Year: 1879

linen Bne q stand ana WASH dl0nes, or
iron, with look in her face as il she was
in dream. Shed start up quick
enough il l spoke to her, but I've stood
and watched her smiling just as uncon-
scious TO herself, like as if she'd some
thing in her mind which made her as
happy as the day was long. She always
cared sight for grass and flowers and
those things; and when my baby died,
she put little bits of white flowers all
round its head and all round its little
breast, and kept the house quiet, and
looked so gentlelike that something
peaceful came over me as / sat alone in
the chamber with the little coffin, and I
stopped crying, and clasped my hands
over the pretty little face, and prayed
God to forgive me for murmuring, and
make me fit to meet my innocent babe
in heaven.


After that, Netty was born, and my
husband bought more land, and had
hired men to work for him, and I'd a
great deal OF care, and Nell was always a
help. The fall the baby was born we
hired another girl and kept her right
along, for Nell was only a slip of thing,
though handy and willing, and not fit to
have all the care of so much work. My
family had got to be great one, 'speci-
ally after John had took Lewis boys to
teach farmingto. Lewis boys came from
the city. They were slender slips OF
lads. Levi had lost two Of consumption,
while they were at college, and he was
bound he wouldn't lose the last two;
so he Just sent them out to John to have
years good hard work on farm.


The next summer after they came out
comes Mr.. Washburn Of Boston to get
board with us and read Latin with Lewis
eldest boy, Henry. He wanted board in
the country because he was little out
of health; and he attended to Henry's
lessons because he was friend of Lewis.


I was a little struck up by his coming,
for he was fine appearing man, with
the city look, as if he was used to be-
ing waited on. Not foppish and silly,
but grand, like real gentleman. But
he put me at ease, for he said, right off:


Don't incommode Yourself or alter
your arrangements in the least for me,
Mrs. Hatch, for if 1 had wanted the ac-
commodations of city, should have
stayed in the city.


With that he sits down to the supper
table and eats hominy and milk with the
rest Of the men; and then goes out in the
stoop and sits down on the step; and
Jowler went and put his head on his
knee--a thing L never knew the dog to
do with stranger before.


Well, 1 considered Mr.. Washburn one
Of the family, right off. He made hay,
and worked in the field with the rest of
the men, and got as brown and healthy
as any of them. 1t was good to see him
laugh-he had such white teeth, and his
eyes-just the brightest hazel you ever
saw-sparkled sol He was real we'll
educated, yet the furthest from putting
on airs among common folks of any one
l ever saw.


He took notice of Nell. By-and-by
she told me that he had lent her some
books to read. / was willing enough
that she should read if she could only
find the time, but l didn't want her to
neglect her work, and 1 told her so.


Did I ever neglect my work. she
asked, pleasant enough, yet growing q
little flushed up.


No, Nell,' said ], right off. You
never did; but you know how much there
is to do this summer, and need all the
help can get


AS if I hadn't enough to do, my two
nieces came up from Andover, Jim
Vinal's daughters. Bright, pretty look
girls, but I never was less glad to see
them in my life; for they needed more
waiting on than some folks, and made
considerable confusion.


1t turned out that Henriette had met
Mr.. Washburn in Boston and knew him
pretty well. She told me what had
never known before, that he was rich.
She said that she and Kate were gong
to set their caps for him.


Well, 1 thoughtthey did sure enough.
The three were always frolicking around
and ofF-going after lilies, and for ber.
ries, and to the mill pond to boat, and to
Doake's Hill for strawberries. Mr..
Washburn seemed to like it, immensely.
He was always ready for jaunt, and
when / saw the girls caioling around
him, used TO wonder which would get
him, and il either would.


One day something happened which
remembered afterward, but did not
know what to make OF then.


l was helping Nell make up the but
ter, one day, when Mr.. Washburn came
into the dairy, and went out Of the door
to tho bench under the window He sat
down there. with his book, and we were
going in and out, Nell and I, when all at
once he says:


My little grip in q sort Of fond way
as il he were speaking to baby. Nell
wasn't there; she had gone into, the
kitchen; and Henriette and Kate wasn't
within hearing; so to find out what he
meant, I just put my head out Of the
window.