Year: 1872

IMAM once in the morning, we were sure to
near about that ant of King Solomon's
time, to whom the sluggard is advised to
go. II the cake got singed on the bottom,
before we could scrape the crust she would
nave word to say about being mot sloth-
ful in business


havnt arithmetic enough to compute
the number of times day we were re-
minded OF the account we are to give for
every idle word. There was ALWAYS
enough to do in our great family, and Sue
ana 1 always attended to the chamber
work but don't think it improved the
cheeriulness of our spirits to be told that
we should one day make our bed In the
grave.


But washing day was the worst of all.
Even Sunday failed to furnish the inspira-
tlon which came from the foaming suds.
rfooaoly she thonght that we could not
very we'll avoid good preachings on the
oaopath, and were most in need Of them
wnen our spirits We're likely to be ruffed
ana our tempers soured by stains on the
table cloth which wouldn't be scrubbed
away, and the leak in the boiler which
the fire would put out.


but she meant well, dear soul She felt
the responsibility of her position to an un.
|
did she forget the promise made to our
dying mother. that she would take her
place to ''the children and it was not an
easy one to fill. You know there were
live OF US then. and the widest girls in
Herkimer county, cousin Fred, used to
say; but his SAYING so did not make it true.


We We're lively enough, to be sure. and
had merry times, though we hadn't much
else. Fun had to make up for finery, az
we could have an unlimited quantity of
the former, and were cramped in the latter
both as regarded ourselves and our sur
roundngs.


Aunt Avery was called in the village
"the salt OF the earth with good deal Of
truth, though the words were suggestive
OF poetical license You know that
was the rock upon which my barque of
knowledge always made shipwreck in our
rhetoric lesson, for ! used the phrase at
every convenient opportunity, it was such
an easy way OF getting out Of difficulties.


Auntie imagined that we needed more
mental traing than most girls, and don't
suppose it hurt us any, though we used
sometimes to think that the supply exceed
ed the demand.
| She never ceased telling US TO 'cast our
bread upon the water till one afternoon
when an immense basket of work was
sent us from the sewing society. Fan
went down on her knees, to unpack it,
growing good naturedly:


| III this had come at a more convenient
season it would have been more welcome.
Why we. of all persons. should be select
ed to finish this work. just as spring
cleaning and painting is coming on, /
can't see." And she unrolled bundle of
checked aprons with jerk that scattered
them in every direction.


"Auntie, do You think the rising gene.
ration Of Heathendom is suffering for need
of these gingham garments asked AL
ice in her slow way. 'Where ignorance
is bliss--you know the rest"


''Well. girls" spoke Aunt Averye's
chcery voice. lit doesn't show Christian
spirit to complain because you are called
upon to do little extra work for the Lord.
Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou
shalt find it after many days"


"ButteredP" added Sue.


1t is impossible to give you any idea of
the way in which those two syllables Were
spoken. Alice shrieked with laughter,
while | nearly choked in the effort to
smother mine. for Aunt Avery was too
surprised and shocked to see anything
funny in Sues adjective. But she took it
in, in moment, and little ripple came
gradually around her mouth, though she
walked into the kitchen before the smile
grew broad enough for us TO be sure of it.
You see, it would not have been as lu-
dicrous, except for the fact that tor the
first time in our lives we had been obliged
to go without that almost indispensable
article OF food at the preceding meal
Farmer Holt had engaged sixteen pounds.
and paid for it in advance, sending one O:
his hired men for it just before dinner.
AS the churning turned out poorly that
day, we could make up the weight only
by going without it ourselves. Or course
that was but temporary destitution; but
we had good deal of sport over the fact
that we were obliged to sell the food from
our table in order to have 4 table at all.
We were dreadfully hard pushed that
year.


Aunt Avery made no particular haste to
| quote that particular sentence afterward.
but Sue had frequent occasion to think of
it. and what have been telling you forms
a very respectable introduction to the
principle movements of the DRAMA as
the newspapers say, though sometimes il
has no move at all, stopping dead short,
to the great loss of the managers. Sues
was stirring one, and is not ended vet.
The curtain rose on the first act that al
ternoon, at five o'clock precisely. We
had sewed busily for two hours, and it was
time to set the table for tea Sue sprang
up, as the clock struck, scissors, spools
and thimble all clatterng TO the floor


"Some ones coming, girls" she eried
merrily. The point of the shears Is in
| the floor several inches deep' And al
most before the sentence was finished.
there came knock at the kitchen-door.


Sue opened it, to find the Widow Frost's
youngest boy looking timid and distressed.


"Wel, sonny, what is ii ?" she asked
in a voice which would have treasured
any child.


Sue makes short speech, and used fre.
quently to be told that her tongue was
like iwo-edged sword; but she can be
tender enough when there is need Of 1t.


please, mother wants you to say will
Miss Avery let me send her some nigger
work; and, please, she is very sick.


s,,e a.. L.