Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-06-10

preserving kettle. But, as in reading her
Bible she found it wrt,cn,--Of him that
woutd borrow Of thee, turn thou rot dpdy,-
she dared not refuse any of the applications
that were made for it, and in preserving time
these we're enough to try the patience of
even better woman that Aunt Mary. The
fact was, Aunt Mary's preserving kettle was
the best in the vilage,and there were at least
dozen or two Of her neighbors who did no,
think their swcet-meats Fl, for any thing ifnot
prepared in this favoritc kettle.
'Aint il too bad ! calculated Aunt Mary,
lifting her hands, and then letting them fall
quickly. 'Aint it TOO bad !! But II is always
SO! Just when l want my own things,
somebody's got them. Go right back, Ham
nah, and tell Mrs Tompkins that my pre-
serves are all a-working, and that must
have my kettle at once, or they will be ru-
ined.'
Hannah started Off again, and Aunt Mary
stood far less patiently than before, beside
the table on which she had placed her jars,
and awaited her return.
WELL she asked eagerly, as TIannal, en-
tered after the lapse of some ten minutes,
where is the kettlcl'
Mrs Tompkins says, ma am, that she is
very sorry that your preserves have COM
menced working, but that it would not hurt
them if they are not done over for three or
four days. She says that her mamlct is all
ready to put on, and as soon as that is done,
you shall have the kettle in welcome
Poor Aunt Mary was for few moments
mute with asionisIlmcnt. On recovering
| herself, she did not storm and fret. Indeed,
she was never guilty of these little housewife
cflrrvcsccnccs, USUALLY taking every trouble
with degree of Christian mcckncss, that it
would have been well for many in the viii
lagc, oven the minister's wife 10 have mi-
tatcd.
'Wcll, Hannah she said lraving SIGH,
We shall have TO wait, | suppose, until Mrs
Tompkins has finished her marmaladc. But
! am afraid all these preserves will be spoil
ed. Unless done over Immediately on their
beginning to trrncnt. they get favor that
is not pleasant. But We must wait paticnt-
w.
'lt's downright >l:nmc, ma'am, so i, isl!
Hannah said 'and | wonder you take it so
quietly; if it WAS my kettle, and wanted
II, reckon would have it too quick. On
| ~ just say the word, Md'am, and III get i,
for You ii have TO take it of the fire.
20 no, no, no, not for thc world, Hannah
Aunt Mary replied, to her indignant help.
We will try and wait for her, though, it is
n luIe hard to have ones things always a.
going, and never be able TO PAT your hands
Oh them when you want them.
Ali the next day Aunt Mary suffered the
Jars of tcrmcli'ing preserves TO remain on
the kitchen table. Every time her eve rest
ed upon them, uni.ind thoughts would arise
in her mind against her nciehhor, Mrs Tom
hins, but size used her best efforts to suppress
them. About The niiidc of the mex, dav,
as the preserving kettle did no, make its APP
pcarancc, Hannah was again despatched,
with directions to urge upon Mrs Tomkins
the pressing necessity there was for its be-
inc returned. In due time Hannah reap.
pcarcd but without the kettle.
'Wrll' enqnircd Aunt Mary, in tone
of disappointment.
Mrs Tomkins says, ma am replied Ham
nah, that you needn, be IN such "A fever
| about your old preserving kettle, and that 1t
is not al all nciehborly to he sending for a
thing before it Is done with. She SAYS she
won, be through with her mamlrl before day
after Tomorrow, and that you can't have the
kettle before them
'Well, it is downright shame y Aunt
Mary said, with warmth of manner unu-
slal to her.
And SO told her, responded Hannah.
you did and what did Mrs Tonlkins
say"
80, she fired righ, up, aud said she didn',
want any Of my imperdence.'
But you oughtn't to have said that, Han
nah
How could help it, mia am, when my
blood was boiling overl 1t is shame,
that's the truth, and there is no harm in tell
ing the truth
Aunt Mary did not reply. but she thought
all that Hannah had said to Mrs Tom!iins,
aud good deal more. Indeed iIrI iurbcar-
auce was sorely tried. Never since she could
recoIlcct, had she felt so unkindly towards
any one, as she now did towards her neigh
Dor and fellow church member. Often did
she try to put away these unkind and trouble
some thoughts. But the effort was vain.
Mrs Tomkins had ,respasscd so far upon her
rights, and then put such face upon it. that
size could not Incl p feeling incenscd at her
conduct.
After awhile, day after TO- morrow came
which was Saturday.
Il must have tina, kettle to-day, Hannah,
she SAID, and Hannah started of to Mr.,
Tomkms.
'lou Needn't come after that kettle to.
day. Mrs Tomkins said, as Hannah enter.
ed, my marmalade is not all done YETI
But we must have it to. day, Mrs Tom.
kns. Mrs Pierce says as how | musn'
come home without II. The preserves ar,
nearly all ruined now, and all because 70,
didn't send home the kettle when we frs
wanted it,
Il want none Of your impudencc,' Mr.
Tomkns said, going off at once into "A pas
ison, for she was rather high tempered
woman; 'and SO just shut up at once : |
Mrs Pierce is so iussy about her old, worn
out kettle, she can have it and make the mos
OF IT. A pretty neighbor, indeed. Here
Sally calling 10 her 'hclp,' empty tia
kettle, and give it to Hannah