Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-10-30

~, -, come and nIay with the baby. Two
- !, he cherry trees, and the others deep
among the blackberry bushes, and tron the
looks of their hands and faces judged they
had found plenty of fruit. l sighed again as
I thought of the Jam We had intended to MAKE
Of the berries, and saTagely wished the
'sdears'' were under my control for about 10
minutes.
| went into the ki'chon to light the FIRE IN
the stove, and having got dinner on the way.
went into the room for something, and there
the children were. building house OF stove
wood which they had carried il from the
shed but it was rather more than could
hear when | saw th1t Charley had my cloak
wrap2ed around him and over his head, as he
sat on the foor playing peep with the BABY
IF nulIino for life at the tassel. forgot
everything there. and took it from him much
quicker than he put It On. was not aware
thai at the time that gripped his arm SO
tight as TO warrant yell, bat he INDUCED ID
one at any rate put the cloak away anu
retreated to the kitchen, leaving my mother
70 entertain chem as best she could.
As soon IS Mrs ~ WoOd heard the rattle OF
dishes she brought her york out into the
kitchen to watch us, I aid not DO thing
but she saw it, and I oaly hope she will know
al about the way [ work the ne1s time she
comes While I went TO the cellar the child
rem amused themselves by tasting what vas
on the table, so their mother Informed me
when came back, as though II was some
thing very smart indeed.
At last dinner vas ready, aud amid all the
noise and confusion we soon became seated
scarcely, however, until three OF the little
dears" we're helping themselves to whatever
they could reach. Then II vas.
Mother, want some peas, and Mother.
give me q peice OF meat, as though they had
not eaten anything fer week Mrs Wood
looked worried aud excited, for my part /
felt perfectly disgusted, aud no doubt looked
the same l could scarcely refrain from ut
terieg a few words of heartfelt thanktuiness
when they all left the table
When | again joined our company Mrs
Wood had her cloak basted together, and re-
Quested me to act as a "form" while she fit
ted it I was all obedience, but could scarcely
suppress a 5mfe. for it had no more fit TO 1t
than If 1t had been made without q single
seam. She inslnuated shat she wished l would
take the scissors and sit down and alter 1t for
her but I had no such an idea l told her the
best | knew what to do, aud then went to my
own work. Just ther one Of the children
came in with some blocks, with which the
baby commenced pounding q chair, leaving a
scar at every blow. Another one initiated a
drummer boy by beating new tin pan which
he had taken down in the kitchen, and Char
lev amused himself by scattering pins over the
floor. out of the cushion. Mrs. Wood looked
at them and laughed to see them enjoying
themselves SO much.
Nv head ached badly. and every ;hump
and scream from the children went through
aud through 1t. l gathered up my work and
went up stairs, thinking Id have quiet time,
for little while, at least Here L found the
other child overhauling things generally.
After having satisfied himself as to the contents
of drawers and closets, he had ridd.ed a cou-
pie of .'Waverelvs' This was about as much
as human nature could bear, and l could ot
spanked him with right good WILL but con-
tented myself with sending hin down stairs
much quicker than I supposed he came up
had laid down TO rest my throbbing heaC
few minutes, and the next / knew | aHOkt
from a long sleep. Ny head was better, anl
I went down stairs The children we're a.
out playing, and their mother was reading
The cloak was folded aud put away. TheI
supper had to be gone through with-attende,
with even gorsa noise than at dinner. The
children all drank tea from the eldest TO tht
youngest; one had to much sugar IN his, an
other not enough. third said the tea wa
rot good, and wanted coffee, (Which be di,
not get If NIts- Wood corrected any 0
them, they generally answered, Il wont d
il" ''do it yourself Then she raised he
voice above all others, aud entertained US D.
telling about her cookery. ! thought if al
she said was true she must cook very differ
emily for her family aud for company, for
had had 1t from reliable sources that sh
could never set decent table and thought
too, no wonder her children acted so staFve
abroad.
| never saw a much worse looking hous
than when We left the table-eyerything va
scatterei everywhere may as well avo'
an q little bit old maidish, - and I though
it hurt my feelings TO see things so out
order scarcely knew where to begin f; by
finally, In the course of an hour. succeeded
cleaning out most OF the rubbish-gettjngt til
Tin pans hung up etc
Just at sunset Mrs. Wood gathered up hC
work aud babies and started home, mid man
pressing invitations for Us al 90 come and st
her.
Il vas with feelings of the greatest reli
that l closed the door after her, and turne
again into the nov quiet room s. great W;
tie reaction that | felt as though [ had avail
ened from some terrible dream. or had bee
rescued from a living death, aud [ do hOE
and pray that.T may ever be spared the plea
IRE of being at home when Mrs Wood an
her children come to spend the day.
The closing Of the Mississippi river an
,ls interruption OF the Baltimore aud Oh
Railroad have locked up millions OF bushe