Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-10-09
MRS. WOODS VISIT.

MRS. WOODS VISIT.
sIt is a real shame, Maggie, that I've not
paid you visit yet; but You must not think
hard of me, for, | declare, l've set "a day of
every week since you have been in the neigh
borhood TO go and pass a day with you. You
know my family is large, and 1 have great
deal OF sewing to do; but next Friday have
determined t0M go, and take my work "a
long. We are not half as sociable as people
ought to be; but can't get time to visit as
much as I'D like to, and, l declare, believe
this is the first time you were ever in our
house,
walked slowly home from Mrs. Woods,
for | was busiy thinking. The fact is,
thought her rather fast. We had not been in
the village but few weeks, and she had al
ready called on us twice. That morning l
had gone up street on an errand, and it being
very warm, had stopped in at Mrs. Wood s to
rest few minutes. l had not asked her to
our house, and was entirely unconscious that
we had received any slight by her and her
children not having. as yet, spent the day
with US, until she informed me Of the fact, a.
mid regrets aud apologies. We were really
in trouble about the unexpected visit, not
that Mis-. Wood was at all unpleasant, but the
chitdren-I grew sick as | thought of them,
Tor they We're noisy and unruly set.
Early Friday morning there came knock at
the front door that echoed over the whole
house. Frying to feel resigned, 1 opened the
door, but 1t WAS with utter despair that clos
ed the door after Mrs. Woods and five small
children. | took them to the sitting ROOM
but heartily wished afterwards that by some
means we could have stumbled into the kitch-
Ell.
''Well I've got here at last" broke in Mrs.
Woods, as she deliberately laid aside her bon
net.
alt is really too bad that have left it SO
long but as l told Maggie the other day, l
nave been very busy;
We were scarcely seated when the children
seemed to think sou:e attention due them.
Mother, l want a piece" yelled Charley.
the second hopeful. $50 do l. said another.
and ne, too, chiIneG in a third.
"Oh! be Still; you certainly are not hum
CRY yet,' siid hrs. Wood, in a whining, coax
ing way.
eyes, am, and [ want pieco," replied
Charley, win u defiant, iInpudent look.
"We..: then, ask Maggie right pretty to get
you piece said the mother, as she picked
up the crying baby iroTI the floor. 1 did not
say anything, BAL n very good humor laid
down M work and went to the pantry.
''And this is cut the beginning of the day."
thought, with sigh, as took up my work
again. The children grew quiet while eating
their bread and butter. and the baby went to
sleep. Then Mrs. Wood took up her bag and
drew forth her work.
''Maggie, L want to make myself light
cloak from the pattern OF your spring cloak
don't you think ii will make pretty one i''
and she gathered the goods up in folds to dis
play it to the best advantage.
Of course | thought 1t would make up we'll
"But have no pattern of my cloak, Mrs.
Wood.'
''WeiI, now, Pm real sorry for it but per-
haps you and could cut it out from the cloak
L have heard several times how handy YOU
were about cutting any thing you wanted to,
and just brought this goods along to-day on
purpose to get you to help me about it.''
And she smiled insinuatingly.
81 never cut one without a PATTERN" I re-
piled; Sand would not like to undertake it,
Ipatd for my learning, too, II added, mentally.
'Well, let me see your cloak, any how. I
guess can do it myself. --s s..-s s..s ~
SO went up stairs and took the cloak from
trunk where l had intended it to stay all
summer. Then Mrs. Wood wanted to know
how this was done, and how that was cut and
wished she had a pattern, or had the cloak cut.
was very busy with my work and did not
take the hint, for L did not wish to have any
thing to do with it. Finally she asked me for
paper and scissors, so that she might cut a
pattern. Just then the four eldest children,
who had slipped out some time before, came
bouncing in with
"Oh mother, we got such good berries out
III the garden don't you want some 20
"Why, how do you know that the folks al
~" you to gather them ?'' studying intently
Sh her pattern. s'Don't pull any more. .dears."
90 away they all ran, like so many wild hors-
es and into the garden, suppose to help
themselves. E.F
Mrs. Wood now had the fronts cut, and said
Sne guessed she could cut the backs without
auy pattern. l thought differently, but did
not say so. Just then the baby wakened up,
!eiLng SO that l could not hear word the
mother was saying, and heaved heartfelt
Ssh as | saw my work box set down on the
uOor Tor its amusement. l took occasion to
need something in it, and took it from the ba-
~ In few minutes the mother asked where
was, but pretended not to hear her. She
,uen went to the door and called to the child
va en 10 come and play with the baby. Two
s ete In the cherry trees, and the others deep
io1G iGEns the blackberry bushes, and from the
bas SSAs OF their hands and faces judged they
I,So round plenty of fruit. sighed again as
ott.soqght of the jam We had intended to make
wo.a ne berries, and savagely wished the .sdears"
''se under my control for about Is minutes.
went into the kitchen to light the fire in