Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-12-06


nothing
She had always been strictly honest in
her dealings. and she felt She had been re
spccted accordingly, and yet now-she
shuddcrcd--she was overpowerod by the
darkness and emptiness Of her life.
She seemed for once to see her life as
others saw it, and the long years which
had made up her monotonous existence
passed in review before her.
As in dream she saw her youth again,
she stood by her mothers deathbed. Again
she heard the piteous voice, b-eathless
from coughing, anxiously repeating: "Ah,
what will become of you, poor girl, alone
In this wicked world, Resist its tempta-
tons, resist the devil, go to church regu-
larly and don't forget your God. A poor
girl is surrounded by temptations and
must be doubly severe toward herself. ="
A long and painful fit of coughing drown
ed the failing voice. Nina had promised
all-always to remember the warning, al
ways to do her duty, and the poor woman
had died content. And she had kept her
promise. A weak girl and almost desti
tute, she had compelled the respect Of
those about her-never a smile; never a
concession.
Once, long ago, young man had at
tempted to pay her the attentions which
other girls gladly received, but she had re-
pulsed him SO decidedly that he had never
tried again, and soon no one ever thought
of her being either young or old. She
was just Manscll Malm, with the smooth
ly brushed hair and severe aspect, who
goes to the house 10 sew.
She knew that for the last 80 years she
had been the terror of the servants Of the
families who gave her work. Mercilessly
had she exposed their failngs, for of
course she sized with her employers. By
children she was regarded as an ogress,
for she never looked with a kindly eye up
on their little naughtincss, and they
grew up they still cherished a wholesome
fear of their old enemy.
She thought of the many occasions she
had taken charge of both house and chill
drpn during the mothers illness or ab-
sence, the many funerals and weddings
and births she had assisted at and yet
what strangers they all were to her-all
these people whom she had seen born and
die! She had never expected or asked for
anything but justice-she had received it
Was ii not sufficient?
Poor Mamscll MaIm sat in her rocking
chair, deep in heavy thought The din
nor hour had long since passed she did
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narrow street with their shrilI shouts They
echoed from the walls and entered Nam.
sell Mains small room nv the omen win.
dow They seemed 10 her to resonnd from
every corner At this moment the door
opened, and some one tried to enter noise.
lessly. 1t was Hilda, who brought in the