
each with its complement of n dozen
steps or so. And now she resumed her
place at the ironing table, clothing the
bars in their white, spotless apparel, and
finishing only as the clock pointed to
four. Within the next hour she must
prepare the five o'clock supper and skim
the milk that is awaiting her dexterous
hand in the cool dairy, that she may
afterwards assist in the milking, accord s
ing to the masters explicit orders.
The sun went down that night in a .
great bed of roseate pillows, the pink G
flush OVERLAPPING the heavens like tinted
vail The time had been when she ,
would have watched such sunset with \
the TapturOus appreciation of a sensitive. n
poet soul, when the glories of the pano- +
rama of Nature spread out before her.
called up such emotions as found cx-
preston in many sweet rhythmic idyl !
which those who read were not slow to Il
appreciate as belonging to high order Il
of creative genius. Has the old fire all V
died out within her, that she turns away )
from the inimitable painting in full view
of her window, and busies herself in the fl
petty details of her narrow kitchen, with f,
out another glance? a
Miriam Gray has no time to waste on r,
such indulgences. The setting of the @,
sun indicates that what remains of the +,
days toll must be finished quickly, and /,
only the half-suppressed sigh that wells Al
up from her heart testifics that she is not {,
content to shut her eyes on the beauty ST
and loneliness that lie broadcast over all n
the sweet spring landscape. Aud this is G
only one day-one of the many, that fol
low hard, one upon the other, each like
unto the rest, with its UNMARRIED, unyield- "
ing pressure of toll, its Implying, hurry ~
ing necessities, that, like whip of small q
cord lash the victim ON in her tagging y,
,xertions. vi
The summer came-summer over all
5he world, balmy and luXuriant; summer co
lirs in at the window; summer roses in az
he garden; but no summer came into al
Miriam Gray's life. Dl
Spring ana summer have gone by. The 10
lays are much alike 10 her, whether out
tide are blossoms or drifting snow, since tn
nits of no change of season that hints at tn
elease from toll, Her taskmlster, after an
he harvests are gathered in and the ali
winter comes blusteringand wailing over co
he mountains. sits by the kitchen fire
md allows himself rest from his labOrs We
But not so with the woman who shares ~,
lis fortunes. II is work. work still. in
)ver her shoulders a grim ghoul is ever he
OOking, and urging her on with his hOl- ri
Ow, pitiless eyes OF
After her daughters marriage, the I'M
burden of the care of the fir,
Whole house fell upon Miriam Gray's fir,
lready shrinking shoulders. Her hus- m
and did not notice that her step grew il
ach day n little slower and more irrcsO- 81
ute; that she stopped a little lower over IN,
he washboard and ironing table, or that
er nights were often vexed with pains ~.
nd aches, that we're in themselves the ~,
dyance guard Of the oncOming forces of lf
lsease and dissolution. But the time VI W.,
anne when the unwelcome truth was ~.
Orced upon him, that girl was needed ~
D assist i'm the household care-an Origi- ~.
al idea with him, and one that had
Dund expression only when Miriam on
Iray was Frustrated ON a bed of sickness du
rom which &c was doubtful if she wonld ot'
yer rise again. ~
The slow winter months dragged By DC
nd il was not until spring that she was KID
BILE TO ait up at the board and take her
meals with the rest of the family The OBJ
Dnq fever had left her, but in rs stead, alb
5 am equivalent, remained q hacking sti
rearing cough, that sounded hollow and CHI
arriblein the bleak spring nights, when see