The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-04-11

gln guarded her mistress pIlde a care
fully as if it were her own.
As soon as possible Matte started the
various small industries by which she man
aged to keep the po; boiling for three.
The little white house belonged to the
sisters. and that Iessened her difficulties
somewhat; still i, was no light task she
had undertaken She was at work early
aud late, and was witbal the cherries, lit
tie woman you would meet in day :
march
To the villagers who quiEsed her about
her industry and her earnings she declared
she was laying by for her ''prOyid-
ing she was DO, minded to be por-
tioulsss bride
Her visits to the neighboring town with
supplies Of fruit and vegetables had Sc, the
gossips agog. and they had many dark
hints to make regarding her honesty.
When the girl invaded their own ground,
however, aud began to buy and retail the
orsels Of fish, the sight Of her depravity
could no longer be endured, and they went
ia a depuiaIiou 10 inform aud caution the
old ladies.
The ouly bad effect Of the ignorant in.
,erfcrcoce Of these busybo,lies Was to make
Miss Miriam u,ore intolcrant in private Of
Matte eccentririties and little sus-
picioas that the giri wAs greedy, Matte ;
interchangeable energy became a source of
irritation to the delicate old maid who bad
not the key to it, and ioor Miss Priscilla :
ofhcs Of mediator MAS uot always sine
cure But they seldom quarreled out
right, for Matte rarely forgot that Miss
Miriam had been KEEP, in the dark, -
and, besides. she had tactful way with
her. Scenes like the following were of
frequent occurrence, however
Matte bright face would look round
the sitting room door Of a morning, "Oh,
Miss Miriam, if you re not too busy would
You mind pluoking few young peas? |
must finish the washing, but would ike
to take them to the marke, today. They re
scarce
Miss Muriam would continue to nibble
the end Of her quill pen rehectiyely She
Is seated at her desk it is Miss Miriam ;
belief that she has the poetic gift, and her
time i much occupied in It's exercise
It's such lovely morning, says Mat
tie persuasively
Dear, dear II you only knew what
it rneans to be disturbed at such moments.
But YOU have no tact, no consideration /;
sou will never learn, Matte, cries the
lady pet,ishly.
I'm 50 sorry, ma am, but the peas
viii soon be past their best, and
The peas, indeed. And what of my
ideas If | do not pluck them when they
are ripe, they wi,her also.
But think Of the price they II fetch,
cries the maid, her mind upon the peas
The price. Thank goodness, have
never put my gift to base uses-and never
will. Matte, it grieves me TO see you
becoming so mercenary. do not think |
can possibly afford time for the peas this
morning.
Dear Miss Miriam, not if | tell you
want the money to buy chicken for Miss
Priscilla? She enjoyed the last SO much.
| assure you, its not for myself this
time.
That alters the case entirely Ger
tainly, certainly, We must get a chicken
for Priscilla. - Then the good lady sets
her cap straight, and takes her way con-
tentedly to the sunny garden.
1t was during the first winter--a severe
one, as luck would have it-that Matte
had her hardest struggle to keep the wolf
from the door. She had not yet started
the little poultry farm which yielded her
tolerable income later on. The garden
was empty, save for the small household
supply of winter potatoes. Fruits, flow
ers and vegetables were no longer availa-
BILE, and the sailings and catches of the
fishing feet were most irregular. In
spite of the girls efforts to earn enough
by her needle, the pinch of want was felt
in the little home. 1t was Priscilla s
painful anxiety on account of her sister
and Matte that reused the latter to her
utmost endeavor. She bethought her Of
a plan, and straightway entered into a
compact with cousin of hers, young
fisherman who had shown himself very
friendly toward her Of late. He was to