Work: A Story of Experience | Page 2

drink, and get rich;
I don't find any friends to help me as I want to be helped, or any work
that I can do well; so let me go, Aunty, and find my place, wherever it
is."
"But I do need you, deary; and you mustn't think Uncle don't like you.
He does, only he don't show it; and when your odd ways fret him, he
ain't pleasant, I know. I don't see why you can't be contented; I've lived
here all my days, and never found the place lonesome, or the folks
unneighborly." And Aunt Betsey looked perplexed by the new idea.
"You and I are very different, ma'am. There was more yeast put into
my composition, I guess; and, after standing quiet in a warm corner so
long, I begin to ferment, and ought to be kneaded up in time, so that I
may turn out a wholesome loaf. You can't do this; so let me go where it
can be done, else I shall turn sour and good for nothing. Does that make
the matter any clearer?" And Christie's serious face relaxed into a smile
as her aunt's eye went from her to the nicely moulded loaf offered as an
illustration.
"I see what you mean, Kitty; but I never thought on't before. You be
better riz than me; though, let me tell you, too much emptins makes
bread poor stuff, like baker's trash; and too much workin' up makes it
hard and dry. Now fly 'round, for the big oven is most het, and this cake
takes a sight of time in the mixin'."
"You haven't said I might go, Aunty," began the girl, after a long pause
devoted by the old lady to the preparation of some compound which

seemed to require great nicety of measurement in its ingredients; for
when she replied, Aunt Betsey curiously interlarded her speech with
audible directions to herself from the receipt-book before her.
AUNT BETSEY'S INTERLARDED SPEECH.
"I ain't no right to keep you, dear, ef you choose to take (a pinch of salt).
I'm sorry you ain't happy, and think you might be ef you'd only (beat
six eggs, yolks and whites together). But ef you can't, and feel that you
need (two cups of sugar), only speak to Uncle, and ef he says (a
squeeze of fresh lemon), go, my dear, and take my blessin' with you
(not forgettin' to cover with a piece of paper)."
Christie's laugh echoed through the kitchen; and the old lady smiled
benignly, quite unconscious of the cause of the girl's merriment.
"I shall ask Uncle to-night, and I know he won't object. Then I shall
write to see if Mrs. Flint has a room for me, where I can stay till I get
something to do. There is plenty of work in the world, and I'm not
afraid of it; so you'll soon hear good news of me. Don't look sad, for
you know I never could forget you, even if I should become the
greatest lady in the land." And Christie left the prints of two floury but
affectionate hands on the old lady's shoulders, as she kissed the
wrinkled face that had never worn a frown to her.
Full of hopeful fancies, Christie salted the pans and buttered the dough
in pleasant forgetfulness of all mundane affairs, and the ludicrous
dismay of Aunt Betsey, who followed her about rectifying her mistakes,
and watching over her as if this sudden absence of mind had roused
suspicions of her sanity.
"Uncle, I want to go away, and get my own living, if you please," was
Christie's abrupt beginning, as they sat round the evening fire.
"Hey! what's that?" said Uncle Enos, rousing from the doze he was
enjoying, with a candle in perilous proximity to his newspaper and his
nose.
Christie repeated her request, and was much relieved, when, after a
meditative stare, the old man briefly answered:
"Wal, go ahead."
"I was afraid you might think it rash or silly, sir."
"I think it's the best thing you could do; and I like your good sense in
pupposin' on't."
"Then I may really go?"

"Soon's ever you like. Don't pester me about it till you're ready; then I'll
give you a little suthing to start off with." And Uncle Enos returned to
"The Farmer's Friend," as if cattle were more interesting than kindred.
Christie was accustomed to his curt speech and careless manner; had
expected nothing more cordial; and, turning to her aunt, said, rather
bitterly:
"Didn't I tell you he'd be glad to have me go? No matter! When I've
done something to be proud of, he will be as glad to see me back
again." Then her voice changed, her eyes kindled, and the firm lips
softened with a