Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-05
A STORY OF CURRANr JeLLY.

Suuui place without breaking the peace
again. ~ WIN 'e'-
., don't mean to say" remarked Sophy,
lnaI L am never to blame, or that / am al
seys just as amiable as / should be, and
'Aon mean that your mother is always unkind
or exacting; sometimes she does things should
not expect of her. This morning, when Brid-
get was busy, she cleaned the brass kettle her.
self, for fear l should stain my hands with do
ing it,
Alfred augured well from this spirit of con-
ceSsIOn; and Sophy went to rest in a very hope
fql frame of mind. Only, before she undressed,
she looked in the glass to see if that spot had
disappeared from her cheek. No il was there
red and gloomy. What could it be mark
set on her for the thoughts she had INDUCED
inthrOugh the day!
CHAPTER III.
sophy rose early the next morning eager to
begin the work of reform. Greatly to Bird
gets amazement she directed that the china
and napkins, the ivory handled knives and
silver forks, the best coffee pot and the pretty
buf-cOlOred waiter should be placed upon the
table. But old Mrs. Clinton's astonishment.
when she set down to breakfast, quite throw
Bridget into the shade.
What on earth is the meaning of all this?"
she asked
II think, mother said Sophy, pleasantly
that We may as well begin to have the good of
our things little; it is hardly worth while to
keep them all the time put up for company"
And you mean TO use all these for every
day." cried the old lady.
Yes, ma am, replied Sophy.
Wed ought TO be economical" =" said the old
lady, reasoning the matter, as Alfred happened
70 be present. bridget will break all the china
and have the handles off these knives in a
month, and all the polish off the tea board, and
the cofee-pOt covered with scratches And
what folly to wear out these napkins and yell
low them up, just for nobody but ourselves
i don't think Bridget will be quite so de-
strucuye as all that, mother" said Alfred
smiling ''Sophy will caution her, and watch
little at first TO see that she takes proper
care of the things. 1t is much pleasanter to
have the table nicely set; the same food tastes
great deal better"
We'll, y said the old lady, obviously, but
NJ wears things out to use them
'In that case" replied he, II hope we shall
be atle to replace them
80 the meal went of very comfortably and
Mr.. Clinton departed to his office. 'sSophy, -
said the mother, Just get pan Of water and
wash the dishes right up here on the table;
bridget has got tremendous ironing to do,
and want her to have an early start
Il wish to sweep the parlor and clear up my
own room, said SOphy, land afterwards to
make cherry pie for dinner Bridget can do
the dishes just rs well''
But want her to finish her ironing this
morning"
There is no hurry about it; we all of us
have plenty of clean clothes. If she cannot
hnlsh to-day, 1t will do just well to wait till
tomorrow #"
IL don't see why you need make a cherry
pie; II takes an awful sight of sugar, and you
don't want dessert when you have a good din
mel" But Sophy went on her way, and Mrs
Clinton retired to her bedroom with uncom-
Portable fOrebOdings that the sceptre was about
20 pass from her hands. She did not appear
down stairs that morning, to the vast content
OF SOphy, who was thus enabled to proceed
without opposition. Great was Bridget's de-
light ut the turn affairs were taking; she was
fond OF SOphy, and glad to have her assume
her rightful place. Old Mrs. Clinton was one
of the ancient style Of housekeepers, who con-
celye that there is much virtue in scoldip1
and that no one can be properly served who
does not practice it constantly. Moreover.
she was always about in the kitchen, "hinder-
ing more than she helped" Bridget averred,
aud frequently giving ofense to that function
airy by spying around to see if things were
clean. Also, she was accustomed to find fault,
and not at all given to praise, even where
praise was due.
When Mrs. Clinton came down to dinner, she
opened her eyes ve-y wide at sight Of the best
ctstOr and the eut-glass goblets. They had been
wont TO use at that meal little four bottled
britannia metal sffair, and heavy tumblers of
common glass. She disdained to make any
comment, however; and the dinner, very good
and nicely cooked, passed of pleasantly She
even oyercame her prejudies 50 far as to eat a
piece Of the pie, though Sophy cut it with the
silver pie-knife.
This is excellent, declare" she observed;
''but you sweetened il with white sugar"
Il thought" said Sophy, surprised, ''you
always maintained no one could tell the differ
enee between that and the brown"
Il amt an idioti' Mrs Clinton succinctly
gfafaA EsRuf h.. b.nL Il. L..
AMI we'd ought to be prudent"
Prudent but not parsimonious, said Alfred.
''Oh, vel" said his mother, II see myopiI- :
ION is getting TO be Of no account. New men.
nev measures"
rs remark gave everyone an uncomfortable
turn, but SOphy hastened to remove the ill.,
preston. do have another bit of the pie.
mother" she urged; Il am quite proud that
you like il" and Mrs. Clinton passed her plate
"You do make as good a pie as ever ate, -
she said; but then you might for you take
the best of everything. Although, - she added,
have il good, even then"
After dinner Mrs. Clinton remarked, ''Now,
SOphy, do hope you don't intend to have
Bridget wait at table every day"
why not!" asked Sophy. Il am sure its
much pleasanter than for one of us to be Jump
ing up every time anything is wanted ~
sWsIl, don't think IFS any great matter
for people that do nothing else ali day, TO get a
spoon or fork or a tumbler of water now and
then. And il takes up Bridget time So She
might get all the pots and kettles washed
while she is doing il"
s'But you know" explained Sophy, "that we
have Bridget here because il is more convent
ent and pleasant TO hire some one to do our
work than to doit ourselves .
.sOh, well, said Mrs. Clinton, s.haye il your
own way. It's nothing to me-
Sopby thought this a good time to define her
position, though she did it with fear and tren,-
Bling. Il should be glad il you would feel so
about il" she said, II have wished for a long
time that could have the charge Of things
think with some advice from you occasionally
I could do very well; after awhile, if not at
first. And IL seems TO me you might enjoy
yourself quite as well to give up care; you are
fond Of reading and visiting. you know. And
I often hear you complain Of being tired, and
having so much TO do" she stopped She had
said ali she dared to venture this time To her
surprise Mrs. Clinton took it very we'll.
.s0h / know what you mean Sophy," she
replied. II don't care, I'm sure, If you can
only manage il, but it's just like trusting a
child, However, 20 on-well see bow you
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