Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-09-21

she meant to stay up and pass a pleasant eve
ming with Tuesday, who look quite rested and
peaceful a. the cool hours came on.
IL was about half past nine in the evening
when | opened my eyes drowsily, hearing cur
street door close A minute after Nell came
into the room, with shining eyes, aud book
under her arm. | asked her what it was. She
said it was the Idyls of the King" which
Tuesday had just lent her to read.
We slept little later the next morning,
for Wednesday did not call us but we found
her waiting when we went down stairs, wait
ing in the sitting-room, and she had brought
three windows to be washed, a carpet to be
shaken, and good deal Of scrubbing Moth
er was sorry for US, and sat there telling her
how tired we were, we had worked so hard
for Monday and Tuesday so then Wednes-
day said very good-naturedly that we needn't
finish all her work if we didn't feel like it.
She said she saw Tuesday herself just for
minute at midnight, and Tuesday told her we
were right smart girls. That made US laugh,
and we thought we would try to keep up our
good reputation.
Ben had the carpet to shake--that was his
part and he did not like it much till two or
three boys came running into the yard to join
him, and then they had great fun beating out
the dust with clubs, and making believe they
were Indians. Bell and felt strong and
willing, so we helped Wednesday to do all
the securing with soap and sand, while Nell
took her windows out Of doors under the trees
and washed and rinsed them over and over
till they were clear and fne as crystal. Ev-
erything Nell did always looked just so nice
when il was done.
" Lets have a good dinner" said Wednes-
day ." really think we deserve it.
brought a couple of chickens with me and
hung them up in the pantry. Now, if you
could dress them, dear Nell aud roast them,
how nice they would be with cranberry sauce
and mashed potatoes and asparagus :"
Bully bully !" shouted Ben. who had
just come to the door, all covered with dust
Nell said she would see to itat once, and dis
appeared in the kitchen, while Bell aud |
cleaned paint more vigorously than ever, feel
ing gquite merry, and Wednesday never grew inn
patient once, but sang and laughed, and made
funny speeches all the time.
What good dinner we had Nells din
ners were always tip-top, and Ben declared
he didn't care how often Wednesday came, if
she would bring such crisp, tender chickens
every time. We ate in the kitchen, for We'd
nesday had not quite got her work out of the
way in the dining room but that made it
all the jolier and we had a splendid time.
Ben was just running off after dinner, when
Wednesday called him back to tack down
her carpet for her 1t did not take US long
after that to get everything in order in the
room, and then mother put on her best cap
and sat down quietly with Wednesday, to be
ready for callers while Bell and l ran out in
the yard and had a merry game of croquet
Nell sat down under the biggest apple tree
and read her book Of Idyls.
Well, we were tired again that night, and
as we laid our weary heads upon our pillows,
Bell said wonder what will happen to-
morrow 2
And this is what happened When we
went down the next morning, we found Thurs
day there, all in a ilutter, just going to call
US. She had brought US an invitation to her
picnic, on the river bank, in the grove. She
said every one we knew was going, and we
must be all ready and meet the party at half
past ten at the wharf, from whence we should
start in sailboat for the grove. We were
wild with excitement and delight. But
Thursday said she should want something to
eat, and we must take basket full of lunch
so Nell went to work in a trice, making some
nice, light, white biscuit, while Bell and |
boiled eggs, and sliced ham, and made coffee.
Then away we went, and delightful day we
had of it. Such splendid swings Such
merry games and the very incest Of dinners
spread out on the green grass.
Just after dinner, Thursday whispered to
us that we could help clear things away and
wash dishes but we didn't want to, and Bell
said we had worked hard enough all the
week to deserve rest now, so she and | ran
off to play blind mans buff, among the trees.
By-and-by, some one asked where Nell was.
"Sure enough" said Bell where is she ?"
We looked all around and at last we saw
something like Nel's white dress behind a
rock Bell and | stepped softly little near
er and then we saw Bob Carter sitting there
by Nells side They did not seem to be
talking, they were looking dreamily of upon
the river.
We had a splendid time all the rest of the
day, but it was Thursdays picnic aud at last
she said she could not stay with us any longer
and we must all go home So We drtted hap
PLY down the river by moonlight, and when
we got home at late hour, we were about as
tired as if we had been working all day in
stead of playing But it was glad, joyous
kind Of weariness, and Nell, | remember,
said it was the most beautiful day of her life.
Thursday smiled, and hastened away.
alt would be just like Friday to come to.
morrow ~ said Bell, as we settled ourselves
drowsiy in bed.
And sure enough she did o, what a rainy
day that was The sky all dark with clouds,
the trees and the caves dripping, the street
full of little pools, and the rain falling in
torrents But Friday said the weather made
no difference to her she had seen so much
of the storms of life that few drops more
or less mattercd nothing so she hung her SOM
brc waterproof by the stove, aud settled her.
self in an easy chair, putting on her specta-
cles, and drawing out her work. She had
brought two dresses to bemade over hat to
be trimmed, and all her weeks mending.-
Bell groaned but Nell smiled, and we ali got
our scissors and thimbles and needles, and
went to work. Mother and | ripped seams
Nell cut out aud basted and Bell stitched
with the machine. Friday was very sociabe,
and entertained us with a long account of dis
asters that had happened to people she knew.
II was always her luck, she said, to be in the
way when trouble came, and mother said she
believed it, when few minutes after, Ben
came running in with torn jacket aud the
best umbrella turned inside out by the wind
"Mako your fingers fly, girls," said Friday
peering over her spectacles, al want to get
both these dresses done by noon, oyerskirts,
aounces and all. If it was ball dress now
you'd be spry enough about it,"
We worked with all our might, but one Of
US had to 20 out to see about dinner, aud so
the sashes got put off till afternoon. We had
a fish dinner that day because we had heard
that Friday always liked fish but she looked
rather disappointed when she sat down ut the
table and said ID was a long time since she