Ester Ried | Page 2

my algebra if I'd go out on the piazza this minute."
"Well, go then, and tell Mr. Hammond to wait for his tea until he gets
it!" Ester answered, crossly.
"Here, Julia"--to the ten-year old newcomer--"Go away from that
raisin-box, this minute. Go up stairs out of my way, and Alfred too.
Sadie, take Minnie with you; I can't have her here another instant. You
can afford to do that much, perhaps."
"O, Ester, you're cross!" said Sadie, in a good-humored tone, coming
forward after the little girl.
"Come, Birdie, Auntie Essie's cross, isn't she? Come with Aunt Sadie.
We'll go to the piazza and make Mr. Hammond tell us a story."
And Minnie--Ester's darling, who never received other than loving
words from her--went gleefully off, leaving another heartburn to the
weary girl. They stung her, those words: "Auntie Essie's cross, isn't
she?"
Back and forth, from dining-room to pantry, from pantry to
dining-room, went the quick feet At last she spoke:
"Maggie, leave the ironing and help me; it is time tea was ready."
"I'm just ironing Mr. Holland's shirt," objected Maggie.
"Well, I don't care if Mr. Holland never has another shirt ironed. I want

you to go to the spring for water and fill the table-pitchers, and do a
dozen other things."
The tall clock in the dining-room struck five, and the dining-bell pealed
out its prompt summons through the house. The family gathered
promptly and noisily--school-girls, half a dozen or more, Mr.
Hammond, the principal of the academy, Miss Molten, the preceptress,
Mrs. Brookley, the music-teacher, Dr. Van Anden, the new physician,
Mr. and Mrs. Holland, and Mr. Arnett, Mr. Holland's clerk. There was
a moment's hush while Mr. Hammond asked a blessing on the food;
then the merry talk went on. For them all Maggie poured cups of tea,
and Ester passed bread and butter, and beef and cheese, and Sadie gave
overflowing dishes of blackberries, and chattered like a magpie, which
last she did everywhere and always.
"This has been one of the scorching days," Mr. Holland said. "It was as
much as I could do to keep cool in the store, and we generally ARE
well off for a breeze there."
"It has been more than I could do to keep cool anywhere," Mrs.
Holland answered. "I gave it up long ago in despair."
Ester's lip curled a little. Mrs. Holland had nothing in the world to do,
from morning until night, but to keep herself cool. She wondered what
the lady would have said to the glowing kitchen, where she had passed
most of the day.
"Miss Ester looks as though the heat had been too much for her
cheeks," Mrs. Brookley said, laughing. "What have you been doing?"
"Something besides keeping cool," Ester answered soberly.
"Which is a difficult thing to do, however," Dr. Van Anden said,
speaking soberly too.
"I don't know, sir; if I had nothing to do but that, I think I could manage
it."

"I have found trouble sometimes in keeping myself at the right
temperature even in January."
Ester's cheeks glowed yet more. She understood Dr. Van Anden, and
she knew her face did not look very self-controlled. No one knows
what prompted Minnie to speak just then.
"Aunt Sadie said Auntie Essie was cross. Were you, Auntie Essie?"
The household laughed, and Sadie came to the rescue.
"Why, Minnie! you must not tell what Aunt Sadie says. It is just as sure
to be nonsense as it is that you are a chatter-box."
Ester thought that they would never all finish their supper and depart;
but the latest comer strolled away at last, and she hurried to toast a slice
of bread, make a fresh cup of tea, and send Julia after Mrs. Ried.
Sadie hovered around the pale, sad-faced woman while she ate.
"Are you truly better, mother? I've been worried half to pieces about
you all day."
"O, yes; I'm better. Ester, you look dreadfully tired. Have you much
more to do?"
"Only to trim the lamps, and make three beds that I had not time for
this morning, and get things ready for breakfast, and finish Sadie's
dress."
"Can't Maggie do any of these things?"
"Maggie is ironing."
Mrs. Ried sighed. "It is a good thing that I don't have the sick headache
very often," she said sadly; "or you would soon wear yourself out.
Sadie, are you going to the lyceum tonight?"
"Yes, ma'am. Your worthy daughter has the honor of being editress,

you know, to-night. Ester, can't you go down? Never mind that dress;
let it go to Guinea."
"You wouldn't think so by to-morrow evening," Ester said, shortly. "No,
I can't go."
The work was all done at last, and Ester betook herself to her room.
How tired she was! Every nerve