The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-04-13

would have made an effort to till these
same fields or soil their dainty hands
by milking COW.
Among the country relatives was
Aunt Tabitha Simonds. She began
life with little amount Of property,
and had been known to have been very
economical for many years. She was a
very peculiar woman, but received due
courtesy at the hands Of some mem
bers Of the family on account Of
what Aunt Tabby might possibly do
for them"
The shrewd old lady intuitively
gagged these courtesies and knew just
where to draw the line, where true
Difference should manifest itself
The Fosdicks were family of six,
father, mother, son and three daugh-
tiers. Celinda, Clara and Marie were
the daughters, but were unlike in char
acter and personal appearance. Ce-
linda was the acknowledged beauty of
the family. Clara considered herself
of the most importance in literary
matters, and Marie, the youngest,
plain, sensible, good little daughter,
who made everybody happy.
Just now all were busily discussing
a letter just received. 1t was Celinda
who spoke first.
"Of all things! That Aunt Tabby
should thrust herself upon us thissum-
mer! And We might Just as we'll have
had some guest from the city who
would have returned the hospitality
for me next winter. And no knowing
whether We shall make anything out
of her"
"Celindo, Tn ashamed of you. Why
need you be SO mercenary?' exclaimed
her father, reproyingly. Celinda
scowled.
'Tm sure Aunt Tabby is mer3en-
ary," she said, in complaining tone
eff she would ever do anything for us
or make us presents it would be differ
ent, but she just scrimps all the time
and allows MS to scrimp, too. " Celinda
tossed her head fretfully.
"And I'm sure she has no regard for
the poetry Of life, simpered Clara.
Maybe Aunt Tabby doesn't care for
the poetry in books, but she cares FOL
another word that begins with p and
that is practical ; she takes right hold
to hel p with the housekeeping" saio
the tired, overworked Mrs. Fosdick.
eyes, indeed I don't know what
we would have done that hard summer
without her, " said Marie, with CRATE
full remembrance Of Aunt Tabby' will
ing and ready hands.
''We ought to have souls above sucl
drudgery," exclaimed Clara, rollin!
her eyes towards the ceiling.
"Well, Clara, / can tell you on
thing" interposed Mr.. Fosdick
Books are all right enough in thei
places. Folks ought to haveplenty o
EN- and know what is in 'em, too
which is more than half Of EN- can sa,
who have big library. All the same
/ guess if it wasn't for this same drudg
cry as you call it, you wouldn't b
quite as comfortable as you are. y
There was little silence while Nj
Fosdick drank his tea and then con
tinued:
"You like pie and cake well enough
but you don't want to go into tn
kitchen to help make 'em. Seems {
me you might help mother and Mari
a. little more"
"Ma says I bother her. reptile
Clara, in an apologize tone.
That's because you amt teachablt
like Marie. She had to learn.
cts no use of fussing, girls, sal
Mrs. Fosdick. Even if Aunt Tabb
is old and sometimes queer and eros
/ think we can manage"
"She needn't be SO queer, said G.
linda.
"She is Just as she was made, if 81
is my sister, and we've got to mai
the best of it," said Mrs. Fosdicl
rising YEARLY from the table.
Abner Mason, sitting in the kitchen
had heard all this conversation. I
compared the fretful, complaint
voice of Celinda to ClarA's drawliI
tones, and again with the cheerful
practical words of the pleasant Mari
Abner was something more than
farmers hand. He possessed a fiji
physique and fair education, broaden,
by a course of good reading. I
wanted to know how to run farI
He had views of time when he mig
own farm of his own and ne wantt
to learn how to utilize every acre.
He had also had his day dreams
the time when his home might be pr