Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-12-16
TAKEN AT HIS WORD.


A WIDE cook-kitchen, after the airy fash
Ion OF New England, with the breath of
grape blossoms coming in at the open win
uows and glistening tin pan on the table
full of dewy, scarlet strawberries waiting
to be hulled-this is our scene, and our
drdndtts persona consist 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 doorway leading TO the hall
We'll, said Mrs. Perkins, looking up
with that ineffably wise expression which
is impaired to the human countenance by
round silver spectacles perched obhquelY
on the bridge of the nose, he amt asleep,
is he 2"
"Yes, he is; was the answer.
"Glory be thanked for that at least" said
Mrs. Perkins, apparently impaling herself
on long knitting needle, which, however,
entered harmlessly into the horn sheath
that she wore at her side, encased in seal
loped red flannel. "There will be five
minutes of peace at least You're tired,
amt you, DOn?'
Yes, said Theodora White, 81 an
rather tired"
But her languid voice spoke plainly that
the more accurate phrase would have been
. "Cery tired"
Theodore White was slender, soft-eyed
girl of eighteen with a complexion of
pearly whiteness, and a rose piece on her
cheeks-a girl with pure straight nose
and dimpe on her chin and
pretty pleading way of looking at
you when she spoke She sat down
beside the window, where the mignon-
nette-scented grape blooms were swaying
In the summer air, and leaned her forehead
against the easement
SLrs. Perkins eyed her with an owl-like
glance of sympathy
Its shame, so it is" said Mrs. Per
kns, ,emphatieSly. "A man hasn't no
business to he so tryin-no, not if he was
sick forty times Overt Scold, snap, snarl
this amt right and t'other thing is
wrong! That's the way he keeps it up.
I'd as soon wait on the 'old boy him
self"
Theodore smiled family and arched her
eyebrows
why, Mrs. Perkins, you don't mean to
compare my Uncle Joseph with so obnox-
1ous parsonage as you allude tol' she
said, demurely
"Well," said Mrs. Perkins, refiectively,
"they amt so unlike, after all l declare,
sometimes, when he gets in his tantrums,
I've two minds and a half to give him
good shakin'. There amt no sense in a
mans bein' so unreasonable. You cam
please him no way you can fix it."
1--WE can at least try, Mrs Perkins"
Eyes, and that's jest what s a spilin him.
He knows very well that if he was to want
the moon, you'd hunt up the longest step
ladder and try to reach it down. II alays
did spoil children to let EN- have all they
want, and your Uncle Joseph amt nothin'
but growed-up childp
But don't let-him have all he wants,
Mrs. Perkins"
"And pretty kettle O. fish there'd be if
you did. Humph" and the old house
keeper pounced upon her ball as if she
had, for moment, identified it with the
parsonage under discussion.
" 1t mightn't be such bad idea," said
Theodore, after a moments thoughtful
silence. -E
BE you crazy?" demanded Mrs. Per-
kins, tartly.
Hush" Theodora started from her seat
with uplifted finger. ." He is awake; he
wants me-
And she was gone, swift, noiseless as a
white-winged dove, before Mrs. Perkins
could volunteer to go in her stead.
Yes,' said Mrs. Perkins to herself, it
is shame He seems to think she's made
of cast iron and India rubber-the old tor
ment -
With this rather illogical expression of
her opinion, Mrs. Perkins resumed her
knitting more vigorously than ever
Meanwhile Theodore hastened up stairs
into a closely curtained sick-roOm, where
querulous old gentleman lay, tortured
with great deal of "hypo" and a very
little actual illness. But Uncle Joseph
White chose to believe lie was very i'll
and whe pray, was better judge of the
state of his bodily health than himself?
He screwed his face up into the sem
blance of nut-cracker as his niece hur-
riedly entered the apartment and came to
his bedside,
till my arms are ready to drop
Are, you all deaf down stairs ?
or has old Perkins forgotten there's
any one in the world but herself and her
snuff. box ?"
"Pm very sorry, unclel'
"Actions speak louder than words ~
snarled Uncle Joseph, ungraciously.
How do you feel now, Uncle Joseph ?"
asked Theodore, soothingly.
I'm worseh
"Are your"
''Pulse higher-slxin hot-face flushed ;
of course I'm worse. This confounded
hot room is enough to throw any one into
a feverl Open every door and window
quickw
Without an instants hesitation TheO-
dora mbarred the blinds, and threw open
four large windows and two doors. The
light from the western sky streamed like a
flood Of fiery radiance into the room; the
draught, whirling through, caught up
newspapers, tluttered the leaves of books,
and even upset Uncle Joseph's pet bottle
of medicine
"O-w-w-w roared the sick man, with
vehemence, that proved his lungs at least
to be quite free from disease "do you want
to blind me--to blow me away"
"You told me to do it, Uncle JosephW
"Shut the windows, quick-draw the
curtains" groaned Uncle Joseph. "Who's
that battering down the door?
"Its only very gentle knocking, un
cle.p
"Then I'm nervous. Go and see"
Presently Theodore returned.
Sits Major Crowfoot, uncle; he sends
his compliments, and wishes to learn how
you are"
TELL him to go to the deuce"
"Yes, uncle"
"Well," said Uncle Joseph, as his niece
returned to his bedside after momentary
absence, "what did he say?'
"He seemed very much offended, uncle
Offended at what prayg" demanded
Uncle Joseph
'"I suppose at being told to go to tn,
deucel" answered Theodore, quietly.
"Glrl, calculated the invalid, raising
himself halfway upon his elbow, "yol
didn't tell him btatP
."Yes, / did, uncle. You said yourself
TELL him to 60 TO the deuce
Mr Joseph White fell back, flat and mo
tionless among his pillows,
"Theodora, you are fool
q" I'm very sorry, uncle" said Theodora