Year: 1879

Nellie Winthrop was one of those fortu.


nate individuals whom God endows with &C


tive brain, healthy body and that peculiar


trait which is best characterized as a spirit


Isay fortunate, because she was left, when


a mere child, to the charity of the world
| which, as everyone knows, somewhat re-


sembles that of certain Indian tribes-let-


ting the weakly children die off lest they be-


come troublesome. But the world honors


spirit, and when it saw that the little maid


en- was determined to beat down all oppo-


sition with her own tiny fists, it straightway
smiled upon her so Nellie found work here
and there, and friends to counsel her. until
she accumulated little money. Then she
went to school, and in course of time be.
came competent to teach in the common
schools and proud enough she felt when
she found herself sole mistress of dozen
backwoods urchins. Thus, teaching and
studying alternately, she struggled on, until
she found herself one of the most accepta.
BILE lady teachers of her native State. Dis
tricts that mourned over peculiarly intracta
BILE pupils were hers to subjugate; and
many wilful Ounce did she lead with firm,
but gentle hand, up the hill of science =


And how she loved her work and how
she rejoiced in her freedom, and her well
earned independence and how her black
eyes would sparkle as she affirmed that she
would always be her own mistress


But alas she went to the rural village of
Colebrook to teach during the fall and win
ter, and there she met Chester Pomeroy, a
fine young farmer, who lived mile from
town. He loved her from the moment he
saw her winsome face looking up from
Esquire Gilman's pew in church and she
confessed to herself, as he stood up straight
in the gallery, leading the choir, and swell
ling out grandly on the tenor, that he was
well enough which was considerable for
Nellie Winthrop to admit OF any young
man.


Esquire Gilman S wife was Chester's aunt,
and with her consent and womanly assis-
tance match was made and before spring
Nellie yielded her boasted independence.
There were some who said it was a shame
for her to marry farmer a college profess
sor would not be half good enough But
the trouble was Nellie loved the farmer bet
ter than any professor so, when her school
ended, she sat down to Mrs. Gilman's sew
ing machine, and meekly stitched away at
her outfit.


Mrs. Gilman made an old fashioned quilt
ing, toO,so that each enthusiastic lady friend
could set stitch for Nellie and her par
lors were filled with those who had learned
to love the energetic young teacher,


'Ah, Nellie said Miss Eunice Perkins,
who was just a little past thirty, You'll
have to give up your independent ways
when you are married d-How do you think
you'll relish going to your husband for all
you have p looking up keenly as she thread.
ed her needle.


Nellie tossed her head in very unsub-
dued style as she answered


I'D like to see the man who could make a
beggar of me, Miss Perkins. Iexpect to
help do the work and then share in the
profits. would like to know what right a
man has to call everything his? But then,
l do not anticipate any difficulty and
quick blush rose to Nellie's cheek as she
thought Chester is too generous to be like
other men-bless him.


Miss Perkins arched her eyebrows, and
Mrs. Smith and Mrs, Middleton exchanged
glances, which said as plainly as words could
have done, Poor child you don't know any.
thing about it. We thought just so once


Time passed on, and Nellie Winthrop be.
came Mrs. Pomeroy, and took her place
among the matrons of the land Her hus.
band had been able to pay but little, as yet,
toward his farm, which he had purchased
of wealthy but miserly, old Mr.. Goldthwait.
So, to lessen his burden, Nellie spent all her
precious earnings in furnishings for the cosy
farmhouse, of which she was installed mis-
tress.


The manifold duties housekeeping were
new to her but she assumed them with the
same courage and energy that had character.
lied her whole life, and soon conquered even
the mysteries of butter making and poultry
raising She bistered her hands almost dali
ly, and grew as brown as gypsy in making
excursions over the farm to assist and en-
courage Chester's numerous enterprises But
she was happy and cheerful over her unac-
customed labors, for wasn't everything to be
ours nv and by ?