The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1854-02-16

great fuss about a little matter. l
sounds larger than it really is. | thinl
PIl clear the table, to begin with, as tha
is put down next"
So at it he went, knocking hithcr anC
thither, at great hazard Of their demol
ishment. As the idea didn't occur t,
him that he could carry waiter o
articles at one time, he made grea
many journeys between the dining room
and kitchen, which necessarily consumed
considerable time. The dish washing
proved rather an awkward affair, anC
didn't progress so rapidly as he coult
have wished. He couldn't wipe tn,
cups handily, the saucers seemed bung
ling, and the plates would slip bach
again into the water; but after break,
ing a cut glass tumbler (which he fell
certain Of matching the next day
knocking large piece out of platter
(which he resolved to paste tegethcr
while the dinner was cooking), and
cracking pet dish Of his wife's, while
setting up pile Of plates, the matter
was brought to close. The knife
cleaning was another thing altogether /;
there wouldn't be any danger of break
ages, aud he could put them through
quick. But the black spots were deeper
set than he imagined, and required the
exhibition of more "elbow grease" than
he had any idea 'of lie contended
longest with the carving knife, which,
in consequence of being so awkwardly
handled, inflicted a deep cut, as Slight
token of remembrance. This was a
mistake that caused many other mis- 8.
takes during the day, owing, undoubt-
edly, to the clumsy bandage which the
squire wrapped about his hands.
1t may be well to remark, that the
aforesaid list was placed carefully in a
conspicuous position, and frequently re-
ferred to. He attended to the silver
and then glanced at the clock. The
hands pointed to an hour which admon-
ished him " time waited for no man."
and had no particular sympathy for in
experienced housekeepers.
What's next on the docket, won
der" he thought, consulting his memo
rapdum All, stove to black. Well,
l must admit that the coffo which boiled
over; hasn't improved its appearance
much. l'll look up the brush"
So saying, he prepared the polish, and
set about the operation at once. The
stove was quite hot, and he couldn't
work to any advantage The more
liquid he put on, the more it would
sputter about and fly off with cracking
noise. lie thickened the liquid, but it
would not adhere to the stove, and he
began to think it was bewitched.
At this stage Of affairs, he happened
to recollect that somebody had said that
milk was the best thing to wet the pow
der with so he FASTENED to the pantry
and pouring quantity, applied it to the
refractory stove. That didn't mend the
matter much, and the smell of burned
milk began to be very disagreeablc
The room was filled with smoke, the
floor around the stove was dotted with
little spots of blacking, and the squire's
hands were certainly not the ceanest
that ever was. when violent ring Of the
bell resounded through the house, max
ing our hero start as though he had been
surprised in some dishonorable act.
He looked towards the door, then at
his hands, and finally at large stain on
bis shirt bosom, which bore a strong re-
semblancc to blacking.
81 won't go they may ring all day
if they like J" he exclaimed, impatient
ly; going to the wash basin and trying
to bring his bands to their accustomed
color 4; but second ring warned him
hat some person without was not in
clined to give it up so
Confound that tintinabula I sup.
pose it's some old man after boots,
grease, or rags If he does it
,gain, III bring suit against him for
assault and battery I" cried our incipient
iousekecper, making a few desperate
lashes at the dish-cloth, which he mis-
took for the towel, and hurrying towards
The door, which be opened with tremb-
ing hand. ,