The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1868-12-02
morning. Confound 'em, how
black the chimneys are" ..

Mr.. Keith put the chimneys into
the basin and cogitated a moment
He had heard it said that boiling
water was cleansing. So he scald.
ed The chimneys, and the result
was about a hundred different
pieces to each chimney.
, "Good gracious!" he cried "who'd
have thought it! There's some
body at the. door. I'll just step
out as I am: 1t can't be anybody
/ that I care for, so early as this.
| A small boy presented himself,
eyeing Keith with Unsurpassed
mirth.
"Be you mistress Of the house p
"Yes-that is, I am the master p
said Keith, with dignity, "what
can I do for your
Nothing, I guess. Marin sent
Eme oyer tosee if you-that -is-if
! the mistress of the house would
take care of the baby while she
goes shopping -
"No!" thundered Keith. .sI've
Eother fish toSfryss' : =
- The boy put his thumb to. his
nose, and. Mr.. Keith after, slam
ming the door, as men always do
when they are out sof' temper re.
turned to the kitchen; the fire was
out and the room decidedly de-
ranged. = u =. Z. <'<.."
He at once hurriedto get 'Coal"
with which to kindle his fire, but
before this task was accomplished
he became entangled in his dress
and fell, overturaing everything
near him.
"Dcuee take i'll" exclaimed he:
scrambling to his feet, and rub
bing his head, chow do the women
manage with these Internal long
dresses? ] shalt break my neck
with this setl''
p The fire made again, Mr.. Keith
bethought him ef dinner. He
looked at his time piece; it was
one O'clock: Almost time for call
/ ers. What should he have for
dinner He had heard his wife
say that rice pudding and boiled
potatoes, and boiled steak would
do. -
: He filed the basin with rice,
stirred in . little sugar, dropped
ID ansegg and set the vessel into
the oven. The potatoes he washed
in soapsuds,. that they certainly
might be clean, and put them into
the tea-kettle, because they would
boil quicker. : :
The steam was frizzliug in-the
frying pan, and he was proceeding
to set the table, when the bell
rang. 49,. n....>...... ...<.:
!, .He,eaught up the pan from the
Ere TO keep it from burning-and
made haste to the front door.
Then he remembered it would not
be just the thing to 60 to the door
.witha frying pan in his hand, SO
he deposited It on. the psrlor sofa,
answered the ring.
p Mrs. DR.. Nudge wason the steps,
dressed in her best.
"Yes-I, dare say stammered
Keith: "myx wife is; absent and I
am playing Bridget. Walk in"
Mrs. Nudge sailed into the par
ler,which was darkened toexclnde
the sun, and without stepping to
look at her seat sunk into the fry
ing-pan on the sofa.
"Jupiter!'' cried Mr.. Keith, ''you
have done it now!"
Mrs. Nudge sprang up; the
grease drippsd from the rich silk
on tie carpet. -.s=Z s.:,I.....
Her face grew dark. She was
tempted to say something cutting,
but managed to control herself;
bowed haughtily, and swept out
ofthe house.
Keith returned to the kitchen a
little crest fallen, for Mrs. Mndge
was a lady before whom he desired
to appear particularly we'll.
There was a tremendous crack
ling in the oven. He thought of
his pudding and looked in. The
burnt rice had hoped all over the
oven; the basin had melted apart,
and the pudding was not done.