Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-07-14

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stone-paved dairy, where pans OF
milk and cream were ranged in or.
derry array; great stone pots stood
under the shelves, and blue painted
churn was already placed on the table
for service.
Mr.. Bellenden was justly proud OF
his dairy. Not chance guest came
to the house but was invited down to
see it; not Il housekeeper in the
neighborhood but secretly enyicd it,
many conveniences and exquisite
neatness.
"And it isn't the dairy alone!' tri.
umphantlv remarked Seth Bellenden
"Aud yon may go through the house
from garrett to cellar, and you will
never lind Il speck OF dust or stain
Of rust There never was such n
housekeeper rs my wife"
Mrs. BeIlenden was yonng, too -
scarcely three-and-twenty. She had
been the daughter of aretired army
officer, delcately reared and quite u.
norant of all the machinery OF domes
tic life until she married Seth Bellen-
den.
"It's very strange" Lucy had writ
ten to her father. "The farm is
beautiful. You never saw such mon
strous old buttonball trees, nor such
superb roses, and the meadows are
full of clover and the Strawberries
shine like jewels on the sunny hill.
sides. But nobody sketches or reads.
| don't think there is a copy OF Ten
nyson in the whole neighborhood.
and no one ever heardo of Dore or Mil,
lais. All they think of is how many
dozens of eggs the hens lay, and how
many cheeses they can make in a year.
And the woman who has new re.
ceipt Lor watiles, or Il new pattern tol
a horrible thing that they call crazy
quilts, is the leader in society"
But presently young Mrs. Bellenden
herself caught the fever and became d
model housewife. Example is all
powerful, and Lucy began to believe
that the whole end and aim OF life was
domestic thrift, money.saving and the
threadmill of work.
"My DEAR" said Seth, ''if YOU
thought you could get along without
HepSy, the maid, l might be able tc
afford that new reaper before the oat
crop comes in"
"Tll try" said Lucy.
And after that she rose before day
break and worked later into the night
than ever.
"What is the matter with YOU
hands, Lucy?" Seth asked one day
"They are not so white and beautiful
as they used to be-"
Lucy colored as she glanced dow
at the members in question.
81 suppose it is making the fires,
said she.
And then she took to wearing 81,
kid gloves at her sweeping and dust
ing and digging out of ashes.
"My coat is getting shabby" Sell
one day remarked.
"Why don't you buy another one?
asked his wife.
Seth laughed-a short laugh.
"What do you think Mrs. Hlggin
botham has done?" said he. Ssh
ripped up her husbands old suit au,
cut q pattern by it, and made ne,
one, and entirely saved him ten dol
lars !"
81 could do thatp' said Lucy, wit
sparkling eyes. 81 will try i'll"
"You can do anything, my dear !
said Mr.. Bellenden, admiringly.
And Lucy felt that she had her ric
reward.
Company began to come rs soon a
the bright weather set in.
All the affectionate relations of MI
BelleLlen soon discovered that tn
farmhouse was cool and shady, tina
Lucy's cooking was excellent, and tina
the bedrooms were neatness itself.
Some of them were even good enoug
to invite their relations as well, and $
the house was full from April to De
cember.
All the clergymeu made it the
home at Brother Bellenden's whe
they came to Silvan Bridge for eccles
as,ical conventions; all the agent
. for unheard. of articles discovered thu
they knew somebody who WAS al
quainted with the Bellendens, an
, brought their carpet bags and valise
! with that faith in human hospitalit
which is one OF life's best gifts.
Mrs. Bellenden's fame went abroa
among the Decreases of the neighbo
hood in the matter of butter ri
cheese. She took prizes in the dc
mestic department of all the agricu
tural fairs. and the adjoining hous,