The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-11-04
that CITY BoARpER.

than the Mardon cottage on this brigh
summer morning. The swaying branches
of the old gnarled apple tree, beside thu
open door, held full many a feathereC
warbler, whose music, fresh and sweet
seemed calling all to rejoice.
But the mistress of the little home
needed not the invitation. These sum
mer mornings were very trying to her il
more ways than one. The kitchen, al
though picturesque to the beholder, was
decidedly warm and uncomfortable
there was ironing and some baking to
attend to, besides dinner to prepare fol
the hungay harvesters.
''Only one pair of hands to attend to
all this; no wonder feel tired. Plenty
of men in the field, but no girl to help in
the house. If were girl again, l be-
lieve-"
A loud shrek from the baby interrupt
ed her soliloquy, and hastily making her
way to the sitting room, new trial of
her patience awaited her. The little boy
on awakening had grasped the table
cloth in order to gain his somewhat I'M
steady feet, and frightened by the havoc
he had made, screamed Justify.
"Oh, dear! almost time to begin pre-
pairing dinner; will this child never stop
crying?"
At last after many efforts on the moth
er's part, Freddie stopped fretting, and
establishing his babyhood on the floor
with basket of playthings. Mrs. Mar
don started for the kitchen, and was soon
busily engaged in the prosaic work of
preparing vegetables.
"Millie, have letter from Mr.. Col
burn, and lie wishes to send his daugh-
ter here for few months. He will pay
well for her board and we need the
money. | want to begin laying away
something to buy farm for Steve; he
would be good deal steader if he had
something of the kind to look forward
to, think"
A look of impatience, blending into
sorrow, came into the wife's face. To
her, the prospect of a boarder was any
thing but pleasant, and at the mention
of Steve her heart was filled with sharp
pang; the keen sorrow which a mother
feels as she realizes that the hopes which
have for years sustained her. that of her
son taking an honored and useful place
in the world, are to be dashed to the
ground.
"Well, had better write and tell her
to come. Her father said she didn't
want to go to the seaside with the rest
of the family. She is pretty particular,
and you had better fix up the spare
chamber, guess"
II will do the best can, but there is
so Eiuch work to be done now it seems
impossible for me to do more. But
suppose we must take her to board"
"Why, of course, Mile; ready money
& isn't so plentiful that we can afford to
lose the chance of making little extra
when we CAM
He was soon on the way to the field.
Alone with her thoughts, Mrs. Mardon
INDUCED in some bitter reflections. The
prospect of a fastidious young lady
boarder was anything but pleasant to the
weary, overWorked wife and mother.
Frank is so anxious to make money
he thinks Of nothing else. If he had
been different, more lenient with Steph-
EMS boyish pranks it would have been
better. Perhaps if 1 had spent more
time talking with him and encouraging
him he would have been steadier; but
I've always been too tired to take the
time when nv work was done, and now
the children seem growing away from
me. Meta is determined to keep up an
intimacy with the Downings, and Tom
Downing is not the man | should want
her to marry. l am sorry she ,"o't 20
lcarn "a trddt, Tor her work taxes her
around too much, and need her help
at home"
Light footsteps were now heard, and
the subject of the mothers reflections
entered, fair-haired laughing girl of
eighteen years.
''Dear now warm this kitchen is. Do
hurry with dinner, mother. Father is
coming with the men from the field and
h have got to get back as soon as | can"
Dinner is ready, daughter. Can'tyou
help me little?" s,,: - SS=Ez
II have got to sew rutfle on my dress.
Where is Lizzie? | should think she
might help; she has nothing to do but
go to school, while / am at work all the
time"
''Lizzie hasn't come from school yet.
think can get along very well now"
and the foolishly indulgent mother hur-
redly dished the food as the men entered
the kitchen.
Naturally selfish and indolent, Meta
shirked all the household tasks possible.
She was not utterly heartless, but so &C
custoned was she to see her mother at
work, that it seemed quite the proper
thing to have her assume all the work
and responsibility. 1t was seldom that
Mrs. Mardon required any service of her
daughters, and when this was the case,
attention elsewhere. To be sure she had
entered feeble protest when Meta
wished to learn the dressmaker's trade
told her she needed her help at home
but in the end the girl carried her point.
1t was natural she should want to earn
money to buy the pretty dresses, the
thousand and one tri1es in which young
girl delights, so the mother reasoned.
The guest chamber was put in readi-
ness for the expected occupant by the
next evening, and was inviting as clean
mess and simple, dainty furnishings
could make it.
Meta was to go to the station for the
guest, an errand she performed with
alacrity.
1t was twilight when Desiree Colburn
reached the farmhouse, and as she went
directly to her room, the family saw lit
lie of the stylish young lady whom each
confidently expected.
'She has beautiful travelling dress
and brought two trunks with her." Meta
announced when they were alone.
"Humphl a stuck-up city girl, likely,
Who thinks country people are nobody"
Steve retorted. as he started on his regu-