The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-07-14

carry on operations withoa, an ese.wii-
ness which he observed was much more
pleasant
Now well consult the list he added
aloud, and have things 60 on in regular
order. Here goes Get breakfast
clear table--wash dishes--pnt closets in
order--wipe down shelves---clran the
knives--clcanse sink--rub silyer--black
sioye--keep firc--a,icnd to the door bell
sweep hall-brush siairs--swecp par
lour, dining room and kilehen--dusi
furni,ure---,rim lamps---do chamber
work--wssh meat for oven--clran veg
etablcs--siew cranberries pud-
dings-and entertain visitors if they
happen TO call.
Bless me, is that all 7 cried our house
keeper. Il call that making great fuss
about n small matter. II sounds larger
than il really is. l think u clear the
table 10 begin with, as that is put down
next.
SO Mt il he went. knocking things
ihither and hither. at great hazard OF
demolishment. As the idea didn't oc.
cur to him that he should carry wait
cr full of articles at one time, he made
n great many journeys between the din
ing room and the kitchen, which nece,.
sarily consumed considerable time. The
di.h-washing proved rather an awkward
affair and didn't progress so rapidly ms
he could have wished. lie could no,
wipe the cups bandily, the sauccrs seem
ed bungling, and the plates would slip
back into the water; but after breaking
glass iumbler, (which he felt certain
of matching the next day.) knocking a
large piece out Of platter (Which he
resolved TO paste together while dinner
was cooking,) and cracking a pet dish
oi his wife,. while se,'inq .p a pile of
plates, the matter was brought to
close. The knife cleaning was another
thing altogether, there wouldn't be any
danger of breakages, and he could put
'em through quick. But the black spot,
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 awkward
ly handled, inflicted deep cut, as q
slight token Of remembrance. This was
mistake that caused many other mis-
takes during the day, owing undoubted-
ly to the clumsy bandage which the
squire had wrapped about his hand.
II may be well to remark that the
aforesaid list was carefully laid 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
admonished him that time waited for
no man. and had no sympathy for in
experienced housekeepers.
What next on the docket, wonder ?
he thought consulting his memorandum.
'Ah. stove 10 black Well, | must adj
init that the coffee which boiled over
hasn't improved its appearance much--
I'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 could moi
work to any advantage. The more he
put on the more it would spluiter aud
fly off with cracking noise. He thick
ened the liquid but it would not adhere
TO the stove, and he began to think that
il was bewitched.
Al this stage Of affairs, he happened
TO recolect that somebody hnd used
milk to wet the powder with so lie has
tened to the pantry, and pouring out q
quantity, applied it TO the refractory
stove. That did not mend the matter
much and the smell Of burned milk be
gan to be quite disagreeable. The room
was filed with smoke. the floor around
the stove was covered with little spot
of blacking.and the squire's hands wer'
certainly not the cleanest that ever was
when n violent ring OF the bell rcsound
ed through the house, making our herr
start a, though surprised in some dishon
orable act.
lie looked towards the door, then n
his hands, and finally al large stain OF
his shirt bosom. which bore strong re
semblance to backing.
i wont gol they may ring all day
they like = he exclaimed impalienily
going to the wash basin and trying B
bring his hands to their accustomed col
or; but a second ring warned him tba
some person without was not inclined /
give up So
'Confounl that iiniinabula J ! suppo,
it's some old man for boots, clothes. rag
or grease. II he does it again, m brin
suit for assault and battery cried ou
ineipeBt housekeeper. making a fe'
desperate dashes nj ihe d,sh cloth. h.whic
he misiook for the towel. and hurryin
= towards the door which he opened vii
a trembling band.
'Ah good morning. square ? said
: well dressed, gOod-Iooking young lad
i who evidently expected to zee som
y body else aPPear. Ia Mrs. Crosby
: home
'Yes--I--po, sbe isn't in he siar
= for truth 10 tell, the squire was ihinkii
d more about bis personal appearance hi
z his wife's absence besides be imagin'
e that the young lady looked at him vi
ls soFae curiosity and thus embarrassed hi