Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-08-19
For Enung ladies.
From Moore's RurRi New Yorker.
How | Cleaned The Cellar.

as | put aside the little plain white curtain Of
my window, and brushed the lilac branches
with their halfopen blossoms away. "Itis the
FIRST day this spring that has had breath of
summer in it. must finish my new calico
TO wear to the bee tonight am so glad
it is just that color--lilac is so becoming to
me, at least people say so."
Strange that when said people / only
thought Of one person. Of medium stature and
tolerably black whiskcrs; but then that is
very general word and the mind of woman
particularizes they say. had no sister, so
of course all these remarks had been only for
my own benefit
Down stairs | went, still in the lilac dress
humor, only to pass into the shadow of great
cloud Aunt Hannah was bustling around ID
her highest excitement and her scleaHine
dress, the former nothing unusual, the lat
ter-well, | knew all that foretokcned Some
times believed it to be an honor to be count
ed the unworthy niece of the most notable
housekeeper in town but that was when at
a picnic, no seed cakes were so fair and ten
der, no crullers Of such delicate crispness.
At home it was different matter lost all
appetite at once noticing which, Aunt Han
nah said
Eat hearty breakfast, niece Jane, we
must clean the cellar to-day aud Of all place
know that needs it the most"
So, while swallowed my coffee 10 gulps,
| meditated on the situation in no enviable
mood had submitted TO house cleaning as
necessary evil, sort of spring disease but
this alterpiece, especially in my preoccupied
state was no soother.
An hour after, any one taking the trouble
to look, would have seen Niece Jane" slow
ly descending the cellar stairs in a short and
somewhat soiled delainc, sleeves rolled to the
elbow, and hair done up in anything but a be-
coming knot " For what is the use of get
ting ones net all filled with cobwebs in that
old cellar ?" had been my mental query.
When ! had fully arraycd myself in this be-
coming manner, | had taken look in my
small mirror, just to see if it would break.
A pity Frank Carter could not see YOU
apostrophized And now you know all about
it. OF course Frank Carter was the person
of medium height and black whiskers before
mentioned, and who was in some way connect
ed with the lilac dress-a spruce young mer-
chant in the village, not exactly of the band
box order, and yet approaching thereto.
But | have been on the cellar stairs long
while you will think Aunt Hannah's voice
arouses me.
Josiah will come in little while and
take out the heavy things. Open the outside
door and hustle around, don't dream away the
time. will come as soon as get this soap
off"
Mechanically obeyed, and opened the
outside door, letting in the sweet spring breath
and sunlight, and revealing only dust and
ashes for beauty. In the corners there hung
the great webs, filled with dust, swaying light
ly in the air, and my uplifted broom dropped,
while looked through the filmy network,
shining like silver in the sunlight that struck
it aslant through the window; and | thought
how few in our daily. lives are willing to
weave rare beauty in the corners, aud await
the time of Gods opening for the world to
see.
Then | saw the bins of potatoes sending out
their pale shoots--grand cathedral columns
for the mice; on the shelves lay the remains
of the winters store Of apples, like society in
general, who find on the shelves Of opinion
their places very much as they deserve. A
few have kept up their spirits, and stand now
fresh and invitingly fair; some are dried up
in all the juices aud sweet affections, and no
hand cares for them, while others, bloated
and dark, are marks for the spoiler, The
cabbage stalks are crowned with greenness-
life upon death.
But | am afraid have no right to the
name of Aunt Hannah's niece, for here have
been dreaming and nothing done. So tying
handkerchief over my head in that style
which makes nuns so greatly admired | was
soon raising the dust in good earnest. The
| long flmy cobwebs swung down from their
resting places, and settled upon my face and
head, until felt like monstrous spider my
self | had Just settled down to cleaning the
corner back of the door, when heard voices
and steps descending the stairs
Conscious of my peculiar appearance, |
sank as far as possible behind the potato bin
and listened. Oh, mercy could it be posi-
ble2 1t was Uncle Josiah and the hero of
my dreams, the young merchant Frank Car
ter. OF what avail now the lilac dress and
the impressions of the eve7 Tears of vexa-
ton sprung to my eyes, and tore off the
handkerchief, unmindful of the frowzled hair
beneath. My only hope was that | might
escape unseen. Uncles good-natured voice
was saying
Here be the potatoes, Captain, told you
of: such master growers,-yield two to Que
of the common sort; and here is the early
sort, and here back of the door those dry ha-
kers, and then he stopped, for there was
one article back Of the door that he had not
expected to see
"Why, what are you doing here, Niece ?"
a. i .,..u.xa.aI Il, 1nenara-
ton, though the fact was evident enough, un-
less they thought | emerged from the bin.
Good morning, Miss Jane" said the other
gentleman, lifting his hat in the most graceful
manner, are you the good genius of the
lplace that you spring up so suddenly ?"
"Josiah, Josiah" called Aunt Hannah
from the kitchen door above al want You
to come and help me got this soap off, at
once"
"Coming, mother; Captain, you just wait a
few minutes"
with pleasure, SIR" in bland tone, and
we were left alone.
Don't you think you would find it pleas
anter out of doors ?" | suggested
1t would be only darkness to me If deprived
of the light Of your presence" he answered
Allow me to offer you seat on this keg"
1t was funny place for 1.-THE surround
ings not in the least romantic, not at all as
had fancied such thing might ever come to
me when had read magazine stories,-neyer-
theless it did happen that the old dark cellar
became all at once sunlight to me, aud for
got the lilac dress and my disappointment, and
I | mus. confess everything else.
Uncle was gone to the soap long time,--
believe he had an intuition that he was not
needed then,-and Aunt Hannah had call
from the minister, so that wher ! obeyed the
summons to dinner my cheeks were still hold
ing their roses, and | suspect my eyes were
not dim, for aunt said,-
Cleaning cellar seems to agree wonder
fully with you, niece"
| wore my old dress to the bee" in the
evening, but that was no matter, for Frank
told me on the way home that had never