The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-04-28
TAKEN AT HIS WORD.

4AnCN Al Ills w UOAOA0s r
A wide, cool kitchen, after the airy
fashion of New England, with the
breath of grape blossoms coming in
at the open window and glistening
tin pan on the table full of dewy scar
let strawberries waiting to be hulled
this. is our scene, and our dramatis
persona consists of Mrs. Perkins,
whose drowsily clicking knitting
needles keep time to the purr of the
overgroWn Maltese cat and pretty
young girl with rather flushed face
who had just entered from a doorway
leading to the hall. -
"WeH?u said Mrs. Perkins, looking
up with that ineffably wise expression
which is impaired to the human coun'
tenance by round silver spectaclei
perched obiquely on the bridge o
the nose. "He ant asleep, is he ?"
eyes, he isl was the answer.
"Glory be thanked for that at least,
said Mrs. Perkins, apparently impail
ing herself on long knitting needle
which, however, entered harmlesslJ
into the horn sheath that she wore a
her side, encased in scaloped red fan
mel. "Ther'll be five minutes of peac'
at least. You're tired, amt you
Dora %
"Yes," said Theodor1a White, ".
am rather tired"
But her languid voice spoke plainl.
that the more accurate phrase woult
have been, very tired"
Theodoria White was . slender soft
eyed girl of eighteen, with acomplex
ion of pearly clearness, and ros
apiece on her cheeks girl with
pure straight nose and a dimple OF
her chin, and pretty, pleading wa,
of looking at you when she spoke
She sat down beside the window
where the mignonette scented grape
blooms were swaying in summer all
and leaned her head against the CASE
ment. aa
Mrs. Perkins eyed her with an owl
like glance of sympathy.
/" It's shame, so it is, said Mrs. F
emphatically. GA man ha'n't no bus
iness to be so ,tryin'-no, no, not if h
was sick forty times over! Scold, snal
snarl-this ant right, and t'other thin
/ is wrong! That's the way he keep
it up. I'd as soon wait on the oil
boy himself"
Theodoria smiled family, and archie
ther eyebrows.
ssWhy, Mrs. Perkins, yon don't mea
to compare my uncle Joseph with s
obnoxious parsonage as you allud
toI" she said demurely.
Well,n said Mrs. Perkin;. refec
lively, athey ant SO very unlike, aftt
all. 1 declare, sometimes, when b
| gets in his tantums, I've two mint
and q half to give him good shakin
There amt no sense in mans bein' (
unreasonable. You can't please hir
no way you can fix it!"
eve can at least try, Mrs. Perkins
,2" Yes, and thut's jest what's spi
in, him. He knows very well that
he was to want the moon, you'd hui
up the longest step ladder and try
reach it down. 1t al'ays did spt
| children to let 'em have all they wal
! and your uncle Joseph ant nothi
) but a.growed up child!"
"But don't let HIM have all
wants, Mrs. Perkins"
aAnd pretty kettle o'fish there
be if YOU did. Humph!' z and the o
housekeeper pounced on her ball as
!. she had, for the moment, identified
4 with the parsonage under discussio
%@It mightn't be such a bad ide'
said Theodoria, after a momen
/. thoughtful silence.
"Be you crazy?" demanded M
Perkins, tartly.
"Hushw Theodoria started fro
her seat with uplifted finger. "He
awake !; he wants me"
1 And she was gone swift and nois
less as d white-winged dove, befc
Mrs. Perkins could volunteer to go
her stead.
eyes," said Mrs. Perkins to herst
"it's shame. He seems to think sh
made of cast-iron and India rubber
the old torment!"
IL With this rather illogical expressi
e of her opinion, Mrs. Perkins resum
her knitting more vigorously tn
4 ever. ,m
Meanwhile Theodoria had hasten
stairs into a closely curtained si'
room, where querulous old gent
! man lay, tortured with great deal
hypo' and very little actual illne
But Uncle Joseph White chose to
/. ilieye that he was very ill; and w
pray, was better judge of the st
Of his bodily health than he himse
He screwed his face up into the Sc
~ blance of a nut-cracker as his nj
81 hurrledly entered the apartment 8
came to his bedside.