The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-12-05
Courtship and Cleaning House!
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

1t was the most golden and glorious
of September days. The veil of blue
haze hanging like canopy over the dis
tant hills, seemed absolutely to culver in
the radiant glow of the autumn sunshine,
and the grapes whose amethystine clus-
ters blushed through the trellis of elm
ging leaves, grew deeper in color and
more blooming, as if they had stolen the
imperial dye of thousand purple sun
sets and brilliant dawns, as the sun noun
ted higher and higher, in the cloudless
dome of heaven. No frescoed ceiling,
hung with jeweled pendants was ever
more beautiful than this arbor of grape
leaves where the light and shadow dan
ced in fitful arabesques with every NOV
ing wind-and so thought Richard May
field, as he came slowly up the garden
path that led to his brothers house.
The mansion itself, however, was far
from presenting the gala aspect which
pervaded all nature, and our hero's coun-
tenance underwent n ludicrous transfer
nation, as he eyed the yawning windows
and wide open doors,
"By all the powers" said he tc himself
off Isabel isn't cleaning house again !
Well, women are the most unaccouutable
creatures l do believe they delight in
turning things upside down, and making
themselves and tho rest of the world un-
comfortable. What's the use of choking
people with dust, and deluging 'em with
soap and water twice year? However,
let the dear enigmas have their way I'm
sure | am the last person in the world to
object TO it,"
With these philosophical reflections
yet in his mind, Mr.. Mayfeld treaded his
way through colony of whtewash pals
and lime kettles that surrounded che
front door, and entered upon the scene of
action. 1t was quite plain from the
shout with which the children greeted his
appearance, that he was general favor
te.
Halo, uncle Dick we're cleaning the
nousep cried Master Henry Augustus
Nayfield, who was riding a doubled up
leather bed, castigating it fearfullv with |
lis mothers best silk parasol.
"Ain't it splended, Uncle Dick 7" ex-
claimed Miss Julia, who was endeavoring
% "pry out" the principle of sound from
4 thirty dollar musicbox by introducing a
carving knife into its interior works,
while Mrs. Mayfeld, half distracted by
,alls from divers directions, was totally
Unconscious of tho mischief being
wrought.
"Dick, l am Sc puzzled aad annoyed
he said. "Here is John called to the
ity by apressing lawsuit, and the whole
louse upside down"
"Thought that was what you ladies
iked," said Dick perching himself upon
he top of the dining table, and rescuing
shell basket from the destructive grasp
# the smallest Mayfeld at all.
"And my cook has gone, and the fire
Won't burn, and the wall-whitencrs have
ot come, this morning, and the parlor
eiling is half unfinished, and you know
he sewing society is TO be here to morrow
light, and Dick, what shall doY"
"Don't fret" said Richard soothingly.
III, make the fire burn, or I'll know the
eason why, and can finish tho ceiling
or you."
"Youp
eyes, mep Diden't whiten my own
oom at college, when the boys had
moked it into the color of an old snuff
OK And then III tack the carpet down,
nd sec about putting these dislocated
edsteads together"