Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-05-11
A CLEAN SWEEP.

IT was not clean sweep who rang at
the servants bell of No. 8 Lilac street,
Mayfair, where, through the partly opened
window shutters, you could catch
glimpse of the many holland lndlcatloas
that the family were out OF town; but an
ordinary looking, sharp eyed Individual In |
carpet-cap, a la sale porter, and dirty apron, |
who stood on the steps, while a couple of |
companions fingered with a horse and cart |
by the pavement t-side.
Now, then, Betsy, my dear," said the |
ringer, "Turkey fust; then the hb'ry |
Brussels and stair; followed by the dror-
in-room Pusshan and the upstairs Kid
ders"
The maiden addressed as Betsy gave her
head an under-housemaid's toss and then
asked the visitor what he meant.
Mean, my dear! Why, that we've
come for the carpets to beat, and to save
no end of dust from getting up and tick,
ling your pretty little nose. OF course the
missus-I begs your pardon, her leddyship
told you as we was coming?"
Her ladyship never speaks to me? but
she did tell her as they wanted beating.
TO be sure, my dear; and she sent
word to our guv'nor from the park
what's it's name-Lowmeads, amt it ?"
Highmeads," said the girl. "Then I
s'pose you had better take them; but I'll
go and speak to her first"
"Cut away then, my dear, for you're
keeping three workmen waiting, and every
minute you keeps three workmen waiting
goes in the bill, as l dessay her leddyship
has found out afore now"
The housemaid admitted the visitor, but
closed upon him the inner hall-doOr, SO
that had he been bound on a burglarious
mission, there was nothing for his busy
hands but huge door-mat. But in five
minutes the girl returned to say that it was
call right"
"To be sure it is, my DEAR" said the
man, opening, but curiously examining the
while the fastenings of the door. Nov
then, Dick!' he shouted.
Dick-a very hungry looking gentle
man, with a cross-brcd Glengarry cap
drawn over his face that would have been
clean-shaven had not nature apparently
given him no beard to shave-slouched in,
moving his legs as if they were made to
lift, not as supporters; and apparently
quite at home, the men made their way
into the dining room, and began to double
up the handsome Turkey carpet in a
leisurely and business like fashion.
"What shame to have left 'em so
longp said the first man; why, this
here ones got in it arf a 'undred o syle off
her leddyship's haristocratic friends
boots. Oughter have been done months
ago. When dyer expect 'em back,
Betsy?"
90 not for a month They're full of
company at the park"
And left you and the old woman here
all alone by yourselves, eh, my dear ?"
"Don't you be saucy," said the maid,
with laugh. "She wouldn't be pleased if
she heered you acalling her an old
woman. But here she isl"
!" She made her appearance directly af-
terward, in the shape of 8 very stately old
lady.
As soon as this lady-the housekeeper
made her appearance, the first man
jumped up and doffed his carpetcap:
Ho, are you Mr.. Grillow's men?"
"No, mum; johnson and Grum's
come for the carpets, mum, if you please,
and VERY dusty they air, too"
"Her Ladyship might have sent me
word first, I'm sure" said the old lady.
"she wrote to your master, sposes"
"S'pose she did, mum" said the man.
"Guv'nor came to me this morning, and
he says, says he, Smith, he says, take
Wilkins and bubble, and the 'oss an cart
and fetch the carpets from No. 9 Lilac
street.. for here's letter from Low,
meads-'"
Highmeads," corrected the house
keeper.
fright you are, mum; Highmeads il
was. Here's letter from Lady Tow
rower,' he says; and don't let there be
no mistakes this time he says, fo1
they're coming to town VERY shortly
"Of course, said the housekeeper, +" and
no notice given at al"
Just at this moment the man made q
couple of steps across the room to where
his companion was doubling the carpet
and, without warning, gave him SHARP
buffet on the head, knocking the close CAP
off, and making the fellow to grow
omniously.
"You gets wuss, much wuss, Dick Dub
BILE; and if you can't behave with common
decency in haristocratic mansion, why
you'd best go and mind the 'oss, and sent
in Wilkins"
"Why, wot was a-doin' Off" growlet
the other, picking up his cap.
"Wot was you a-doin' OFF" said tn
man, mimicking his companions growl
"why, Hckin' up dust like that whel
anything like him, num-" continued tn
man, addressing the LADY," he amt go
no more common decency than he wa
born with. There's all the dust a-settlin
like anythink on your gownd. This sor
of dust gets down ones throat awful
Perhaps you'll let me have pen and ink
mum, and I'll put down what we takes al
reg'lar, and leave you list, so as to hav
no blunders."
As he spoke, the man drew out a lon
black-covered book, not unlike that use
for linen, with check printed down th
center, and laid it open upon the sid
board, SO as to enter each carpet in dupl
cate.
I'VE did the juke O. Devinshire's la.
week, mum, and, pon my sivvy, Idon
know how it was, but, i'stead. of takin
back his lordship's droring room carpet
light green velvet pile" as perhaps 20
know"-
The housekeeper nodded.
We takes him back red an -whi
'un, as belonged to-as belonged to
Who did that red-an' white Pusshan
long to, Dick-the one as we took bac
to the juke's-that one as the guy NJ
made such row about"
Muster Gladstone" said the othe
pausing over his bale of carpet.
Cannon said the first man; :" Mu
ter Gladstone never had red an -whi
Pusshan in his house. o know! it W,
Mr.. Dizzy's. There soas row about tn
there carpet, mum, and all through tick
a-getting knocked off, Don't suppose
people would mind much if we took e
back better carpet as would fit; but the
you see, them does as you takes the WI
ones to. IF it warn't arstin' too mut
mum, my mate seems as if he'd rayth
like drop O. beer"
"Go and draw a jug of beer, Mary
said the hOusekeeper, acknowledging Il
mans salute with smile.
"P'r'aps fust, num-" he said, in an u
dertOne, :" you wouldn't mind lettin' of b
stop here bit with my man while "
goes with me, and puts down the list
carpets. Let's see; dinin' room, blue al
red Turkey" he muttered, writing, for p
and ink had been brought.
Then following the housekeeper in
the library, he said, with respectf
wink:
"You see, mum, our Guv'nors is as p'
ticker as masters can be about gettil
men O good character; but when they
out with me 1 feels responsible like, ant
SAWS tO mvSalf 7 saws Never mt