Elsie's scholarship

by Emma Leslie

And he did not let the garden become weed-grown and neglected through this application to his books. Betsy Gunn had told him that he would never get a decent crop of peas, beans, or anything else if he did not keep the ground free from weeds; and so his garden was kept tidy, though Elsie often spent an hour or two in this work that her brother might not be hindered from his lessons.

So the weeks and months went on, and one day Mrs. Perceval called late in the summer to know how Mrs. Winn was prospering with her business.

"Not very well, ma'am," said Mrs. Winn, hardly able to keep back the tears as she spoke, for she had no work, and knew not when to expect any.

There was also another trouble. Elsie was looking pale, and had lost her appetite the last few days. The rest were well; and Tom seemed to be quite strong again, and was growing very fond of gardening. But Elsie always shared her mother's anxieties now, and she was afraid it was proving too much for her.

Mrs. Perceval suggested that Elsie should come and stay with her for a few days, for her boys were coming home for their holidays, and she would be very useful, if Mrs. Winn could spare her. For such a sensible girl would keep them from mischief when they went out for a long ramble, and there were many ways she could be useful, if she could be spared.

Mrs. Winn was glad enough to accept the offer, for she had no doubt that a week or two with other boys and girls would do Elsie a great deal of good, and it was arranged that the gig should be sent for her on the following Monday.

Elsie was loth to go away and leave her mother with no one to help her; but Mrs. Winn could plead that she had no work in the house just now, and Mrs. Perceval had been so kind she would not like to disoblige her. And these considerations had more weight with Elsie than her own health, or the need there was that she should have some change, and forget for a time the cares and troubles of the home life.

It was the want of work that troubled her as well as her mother; for she knew well enough, that unless her mother could soon get a great deal more work than seemed at all likely now, absolute starvation would stare them in the face. And though she had never said a word of this to her mother, the thought of it haunted her day and night now. If only they could get work, this country life would be very enjoyable, Elsie thought, for she did not know yet what life in the country was like during the winter.

During her stay at Mrs. Perceval's, she almost forgot the home troubles, and grew rosy, and was able to eat anything and everything that was offered to her. For her kind hostess took care that she should spend the greater part of every day in the open air, if it was fine. And this was altogether a new life to the girl, for although they had a garden of their own at the cottage, Elsie did not spend much time in it, there being so much to do to keep the children tidy now their clothes were beginning to wear out, and there was no money to spare to buy new ones.

A good deal of the washing and mending fell to Elsie now, for if her mother was not at work, she was out seeking it. As she said, it would never come to her if she sat at home with her hands folded. And many a weary mile did she walk, hoping for the success that never seemed likely to come.