The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-10-12

ming wheel is.
But it isn't furnished?' pleaded Lucy.
you can easily sew a carpet together out
of those old pieces from the Bedford room,
and its no trouble to put up muslin
curtin to the window and lift in Il cothed.
| There are silently OF good sweet husks in the
corn house, and you can Just tack together
- mattress and whitewash the ceiling end
WHAT'S that, Bcnah? The COWS in the
rye lot. Dear me! Everything goes wrong
if step into the house for a moment. And
really, Lutte, these things are your bus;-
ness-not minen' he added, irritably.
Lucy could not help laughing, all by
herself, as her husband ran up the steps.
But it was very sad little laugh, and
soon changed into sigh.
81 wonder,' said she, in whisper If
my poor, tir,d-out ghost would haunt
these stone pavrments and scrubbed she'v, :
if were to die? never heard OF ghost
in dairy hnro'r. Tut Ii M, .:i.nl that
it might r.rsjly he
But tnc ltll, bedroom was fixed up for
all that n fresh rs Il rl~r, and Uncle Paul
arrived dr,cd-up, yrllow-cnmplcXi"ne .
old man. with an old a,hiourd clavat tied
in MANY folds around his neck. and Il suit
of mvy-bluc, with hr@ss buttons.
He had tlc polite way OF half century
ago. and Lucy thought She would like him
very much, if only she had time to get ac
quairted with him.
But she was churning ten pounds of but
ter a day. and there was the baby, and the
company, find the young chickens, and the
baking TO do for the sewing society, which
was to meet ut her hous'. this week.
She WAS almost too busy to sleep. But
Uncle Paul was Watching her quietly all
the time.
He came out one day to the barn, where
his nephew was putting a new handle on
sickle blade.
pretty busy times ELI, Uncle Paul 2"
said the farmer, scarcely taking the leisure
to look up.
aye" ahscntly answered the old man.
'Did tell you, Nephew Seth, about tine
reason left your Cousin Eliab's,"
'Not that | remember said Seth,
breathing on the blade and polishing it
with his silk handkerchief.
dorothy died-his wife,
ooh, yes!' said Seth ''Maarial fever
wasn't it?''
"No" bluntly answered Uncle Paul
sit was hard work. That woman, Nephew
Seth, did the houst work for eight persons
Eliab didn't even let her have woman to
help with the washing and the ironing"
Must have been a regular going brute, -
said Seth, tightening the handle little.
''.\ll the sewing too added Uncle Paul
-"the mending and making. Never went
any where except to church. Eliab didn t
believe in women gadding about"
"Thc old savage said Seth.
''She was fond Of reading. but she never
got any time forit said Uncle Paul. "She
rose before sun-up, and never lay down
until eleven O'Clock. 1t was hard work
that killed that woman. and Eiab coolly
declared that it was sheer lazincss when
she couldn't drag herself around any
longer And when she died he rolled up
his eyes and called it the visitation of Pro
vidence.'
"Why didn't the neighbors lynch him ~
cried Seth, fairly aroused to Indignation AT
last.
Uncle Paul took off his glasses, wiped
them vigorously and looked his nephew
hard in the face.
"Why don't the neighbors lynch you?
said he.
Seth dropped the sickle and started.
Nephew Seth, said Uncle Paul, i'm
pressively, thou art the man. Are you
not doing the very same thing"
spy gasped Seth.
''Your wife is doing the work of house
hold of sixteen people," said Uncle Paul
''She is drudge She is rising early, and
lying down late; she is offering up her life
ON the shrine OF your farm and its require
ments. 1 have seen her grow thin and pale
even during the few days l have been here
have carried water and split wood for her
because there was no one else to do it. |
have seen her carry up Mrs. Bedford 5
breakfast daily to her room, because Mis-
Belford preferred to lie in bed and cook
ing dainty dishes for Helen Patterson, be-
cause Helen wouldn't eat what the rest
like. No galley.s slave ever worked as she
does. And you, with your hired men
and your array of labor saving machinery,
stand coolly by and see her commit slow
suicide. Yes, Nephew Seth, think it is a
case for lynching.'
Seth had grown pale.
81 never thought of this" said he
"Why didn't some one tell me?"
"Where were your own eyes?" said
Uncle Paul.
Seth Sellenden rolled down his shirt
slseves put on his coat, and went into the
house.
He told the Belfords and Pattersons that
it was announcement to keep them any lon
ger. He gave Cousin Susan to understand
that her room was needed. He made