The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-12-09
Upton, IOWA, DECEMBER 9, 1869.
A LITTLE PLEASURE.

A LITTLE PLEASURE.
There was to be . grand military ball
In c., on New Years evening, and
Mrs. Dumpy was determined to 60.
What II she was "fat and forty?" When
she remembered how she had danced In
her girlhood, she felt - II her heart
was in her feet yet. The cares Of wife-
hood and m0thsRhOod had not tqusnchsd
in her silly soul the love Of gay dress
and midnight revelry, and dsspits her
six children, all under thirteen, she
managed to crafty 1t, about once . year,
by attendance at party Or ball.
70 this ball, then, she must go-she
,could go! Ifshe stayed at home and
worked hard oil the year, she thought
she ought to have . little pleasure some
times. And ~ Mr.. Dumpy was of
kindred mind, she did 60. The old
hln& ailk that had served for = wedding
dress wAs turned, and made over yet
once more, in the latest fashion, With .
few yards Of new lace for trimming,
bought 1t the expense Of the new nsn.
mel shirts that were nesded and planned
for little Leroy.
Eugene, the oldest boy, was hired by
the promise Of . candy frolic, to stay at
home and take care Of the house and the
children. 1t was only for one night,
and surely they could get along well
enough.
New Years came, and brought with
It cold snap. Itwas terribly cold. The
Thermometer went down below zero,
and the air cut like . knife. What was
to be done? Give it up7 mo, nsverl"
said Mrs. Dumpy, with = heroism wor.
thy Of better cause. Go she would,
since everything was ready. With al
tue buffalo robes they possessed wrapped
shout them, dressed In their warmest
clothes, and with hot bricks 1t their
feet-the blue silk dress and Mr. Dunn.
py's best cost safely bestowed in Iittle
trunk under the sleigh seat-they start
ed Of.
We will not concern ourselves with
their journey. The warmth Of zeal that
,ould start them out for ride of twelve
miles, with the mercury down to zero,
to attend ball, would surely suffice to
keep them from freezing on the way.
We will rather look in on tho little
flock left at home. ....e.s..,.-.. .-..
The day wore slowly away, bringing
10 event of interest. When four o'clock
came, Eugene said to his younger broth
cr- -.. .-.+.
"You 90 and bring in the wood now,
Leroy, and Alice will get tho supper,
while I feed the COW and split up the
kindling for morning. Mother told me
must split up a good lot, and put it
under the stove, SO it would be real dry,
and kindIe quick, because it'll be dread
ful cold in the morning, l expect"
So Leroy, who was rugged, active
little fellow, brought in armful after
armful of wood, stimulated by the
thought that he was helping on the
molasses candy, till the wood box was
heaping full, while Eugene, with his
hands encased in the thickest pair of
mittens he could find, went out to the
barn. Old Mooly's sides were white
with frost, and she reached out and
snatched eagerly at the hay, as if the
severe weather gave her IN extra appe-
tite. Eugene was careful boy. He
shook down double quantity Of straw
that the cow might have good bed,
and shut the barn doors tightly to keep
out the cold. Then he split up . large
armful of kindlings. and laid them un-
der the kitchen stove, aud the chores
were done. s.
It was now quite dark, SO the front
door was fastened and the candle light
ed. Then the children sat down to sup
per. They had bread and butter, aud
ounce preserves, and . custard pie that
their mother had baked for them. 1t
was an unusually nice supper, to console
them for the absense Of their parents.
And a. soon as 1t was eaten, the molas-
90o JuS WU0 U1O08 ~ sO1sOs ouO sSsON
poured out into the little kettle, and the
candy. making begun. The front door
had to be unlocked again, and pan Of
snow brought In, with which to try the
candy.
All went we'll till just - the candy
was pronounced done and they were
about to pour 1t out, when Baby Inez,
being left to her own devices In the ex-
element of the candy testing, pulled
over upon herself the light stand on
which stood the candle. The light
went out, the candle was demolished,
and the baby scared nearly to death,
and then by the time fresh candle
was lighted, and the baby soothed, there
was great sizxle on the stove and the
candy had boiled over.
A little past eight o'clock six weary,
disappointed, fretful, lonely children
crept to bed, all unwashed-sticky
hands, sticky faces, sticky clothes drop
ped In little heaps about the hoos
wherever It happened, leaving disor-
derby kitchen and q strong Odor Of burnt
candy everywhere Eugene Ierov