St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-01-12
NUMBER 2,

Of toast don't know who l mean,
hey! Why that little old woman you
saw last night"
"Isn't she your mother ?" modcstly
asked Trudie, almost wishing he would
not answer her or speak to her again.
"Of course she is Muz is for short,
you know. She won't be up until
nine o'clock. am hungry as bear,
this morning, and thank my stars you
amt quite so lazy as the rest of u.s."
Whereupon, he drew up to the table,
and Uncle Jake followed his example.
Things look wonderful fixy," said
Rob. glancing over the table, not
quite so much like fodder for cows"
Trudie was happy to hear him re-
mark the change. She was not lit
tie proud of her first effort, and what
gratitied her the more, and almost re-
paid her for the pang she had received,
was the many slices Of toast that Un-
Gle Jake called for. Yes, and before
the meal was finished he growled out
praise for the little housekeepcr.
Rob had gone off to his work, NUT
tering that he expected to lose his
place for coming so late, and half kind
ly asking Trudie to see that his moth
er had dinner all ready by one, when
Aunt Sarah came yawning down
stairs. She was surprised to find
breakfast waiting for her, and the
room presenting such an unusual ap-
pearance. She praised Trudie very
highly, and even apologized for her
sloth, but excused herself again by
saying that if she did get breakfast
early, Rob would never get up to eat
it, and then things got behind hand
and went wrong all day. Then as
she sat languidly over her cup of tea,
she gave Trudie an insight into many
of their troubles, and Trudie had wise
eyes that could see the real cause
thereof
She was very much troubled about
Rob, he was getting so unsteady. He
never staid at home evenings, and
would remain out so late nights, and
get up 50 late in the morning, that he
had lost more than one place that wins
ter. Rob was naturally a good boy,
and she thought he would come out
right, yet.
Then there was Uucle Jake, (the
old man had hobbled out into the
atreet.) He had got to be so childish
and cross. it was the great trial of her
life to have him around He didn't
use to be so. He was once a funny,
storytelling man. He did nothing
but growl now,--was never satisfied
with anything she might do for him,
and she often thought it was his un-
pleasantness that drove Rob from
home SO much. Indeed, everything
seemed going to rack and ruin she
might be very unhappy if she chose,
but was rather determined to bear
with patience all that was sent upon
her.
Trudie saw through it all, nearly as
plain as you do,--and her hopes were
akin to those of an ardent
in a new-found field, and
when her aunt told her, with delicate
frankncss, that as she was to share
their home, she must bear some of its
duties, her eyes grew large and bright,
and with the rapturouS impulse that
ever controlled her, threw her arms
about her aunt's neck and kissed her,
saying
" Let me be your housekcepcr,--oh
do, auntie Then you can take in a
great deal more sewing, for you shall
not be troubled with the house work
at all. I'll have the breakfast bright
and early, and everything SO nice"
Aunt Sarah acccded to the child's
proposal very willingly, yet with a
powerful secret doubt as to the work
being performed, after the novelty Of
the thing was over nor were her
doubts lcssencd when she saw her
turning the pots aud kettles from their
dusty den, washing the cupboard ana
covering the shelves with clean paper,
shaking up and arranging the cush.
ions of Uncle Jake's chair, and even
pulling down the curtains, "for they
must be washed" she said. Things
were not in order when Rob came
home to dinner, but the table was
spread temptingly, though humbly,
and he stood in the door a moment or
more before entering, rolling his eyes
and fumb!ing his heavy seal, and at
last spoke out very pleasantly:
"Well, Muz, this old house is haunt
ed"
Now that made Trudie SO happy she
was not as afraid of Uncle Jake as
she had been, when he came stumb-
ling tirough the hall, growing at
something that had fallen III his way
He went straight to his chair, sat
down in il, got up again and looked at
it, (then Trudie began to tremble,) sat
down in it again, wriggled awhile.
then family smiling over his specta-
cles, said !:
81 guess the witches have been
dancing over my old chair. Umph |"
"Trudie has been at work at it, this
morning." said Aunt Sarah, remember,
ing she had not seen him smile before
in a long time.
"Is that what You call her! Well
she's a good one-umph," and then
his eyes went rolling with Rob's
around the room.
But the sun did not shine all that
day for Trudie. Uncle Jake staid
home all the afternoon, and more than
one sharp rebuke he gave her, yet he
said, besides, many kindly thing.
Aunt Sarah kept at her sewing, but
smiled at the child whenever she
looked up. But just before time TOR
getting supper. when only her h;na. ainpl.
,ion kept up Ifu'1ys tn 1;,t y Sfai kettle of hot
wator from the stove, but her tremb,
iins Mnsef little tis hand md failed her. and down it
fell. fell, scaIding her hands and arms, I'M
nla M lakes foot little, and worse than
all, a spaniel that Rob set his heart
upon. The dog ran fereely yelping
round the room, Uncle Jake growled
tremendously, and Trudie, overcome
with pain and alright, fell ialntlns
upon the floor.
When she recovered her conscious