Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-08-22
The Queer Woman.

The Queer Woman.
A queer woman won't to live In COM
munity where the people were rich,
where 1t was considered proper to eat
too much, to dress too gorReously, and
to labor very little. She dressed quietly,
lived simply, and worked honestly for
six OF eight hours Of every day, keeping
only the evening for recreation with her
husband. She really must have been
very queer. =,
She gave no large receptions and kept
no human automaton In attendance upon
her door bell. Instead, she kept guest
chamber fragrant and ready for visitors
from out of town, There was always .
place at her table for the friend who
would 90 to her. And many went from
the East and the West, and were
strengthened and refreshed.
Slowly, one by one, she brought into
her home such beautiful things 40 she
and her husband valued and could at.
ford-a quaint bit of furniture, . good
rug, a choice picture, precious books.
And all these things spoke together q
coherent language, but they were not
understood.
She made garden for herself and her
children, and worked in 1t long time
every day. She taught her little ones to
plant and foster flower and fruit, and
how to attract the birds. She made
them feel the superb rush Of the grow.
ing time, the ecstasy Of the blossom-time,
the peace OF the days of fruitage. She
gave them the love of light, color, and
fragrance, knowledge Of the clean odor
of the earth after rains. And her chill
dren became healthy and helpful, truth
full and beautiful.
And her neighbors realized that she
would not live as they lived, and they re-
sented it. And when they spoke of her
they said:
II suppose she's pleasant enough; but
then she would have to be, for she hasn't
a particle of style.'
"Probably she is one of those priggish
people who think they can reform the
world"
"No, would not invite her, II were
you. She never entertains, and she
would probably criticise the way you did
things or preach you sermon on the
simple life.'
"Her house? Well, it is just about
what you would expect. The things are
all good enough, but they are not at all
what people are using now. It's always
the way with these conceited people who
try to be original, and won't have q
house furnisher do everything properly. :"
"No, would not trouble to call, If l
were you. When people are queer, like
that, there is no telling how far 1t may
60. She may be-not our sort at all,
you know"
"Well, l always have felt that there
must be something not quite-ah-re-
fined about woman who likes doing 80
much of her own homework"
"Yes, and have you noticed her work
ing in that garden with a spade just like
a day laborer, and the children dirty ss
little pigs?"
Eyes, and I feel that you never can
get children to grow up with any ideas
of propriety II you are 80 stingy that you
won't keep q nurse to look after them
properly"
ShAy WV "Sboh VaS "Sas w
her once week, said:
"She amt much fer fuss and feathers,
but she's kind and good. She makes a
body feel kinder human and decent and
self-respectin', and I'd rather work there
than anywhere else"
The queer woman moved into another
town where most of the people were
poor. They labored too much without
purpose, ate and drank carelessly,
and were either slovenly or gaudy in
dress and manners. They looked out on
life with eyes asquint. But the queer
woman lived just az she had lived 10 the
rich community. She made her new
home beautiful with her slowly accumu.
lated treasures. She made new garden
as wonderful as the first. She kept her
ideals intact. And her new neighbors
said:
"She dresses like swell. l cal'late
she thinks she's too stylish fer u.s."
~ reckon she amt the kind you
could count on to help with church
supper, or lead the prayer at the Ladies'
Aid"
"Her man must have hard time OF 1t
with all the house company she has.
It's q wicked extravaganza to be allus
entertainin' like that"
"They say she has real grand furni-
ture In her front room. Probably she
spends all she kin save on 1t, and has 1t
done over every two years."
tits wicked to set such store by
picters and statooary. It's the love OF
display that's ruiuin' our women, that's
what think"
"For my part, think she's mighty
idle sort. She spends hours every week
settin' around in that garden with them
children, not dom q blessed thing but
talkin' to 'em, when she ought to be
scrubbin' and bakin' like ordinary
folks"
II reckon won't 60 to see her, least
ways not yet. When a woman acts like
that you never can tell what she will do,
and like az not I'D get suubbed, any way.
She's 80 smart and high actin and stuck
up"
''If she was only teaohin' them chill.
dren Bible stories or Sunday School les.
sons there in the garden 1t wouldn't be
90 bad. The children will probably be
regular heather when they grow up.
Then, mebbe, she'll be sorry"
But the cleaning woman who went to
her once a week, said:
"She amt like the other women, allus
fussin' and stewin'. But she's good and
kind, and gives q body somethin' sweet
to think about, and I'd ruther work
there than anywhere else. "-Harper'a
Bazaar.