Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-04-08

away the dishes, talking all the while, now ask
ing Melinda about the city, now lectuting the
dog, and now nquiring about some rhumatic old
woman down in the village.
The next morning Melinda arose at late
hour, and made her way down stairs
Good morning, Lindy, said aunt Eunce II
why, you look as chrk as cricket. Come,
child get your breakfast, she continued, taking
covered dish from the hearth; I'VE had our
breakfast long ago, but we thought it best to let
you lie, seeing you rode SO far yesterday
Breakfast ? echoed Melinda, glancing at the
old clock why, we never had breakfast in town
at grand mas, or at Mrs Murdock's, until nine
O'clock
Then you were pesky lazy. should faint
clean away before that time. What made you
all so lazyP
oh gran'ma used to get up early; but she
didn't call me till breakfast time
We'll, she didn't do her duty by you. | rath-
er guess you'll have to turn over a new leaf if
you are going to stay with us, Lindy. Airly
to bed and arly to rise,' is our motto!'
Melinda took her breakfast in silence, and
then oitered awhile by the window. At length
she said, What lonesome out-ofthe-way place,
this is | wonder how any one could think of
building house in such place
MY great grandfather, Jonathan Dudley, set
tied here before the old war, aud if he wasn't as
wise as any of your city folks, should like to
know it. When folks have enough to do, they
amt apt to find fault with such an old homestead
as this replied the old lady, dryly. But come,
child, if you have nothing else to do, wash your
breakfast things, and let me see if you have any
Of the old Dudley smart streaks in you. But
lawful sakes she exclaimed, noticing Meinda's
light muslin dress and white apron, you don't
calculate to wash dishes in that gownd, hope
What fl;msy stuff! Why, it is thin as cob.
Web
+ 1T is one of my usual Summer dresses. A:
to housework never do any thing Of the kind
never washed dish in my life
Y well, now if that don't beat the old Simon
Ee'n-a-most seventeen, and never washed {
} dish p
: Hous ework is for servants No lady in towr
e that pretends to tie anything, does housework.
1 GenteeI! poor, shiftless, good-for-nothinG
$ set Of ladies they are, to your account setting
. themselves up above other people; and dare say
e cheating every body that is fool enough to trus
$ them, just as Tim Hatton did. He set up for
f marchant, and cut mighty dash for awhile
Some of our neighbors got plaguiy bit by him
: The Lord save me from all such critters. IT.
d true proverb; set beggar on horseback &c.
It But, aunt you are rich enough to live with
+ out work. Why don't you have servants Z"
$ "ChildW and the old lady was quite erect
e while she hourished her securing grass with re
r newed vigor; " from Jonathan Dudley, down t.
v this day, your forefathers, and for that matter
J, most Of your kin, have been prudent, painstak
e ing, industrious people. Though they neye
grudged meal Of vituals or load of wood t.
II poor man. yet they were saving, and thought
d no disgrace to work. My father was well to d.
It in the world, and when he died we all Sharct
$ alike. Your grandma set up for lady whel
e she was married, and spent her part long beior
d she died. Jonas and have held our own, and
v mayhap, something more, though don't wan
d to boast-and let me tell you, child, we amt
going to squander what we have. Why shoul
C have servants? have got enough here nov
d to slave for and | don't know what should d.
l. with pack of servants, as you call them.
h wouldn't take all the Southern niggers as gift
ct ooh, | would! There ought to be slave
" everywhere to do all the work. But l suppos
l. it is not of any consequence how one lives il
l. such place as this. If you lived in town, 20
would have to do like other people"
s. Have to- I'd like to see them that coul
d make me haze to be such a good-tor-nothin
y lazy critter. as you say your town ladies are
is I'd like to know, Indy, if the folks in c.
are all turning into monkeys, to ape one anothe
r and not know how to act like rational beings
rs They read their Bibles, l suppose, and don
Sc they know that he who made all things provide
a. two hands for every mouth? and he that wi
not work has no right to eat Learn to hel
Mt yourself, child, and always remember that III
Sc highest price you can pay for a favor is to as
TO for it,"
lie Melinda soon found that it would not be s
g easy "to have her own way up there" as she ha
1T anticipated Aunt Eunice, regarding all the al
is complishmenls of city gentility with all almO
inexpressible contempt, and determined to max
I'd her niece thorough house-keeper, was a muc
i'll more formidable character than she had expec
y, ed Aud yet aunt Eunce was not quite wise {
gentle enough to undertake the remodeng
lie her nece's character with any very bright prom
re Use of success
a Melinda set about her allotted tasks with col
siderable zeal; influenced, perhaps, as much /
u the novelty of the thing, as by desire to max
is herself useful. But her ignorance, her careleS
IS. ness, and above all, her endless inquisitivene
IT hourly exhausted her aunts small stock Of p
ad thence. Besides, aunt Eunce had a way of h.
d ; own tor doing every thing, and would toIera
gu no other way Now Melinda very soon deve
oped strong passion for experimenting If 81
as moulded the bread, it was sure to be after sou
rs, original pattern or method of her own or if II
ed old lady bade her stir the cream Ground vii
'a the sum-" she was sure to stir it the other wa
of and Tins nv eXnerimpnt endeavor ~ ii;