Cousin Maude

venting her spite upon Hannah because there was nothing for dinner fit to eat, and upon Maude because the house was so desolate and dark, she crept away upstairs, and w

ate a muddy wagon, from which a little, dumpy figure in black was alighting, carefully holding

upon the stoop. "Who can it be?" she continued, as she recalled all her aunts and cousins, and found that none of them ans

the dingiest old ile-cloth! What does it mean? Your servant, miss," she added, dropping a courtesy to Nellie, who now stood on the stairs, wi

stranger continued, "Dr. Canady

w unmercifully she would tease Maude sho

anger, feeling a little piqued

, assuming an air of dignity, which was not at all diminished by

, and the stranger answered: "Yes, go and

ed while Nellie hurried to the kitchen, where, over a smoky fire, Maude was trying in vain to make

ur grandmother or aunt has come, I gu

cken before the fire, she hurried away, while Nellie, who had heard nothing of the letter sent

e, whom she knew in a moment, though Janet had more difficulty in recogniz

e same," and she passed her hand caressingly over the short glossy curls. Then

nfully, for on the subject of beauty she was a little sensitive, her sister always pronouncing

ejoined Janet. "No such thing; but tell me now of your marm. Ho

o the parlor, and drawing a chair close to Jane

ed morning after gettin' your letter. I was calculating to come pretty soon, anyway, and had all my arrangements made. So I can stay a good long spell-always, mebby-for I'm a widder now," and she heaved a few sighs to the memory of Mr. Joel Blodgett, who, she said, "had been

of her tedious ride in a lumber-wagon from Canandaigua to Laurel Hill, for the stage had left when s

Maude answered: "Never mind him now; let us see mother first, or

tin', but I'll make amends by seein' to her dinner myself," and spite of Maude's endeavors to keep her back she followed on into the disorderly kitchen, from which Nellie had di

"Umph!" and thus was the war-cry raised on either side. "What was you goin' to git for your mother

athen to eat by that fire. Aint there any dry wood-kindlin' nor nothin'?" and she walked into the woodshed, where, spying a pine boar

ment the board, which Dr. Kennedy would not suffer John to use b

then, with a look of perfect delight, Janet sat down to ma

water," she said, and quick as thought Maude brought her one, while Hannah g

eaking not one, but three, into the water,

upon the toast, and then Janet said, "She ought to have a rellish-preserves, jelly, baked apple, or somethin'," and she

snatch the jelly from Janet's hand, but feeling intuitively that in the resolute Scotchwoman she had a mistress, and fearing lest Maude should betray her to the doctor she exclaimed, "If that aint the very stuff Miss

airs followed by Janet, who, ere they reached the chamber, suddenly stopped, saying, "I tell you what 't

s presence. Mrs. Kennedy had waited long for Maude, and at last, weary with listening to the rain, which made her feel so

he placed the tray upon the table before her mother, who, scarcely less pleased, excl

swered Maude, propping her up with pill

e room without, where Janet watched, there came a faint, choking sou

y. Stuffing her handkerchief into her mouth, she waited until toast, tea, egg, and all had disappe

bosom of her faithful domestic, weeping most piteously while Janet folded her lovingly in her arms, saying to her

d Matty, feeling that it would not be

r of us is carried down the walk and across the common where t

y. "They will bury me beneath the willows, for t

rnately, mentally resolving that so long as she should live, she would befriend the li

which Matty learned that Janet was a widow

rty," said Janet, again consulting the silver watch,

rmer home-her friends-her flowers-and Harry's grave;

e other hand she held a beautiful bouquet which, having been kept moist, looked almost as fresh as when it was first gathered. This she gave to Matty, saying, "They grew on Harry's grave.

blossomed on Harry's grave-his dust had added to them life, and as if they were indeed a part of him,

lush mounted to her cheek as on the stairs she heard

called 'Janet,' and a body'd s'pose she owned the house, the way she went on, splittin' up yer board for kindlin', makin' missus' toast swim in butter, and a-bilin' three of them eggs you laid away

her to come so far to see me?" he merely nodded coolly to Mrs. Blodgett, who nodded as coolly in return; then, turning to his wife, he said, "You

ells me, my dear, that you have eaten three boiled eggs. I wonder at your want of discretion, when you know how indigestible they are," and his eye rested reprovingly on Janet, who now found her tongue, and starting up, exclaimed, "One bil

ed a trunk or two in the lower hall, which I presume are yours. Will you have them left th

ay as long as that," and slamming together the door she went downstairs, while Matty said sadly, "Oh, husband, how could

it," was the doctor's reply; and then in no mild terms he gave his opin

w that I'm going to die-that ere the snow is falling you will be a second time alone. And you surely will not refuse me when I ask th

when she added, "She does not expect wages, for she has money of her own," Dr. Kenn

ng the yolk of an egg! Thus prepared for the worst, Janet was not greatly disappointed when she found that her eggs had been disposed of by both th

was Janet's mental comment as she contented herself with a slice of br

es she offered to wipe. This kindness was duly appreciated by Hannah, and that night, in speaking of J

t to attribute it to its proper source. He did not like Janet; her ideas were too extravagant for him, and on several different occasions he hinted quite strongly that she was not wanted there; but Janet was perfectly invincible to hints, and when at one time he embodied them in language that could

of hatred, she strove to comfort her young mistress, who grew weaker and weaker every day, until at last the husband himself, aroused to a sense of her danger, strove by little acts of kindness unusual in him, to make amends for years of wrong. Experience is a thorough teacher, and he shrank from the bitter memories which spring from the grave of a neglected wife, and he would rather that Matty, when she

is mother, until the latter missed another cup of jelly from its new hiding-place. Then, indeed, the indignant African anno

een; "let her go-she'll be glad to come back," and the sequel proved he was right, for just as it was beginning to grow light on the seco

one a two weeks' washing, besides all the work, and the whole of them young ones under her feet into the bargain. Then at night, when she hoped for a little rest, Mrs. Ruggles had gone off to a party and stayed till midnight, leaving her with that squallin' brat; but never you mind," said she, "I poured a little paregol down its throat,