Christie Redferns Troubles | Page 8

though you had had enough of it for one day."
"Oh, no; I expected to milk them all. I'm not very tired."
Christie ran for another stool, and seated herself beside her favourite. She was quite near her sister, too; and they went on talking.
"I suppose this was churning-day?" said Effie.
"No; we churned yesterday, and we'll churn again to-morrow. It's harder, and takes longer, now that the nights have got cooler. But the butter is beautiful. We have the two tubs full, and we put the last we made in a jar. I'll show it to you when we go in."
"I suppose Annie and Sarah have but little time to help you now? No wonder you are tired," said Effie.
"No; they cannot help us except on a rainy day. But I never churn alone. Aunt Elsie helps me. It took us three hours last time."
"I shouldna wonder if that is the reason that Aunt Elsie's shoulder is worse," said Effie, with a sigh.
"Is it worse?" asked Christie. "She has said nothing about it."
"No; she says there is no use in complaining. But I do hope she is not going to be ill, as she was before. It would be terrible for us all."
"I hope not, indeed," said Christie; and in a moment she added, "You would need to bide at home then, Effie."
Effie shook her head.
"No; I should need all the more to be away if that were to happen. What should we all do for shoes, if it werena for my school-money?"
Christie's countenance fell; but in a little time she said--
"But the harvest is a great deal better this year, Effie."
"Yes; but there winna be much to sell. If we don't have to buy, it will be a great thing for us. And the shoes we must have, and new harness, and other things. I mustna think of staying this winter, I'm sure, Christie."
Christie gave a long sigh, as she rose with her full pail.
"I wish I was old enough and able to keep a school, or do something!"
"Do something!" echoed Effie. "I'm sure you do a great deal. Think of the butter! And you've made bread all the summer, and swept, and ironed, and washed the dishes."
"But all that comes to very little," said Christie, disconsolately.
"Indeed it does--to more than my school-keeping, I dare say. And I'm sure it's far pleasanter work."
"Pleasanter!" repeated Christie; and there was such a protesting echo in her voice that Effie could not help laughing; but she said, again--
"Yes, pleasanter. Don't you think it must be far nicer to be at home with all the rest, than to stay among folk that don't care about you, and have to bear your trouble alone?"
Christie opened her eyes wide.
"But, Effie, folk do care about you. And what troubles can you have to bear?"
Effie laughed softly; but she looked grave immediately.
"Well, I havena so many as I might have, I suppose."
"I'm sure if I were you I should be perfectly happy," said Christie.
"That's only one of the mistakes you have fallen into," said Effie, gravely. "Do you remember the story of the burdens, and how every one was willing to take up his own at last?"
Nothing in the world would have convinced Christie that her sister's lot was not much pleasanter than her own; and she said to herself, how gladly she would change burdens with her! but aloud she only asked--
"Has anything new happened? What's troubling you, Effie?"
"Oh, nothing has happened," said Effie, cheerfully. "I'm getting on well. The worst of my troubles are those I find at home--Aunt Elsie's rheumatism, and your pale, tired face, and the wearing out of the children's clothes. And you have all these too: so I dare say my burden is the lightest, after all. Now let me see your butter."
It was well worth seeing. There was one tub made when the weather had been warm, and, for that reason, was pronounced by Christie not quite so good. Then there was a large one, with over a hundred and twenty pounds in it--so hard, and yellow, and fragrant! Christie was not a little proud of it; and Effie praised it to her heart's content. There was no better butter in all Glengarry, she was sure.
"And a hundred and twenty pounds of it! It's worth twenty-five cents a pound, at least. Think of that, Christie!--thirty dollars in all! That is something of your doing, I should think."
"Partly," said Christie. "I only helped." But she was very much pleased. "If we could only sell it, it would get us shoes, and lots of things."
"But I'm afraid we mustna sell it," said Effie. "We shall have so little meat all the winter--and it is so dear, too; and we shall need the butter. And how many cheeses are there? Five?"
"Five uncut. One is nearly