Gratia's Trials — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

GRATIA’S TRIALS. 3) in the lower jaw; which seemed to recede under its fringe of scanty yellow beard, and an expression of habitual irritability in the light-blue eyes. He sat in his shirt-sleeves, cool as was the evening, and his heavy cowhide boots bore red traces of the soil in which he had been laboring all day long. ‘‘ Where have you been, Gratia?” asked Farmer Kempfield, querulously. ‘The milk isn’tstrained yet, and I’ve been call- ing you until I’m as hoarse as a crow.” “‘I thought you paid Cousin Almira for doing such things,” said Gratia, biting her lip. “* Almira has all she can do, and more too, ‘Said Mr. Kemp- field, ‘‘in waiting on your mother.” ‘‘‘Then why doesn’t she let me help her ?” ‘«*Tain't your place to ask questions, Gratia,” returned Mr, Kempfield, as if he resented the young girl’s words. ‘‘ Almira’s ‘right. I hain’t brought you children up in the fear of the Fifth Commandment as I’d ought to; but you know well enough without my tellin’ you, why there don’t nobody but Almira go into the south room. It’s for fear of infection.” ‘‘T am not afraid!” flashed out Gratia. ‘‘Oh, father! if they would only let me see mamma—just once |” ‘¢Don’t be unreasonable!” said Ira Kempfield, with the sharpness of a shallow nature. ‘‘Go and see to the milk ; it’s your duty to do all you can to help Cousin Almira.” ‘‘Father,” said Gratia, still lingering, ‘‘why did she send Bridget Meara away? I am not strong enough to lift those heavy pails.” ‘¢ Fiddlesticks !” said Mr. Kempfield, moving uneasily in his chair. ‘‘Almira allows ‘twon’t hurt you to work a little like other folks’ gals. Bridget Meara was a wasteful creetur. Al- mira says I hain’t no idea how much ane saves by doin’ the work herself.” «© By letting me do it, she means!” burst out Gratia. ‘I wish Almira Bassett would mind her own business. ” “Tut! tut!” cried Mr. Kempfield. ‘‘I can’t have no such Eomichooks (e(0) =)