Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1871-03-03


mind, but some things were positive
hardships. Still, she knew that she
ought to save in every way, and sincs
she had the time, WIN il 1OGS duty.
She prepared her baking, washed hel
break fast dishes, tidied her room up
stairs, busted her parlOr, swept hel
hall and front porch dining-roOm, and
tiny birds nest kitchen. BY that time
it was ten o'clock. She was warm and
tired, for she bad been go ng steadily
and she did long for breath of pure
reviying air Why not go and take
up some flowers The children were
playing out of doors.
She examined the coat. First the
arm-Seam had ripped, then the sleeve
had torn, and the coat had torn. There
was good hours work upon it. Her
head almost aehed with the heat and
hurry, and every pulse was throb-
bing with high-pressuTe speed. The
sun out of doors looked so tempting
1t was a great mistake, to be sure
She might have begun the coat, at
least. Instead, she put on her gardeu-
hat and gloves, pOtted two rose geran-
iums, her beautiful pink bOuvardia,
and a heliOtrOpe- II was so delightful
to be out here, Listening to the glad,
sweet voices of her little ones, the
merry thrill of the passing birds, and
the balmy wind whispering among
the trees. Housekeeping, baking, and
washing dishes was woman's work,
to be sure hut did it bring tine face to
face with all that was best and noblest
in the wOrld-this tender, infinite blue
above, with the voice and smile of an
gels in every riff of the clouds
80 Mrs. Balcom - exclaimeda a plead
ing, Winsome voice in her ear, scatter
ing her reverie to the winds. IN in
such a worrvl I believe I always fly
to you W en- I am in tTouble-you'Ie so
good. Miss Haines has come up to
make the children's clothes to day,
and not a decent pattern ! WitL you let
me have yours, for cannot go down
town right in the midst of the work p
Nelly Strengthened her bent figure
and I think frOWned little under the
wide brim of her sun-hat, where no
one could see it.
Its too mean to bring up those old,
year Othings; but I believe every
body does impose upon me And
yours are so lovely I often say there
is not another c. lid in the row dress
ed as tastefully as yours Bertie's last
Jacket and skirt are perfection; and
that blouse of his is my admiration
1 de- hate to bother you, but am In
such fret. Miss Haines does use me
in the matter of pat
terns.N
Then Mrs. Grier paused tor breath.
Nelly BalcOm almost prayed for cour-
age 10 refuse, yet she knew that she
should not refuse, either. She was for
ever borrowing patterns, or dresses, or
aprons. Nothing was S cred from her
longing eyes. Yet she was so coaxing
and WinsOme, and so very grateful,
that was a hard matter TO be DISC
Nelly slipped off her loose garden
skirt, hat and gloves, and went up
fol fs7n
She brought cut her box of patterns
dresses, Jackets, aprons, saques-you
would have thought that Mrs. Grier
had not a garment of any kind for
guido in her whole house.
All the while she was saying the
sweetest and prettiest things. Mrs.
Balcom was a marvel to her. such
wonderful taste, such inginuity. such
neatness
IT never can learn to make only the
simplest of garments" Mrs. Grier had
a hab of putting hard emphasis on
4 word every so often. You are the
The most fortunate woman I know. 1
lare say it doesn't cost you a quarter
IF VIII It spend, and your children al
ways look so stylish and lovely! Oh
he blouse pattern isn't here-nor the
acket p
She looked up in the most innocent
y inquiring manner possible
4
som returned, briefly.
''HOw could you make it2"
''My cousin was here one day, and
cut it from her little boys suit"
You are wonder. If yo1-only sOiLt
cut it over for me. What a splendid
.hing it is to have such genius! I
could not do it to save my life. But
I'd be willing to give you twice what
It was worth. Do cut it for me, you
larling title woman ]"
She Wheedled and badgered in her
soft coaxing way, until Nell did it,
And then the Jacket with the dainty
little skirt.
81 do not know how they will fit,
Nell said rather grimly. 81 had quite
lard work getting mine right"
81 am so much obliged. feel as
hough ought to pay you," with re-
norseful touch in her voice
Why should not Nell have sixty |
,ents for the two patterns as well as
hrs. Mills at the bazar =? 1t had taken |
N her a heat in the temper, when you
.ame to that, though she was too well
]red to show it.
If she had set any price upon her la
)Ors. Mrs Grier would have made the
leighbOrhOOd ring with it. "1he idea
# Mrs. Balloon charging friend like
ne T a pattern! never would have |
that her soul was SO small -
So Nelly with this possibility in
view, declined with a kind of outraged
sense, and received a perfect aYa-
anche of thanks.
The clock struck twelve. Mrs Grier
lad spent an hour She ran out to the
garden, and found that BERTHE had
,ransplanted her lemon verhena to the
vatet pail, and Tot had picked all the
ovely buds off of her Malmaison rose.
She slapped the naughty little hands
md sent them in, picked up her tools,
cried softly for a few moments, washed
her hands and face, and began to pre-
pare their simple dinner. When this
was through, and the house in order,
he took the children upstairs for
heir nap, and was in the midst of
rot's abIutions when the bell rang.
''Mrs. Grier wanted to know if she
wouldn't lend her that beautiful blue
blouse of Bertie's, for Miss Halnes to
iee."
Nell was good-natured and generous,
Usually. but she had lent several gar
nents which had come back soiled
md spotted. Nothing was ever nice
md clean in Mrs. Grier's. She couldn't
nave Bertie's pretty suit ruined.
Tell Mrs. Grier that I am going
o take the children out" she said.
Tot was dipping her feet into the
,owI of water. and splashing the car
,et. Nell wiped the -four. finished !
Tot, and put her in her little crib. An
,ther violent pull at the door-beu.
ttPIease' m Mrs. Grier wants to know
+ you will stop in there when you first
20 out2''
: Yes" was the reluctant response.
Afterward BERTHE was washed and !
BUT to bed.
"NOw, if you will be good children
md take nice nap, we will 80 walk |
ng when you wake up"
Berthe shut his eyes and hammered
hem with his fat fists, but even then
hey would not stay shut. During the
next ten minutes he went through
with antics enough to drive any one
crazy, and would not subSide until his
mother finally threatened to whip him,
which was quite an unusual proceed |
ng.
Then Nelly bathed her own self, and
found exceeding great comfort in the
cool, soothing water, re-arranged her
hair, and slipped on a clean calico
wrapper. She was tired and sleepy-if
she only dared lie down about fifteen
But there was stephens
eoat-and if she took the children
put
she sat down to the sewing. The
coat part must be darned neatly with
Il. L. L, u