Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-09-28
Selected MssceIIanv.
THOSE JEROME GIRLS.
BY AUGUSTA LaRNED.


Aunt Prjssy called a ''bristles carpet" q
their parlor floor. They had lately intro
dtced into their front doot-yard gam
which tie good lady persisted in designat
ing as 'crocket," with dim notion that
ftaa ai, invention I1ade by baVy Crocket
and therefore disrepntabie,
There was little odd, cornering win
dow, where Aunt Prissy often sat at work
Rnd from there she could look over int
the Jerome place, which had been fixed N
and improved until it was quite tasteful
and Sretty residence. The old squ1sa f. rin
house, with its blinking windows and owe.
bangiLa caves, faced by that atEliratiu.
OF the ancient5, red barn, had been oil
tered into tasteful cottage, with q piazz
enbowered In honeysuckle and rose vines
The barn bad been moved ont of view
opening a prospect to the river, with 1T
fringy willows. A neat, ornamental fenc,
haa been built, and trees and shrub
planted and dower-beds laid out
Aunt Prissy shook her head ruefully owe
what she called those "doin's" every tim,
she looked out Of the little cornering win
dow; and she did look ont many times {
day, somewhat to tho detriment of her reel
ing and knotting on little wheel, remin
iscence of her glribood she had never giver
up. Fer Aunt Prissy sighed heavily ovel
the degenerhcy of modern stocking-yarn
and, If anything. to her mind, WAS an out
ward and visible sign of the approaching
end of the world, it was them 'taimsy,
boughten things through which body car
poke her fipger."
~ don't believe Uncle Abner erer would
have thought of making such changes in
the old place." Aunt Prissy remarked to
her sister-in law, Mrs. Babbett, who was
fond of good old ways too, and loved the
store of nice old fashioned things in the
Babbett farm house, and yet had tbought
more and lived more in her time than Aunt
Prissy had, "if it hadn't a been for the hec-
torins Of those girls" And the Old lady
held Up long cotton sock she was knitting
for her favorite nephew, Asa, (she always
knit Asa's socks three inches longer in the
leg than she did the others) and looked at
it critically through her glasses.
at does folks good to get stirred I'D now
aitd then, remarked Mrs. Babbett, who was
stepping about in her neat buskins, to
brush up the tidy room, with great patches
of sunshine lying on the rag carpet and the
braided mats, and lighting up grain OF
dust, If there had been one, ''and Uncle
Abner has appeared younger and smarter" 4"
She added, ''ever since the girls got back
from school. The improvements have
given him something to think about besides
his rheumatic.
There they are, crocketing agin," "cried
Aunt Prissy. putting her wrindled old face
out between the dimity curtains, with
ssnells of southern wood and sweet clover
coming through the open window. 81
can't, fer the life of me, see what sense
thee is in knocking them balls around
They'd sight better be doing something
useful. I'll be bound Uncle Alb don's get
his socks mended once Il month. Do hear
EN- langh and holler like looms. 1 must
say, Mlrandy, that SOUNDS brazen"
'Its only bit of fnn," replied Mrs.
Babbett, who was sticking in her side
combs now, before the glass "And, for
my part, / like to see the young folks enjoy
themselves, 1t carries ma back to my
young days.
There never was such goings on when
we were gals, remarked Aunt PrisSy, push
ing her c8pfrill more out between the win
dow curtains, and letting her knitting work
rest upon her lap. cit makes me ache
most when l think how pertickeler Miss
Jerome was about tho house; and now look
there ut the doors all standing stretched
open, as il it was gin'ral trainin', and the
room winders, and the sun streaming right
10 on that bristles carpet, and everything
getting speckled with the flies"
''Sophy says she won have anything in
the house too good to use every day." put
III Mrs. Babbett, sitting down in her IA
vorite rocker, III one OF the patches of suu-
light, aud gently osciliatjng to and fro
with the big yellow pussy cat at her feet
ana a basket oft weeks mending close
by her elbow. ''She wants to keep the
rooms light and open, because they look
pleasant, and her notion is to make. life
cheerful"
oval, sighed Aunt Prissy, "I should
think poor Miss Jerome would almost
groan in her grave. They know how to
mako the money fly; and man would
need purity long puss that should marry
one of them girls. To my thinking they'll
stay single many II long day. Sensible
young men, like our Asa amt a going to
be kitched mp by such highty-tighty cree
turs, with rag-bags stuck on the back OF
their heads"
81 don't like the rag-bags any better
than you do" laughed Mrs Babbitt, while
she fitted patch on over her knee, '.but
We weren't bit more sensible in our time
than girls are nowadays. For, didn't we
wear great sleeves, stuffed out with buno h
es of feathers, and little short waists III, I'M
der our armpits, without ever thinking
those things were going to spoil our mar
ket Times have changed, Prissy; but
Sophy Jerome is just as practical in her
way as we were In ours. [ don't see Why
she shouldn't make good wife, for the
house always looks like wax"
81 don't know about that" returned the
old lady, bobbing her head. 1.-The outside
of the dish and platter may be clean
enough; but I'd just like to take squint
round the kitchen. 1 don't often go pry-
ing into nay neighbor's affairs; bat |
should, just for the notion of it, like to
see how the buttery and cupboard is kept.
OF course, the parior always looks shcked
up for company; and tho minnit you step
your foot into the door the girls 90 kitiaa
around, showing off their footerlng kro.
shay, or playing some old-fashion.l tune
eon the pianner, that puts it out of body's
: head to peek into the corners
Il don't see what's the sense of peekinc
into corners, put in Mrs. Babbett, as she
drew out long thread, while the fat cat
purred contentedly at her feet. Il woaldn't
thank anybody for peeking into all the cor.
ners of my house. It's good deal viii
NSaoSH 90 ~ 10 WIN 4CihS- Ii lAt
mental things are all right, q fly-specl
more or less don't signify; and. when folks
Is set square on principle and goodness
we don't mind whitlie of temper, YOU
know, Prissy, what Scriptur' says about
the mint and cummin p
Laws, Mirandy, don't go to quotine
Scriptur'. l only say them Jerome's girls
is highty-tighty with their new notions
and for my part, / pity Uncle Abner, for
don't believe lie has any peace OF his life. ;
''You needn't pity him, quietly remark
ed Mrs. Babbett. ''Bless your heart, he
l.hes ii. You never saw n good-natureG
old man yet who wasn't pleased TO hav,
the girls pIissying round him. twill keeE
him smart for ten years yet
"Wd, remarked Aunt Prissy, taking III
her knitting needles again and beginning
to clank them vigorously. Il guess he'll
have chance TO keep them 10y him ye
awhile. They amt going TO marry off 81
dretful easy, let me tell you. Our Asa ant
henry Fisher love to run there, and they'll
iool round as much as you please; but
when 1t GENES 10 marrying, that's another
story. Asais a dreadful hand to conjure
ana ne ilkes u joke as well as nc likes Il
sat put hes got the raal ola lla ~ .aF4 ca,ca