Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-04-17
Lydia's Sacrifice.

lydia sat on the porch IOOkiuSssUOWu
into the orchard, all pink with apple
blossoms A warm May wind blew
the curls on her forehead to and fro,
and made her feel too drowsy to read.
"Middlemarch'' had sunk into her lap,
with one finger between the leaves to
keep the place, and she was half
asleep when the sound of voices from
the sitting room behind her foated
out and became a part Of her day
dream.
s'Seems to me,' said a high pitched
tone, which she knew to be that OF
neighbor, ''seems to me you amt
lookin' jestup to the mark this spring,
Mis- Marcy"
"Weu. | don't know as I am feelin'
any too spry," returned the gentle old
voice of Lydia's grandmother. II ex-
pect it's this dreadful hot weather
comm on all Of sudden so. I've
been thinkin' I'd start in takin' some
birthstone and molasses three morn
ms and then skip three. Anyone
needs little medicine in the spring
I don't seem to have much Of any ap-
petite, and Pm weak as rag"
'fMay be it's the cookin'of that hired
girl from the city, that you amt used
to, y suggested the neighbor. Chow
does she take hold? Is she much of
hand?'
''Wen, Lyddy's satisfied with her,
and she knows more than do about
the way they do things nowadays.
She's visited the Governors folks and
round among her schoolmates a good
deal, and she's seen just how things
ought to be. [ guess they set pretty
good table to Governor Cobb's."
~ guess they do" said the neigh
Dor.
"But it's kind O hard for an old
woman like me to get used to new
tangled ways. There amt nothin'
reIishin' to me in such little warmed
over messes. I declare, I'd like moth
in better for my dinner than a good
rye and Injun cake and q nice, hot
CUP of teal"
'eI'd like to know what in the world
there is to bender your havin' it?'
cried the neighbor, sitting up straight.
''Well, Lyddy she says it amt the
fashion to have tea for dinner, and [
give in to her sooner'n to make fuss.
You see, Mis- Seavey, young folks is
young folks. When Lyddy come home
from boardin' school last Fall could
see twas hard for her."
The old lady paused.
ssThe house amt new, 'she resumed.
s'Why I've lived here myself, winter
and summer, goin' on sixty year. Our
ways here amt like city ways, and
she wanted to ask some of her mates
us7 here; but I could tell twas morti-
fyin' to her to think of their coming
to such poor old place, and to me-
too, so far behind the times.
$50 l Just says nothin' and let her
go ahead her own way fixin' things
UP. Good land, Mis- Seavey! JUS
wish you could see the best parlor!'
''What has she done to it?" asked
Mrs. Seavey.
'EWhy, the chairs and the tables i
all twisted every which way. Look
as if a high wind had been BLOWN
through. The blinds is all left wild
open, and the sun streamin' in afadin
out the carpet like everything. Bod
Brussels, too, Mis- Seavey!"
Good land!'' said Mrs. Seavey.
''She's got out some Of the hes
clliny and stood up the plates on tn
mantelpiece, and more of 'em hang
in on the wall. There's old shawls
danglin' in the doorways. That pict
ure of father, painted when he was
young man, she's took down alto
gether. She says it's awful"
Dear suz!" cried the neighbor.
ssBut Pm sure the minister used |
set a sight by that picture. L nevt
come when he was here but foun
him Iookin' at it. She's stood SON
plants on the floor by the window
She's-weIl, 1 can't tell you all. 81
wants we should set there commC
every day. l don't know what b
grandfather would say if he could S
it. Iexpect he would turn over in /
grave
Poor Mrs Marcy was quite out
breath as she poured out her soul.
have the sacred best parlor profan
had been a sore trial, which it to-
all her love for Lydia to bear. To
there common would have been
her as wicked as to carry her knittil
to the meeting house.
ssShe wants / should dress up eve
afternoon in my best black silk al