Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-05-28


was perfectly new, and trimmed with pearl.
white ribband, and wreath of cape iessamne
There now. baby's quite ready. Come, darling
shake day-day before It goes
After the baby had shaken day-day and de.
parted, Mrs. Gilmore went to the glass to ar
range her disordered wrapper, to smooth he,
more dsorderded hair, and she had thoughts o
putting on clean cap, but concluded as hel
husband was not at home to insist Oh it, and a.
she should see nobody that day. it was not worth
while. She talked all the time to Mrs. Chaoner
sometimes of her Children and sometimes Of
what she called old times, but in reality these
"reminiscences adverted only to the dresses she
had worn on certain occasions, in her girlhood
and to the compliments paid her by those per.
sons she denonnatch her beaux. And such
was her volubility, that Mrs. Chaloner, though
a woman of excellent conversational powers
had seldom an opportunity of speaking at all.
Mrs. Gilmore (who. notwithstanding her
passion for dress and parties. protested TO be M
tau in all the petty details of housewifcry, and
was one OF those very common characters that
exercise the closest economy in some things
and the most lavish extravaganza in others.) sat
down to pecing some very old calico for SER
wants bec quilt. saying to Mrs. Chaoncr, this
is not very pretty work to bring ont before a
visitor but you know do not consider you as
a stranger.
In few minutes the street door was thrown
violently open, and rabble rout was heard
ascending the stairs. Presently in rushed the
boys just from school, and shouting for bread
and moasses. But they all stopped short at the
sight of Mrs. Chaloncr.
Never mind, my dears,' said their mother,
it is only Mrs. Chaoner. an old friend of
mine. My dear Cornelia, | am sorry you have
no children-you know not the pleasure OF
them
The boys having recovered from their sur
prise. now clainorcd loudly for the bread and
molasscs and Mrs. Chaoncr thought that,
like Mary Jane. they wanted manner Mrs.
Gilmore mildly requested them TO 60 to phillis
for it. 'You know very WELL said one of the
boys, that Phils always drives us out Of the
kitchen. and says she won't be plagued with us
when she is getting dinner. We are afraid of
Phillis.'
Il wish you were half as much afraid of me,
murmured their mother.
However, she went down to supply their de-
mandS, saying as she left the room, i do not
ask you to take anything by the way Of lunch
con, my dear Cornelia, lest it should spoil your
dinner
The boys ran down after her, and in short
time returned their faces and hands very much
smeared with molasses. From that time. till
dinner. the nursery and balcony resounded with
noise and riot the mother sometimes raising
her voice in vain attempts to check them, but
generally conenting herself with remarking to
Mrs. Chaoncr that boys will be boys, AN
indubtablc truism. Their father said Mrs
Gilmore, inclines to be rather strict with the
children which is the reason that am rather
indulgent; and, therefore, when he is away
they will break out Bnt like TO. see them
natural, and have idea OF cooling the'r aiiec
tons by abridging their little pleasures And
must say they all absolutely dote Oh me. Come
here. Willie
What for ? said the little urchin. who was
Just then busily employed in unwndng and
tangling one of Mrs. Chaloncr's cotton spools.
Come and kiss mamma.
NO, won't, was the reply
Mrs. Chaoner now endeavored to turn the
conversation. by enquiring after one of their
former friends. Helen Hardy.
On! she married William Oxford replied
Mrs. Gilmore 'Only think, her wedding
dress was a plain brown gros des lncdes; some
said it was a gros de Sussee. Just imagine 9
bride in brown. But Helen was always eccen
trio. NV dear boys, let me request that you al
60 down and play in the yard
Her dear boys took no heed of this request
but persisted in acting naturally by scampcrln2
in and out of the balcony. sometimes through
the door but generally through the windows
prancing on the couch ana throwing Us prov
in each others faces overseeing cht'rs "'''
stools, and trampingIon their mothers sewing
One OF them being pursued hy tIie o'ner' WIN
hearth brush Tell over MIS-, 'h''ohe, ','' ee'~''
her SILK dress, WIN MS moasseS-uauoru n'n .,
to assist HIM III rising announcer WI" s''',,''
hands, snatched hcr te''c"'c 10 Pc" W. "'u'''e
, with, and scattered It's contents over u'e ''oo'
but 1t were endless 10 reia'e an t'e,; l''a.ns
none OF wh'ch were the least air"s'''s, .io"s
AL were extremely annoying lhey P,ayeu
nothing, and there was no meaning III '"c'r 'u'
!, 1t was nothing but senseieSs running Sho"''"
and scram5llng, Besides which ti,y "er, IL
ugly. and had remarkaniy ioons' ,aceS' Mr'
, Gilmore said all her children look a''et ner, an
Mrs. Chaloner saw no reason 10 uo"o' the ''u'
of the assertion.
Dinner was at last announced mary 'a"
made her appearance, and the ladies descendc
to tn, dining room, where they found the hoy
(who had run down en- mtsse before them "A
ready squabbing about their seats
! Mrs. Gilmore requested Mary Jane 10 plac
herself between James and Joseph to keep the,
apart; but that young lady refusing her mott
CT said to Mrs. Cha oner, My dear Cornei'i
will you obidge me by taking seat betwec
those two young gentlemen, who are apt to |
!. little unruy when they SIT together mr.
a Chaioner compiled ; ana tne poys were an u
g time striking at each other oehnd hcr BACK,
. we have very PLAIN dinner to day. sa
4 the hostess. When Mr. uii'h"re Is at nom
hn n M In In