The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-02-14
Too Much for Him.
ssNTR. MONCTON," said my grand
NH mother, "I have no wood to

burn to-day. What shall | do 2"
"Oh, send Louisa round to pick up
some" said the good man making
stride towards the door.
But she has picked up all she can
find"
"Then let her break some of the old
stuff"
/" But she has broken up everything al
ready"
"Oh well, do the next best thing--I
must be of" said the farmer; and off he
was, whistling as he went, and no doubt
wondering in his heart what the next
best thing would turn out to be.
Noon come, and with it came my
grandfather and four hungry laborers-
My grandmother stood in the kitchen,
spinning on her great wheel, and singing
a pleasant little ditty Louisa was scour-
ing in the back room, and the cat sat
purring on the hearth before black and
tireless chimney, while the table sat in
the middle Of the room, spread for din
ner with empty dishes.
"Well, wife, here we are" said my
grandfather, cheerily.
$50 1 soe," replied she, placidly.-
" Have you had good morning in the
cornfeldY
dinnerY
"In the pot on the doorstep. Won't
you see if it is done ?"
And on the doorstep, sure enough sat
the great iron pot, nicely covered, but.
not looking particularly steamy. My
grandfather raised the cover and there
lay all the ingredients Of a nice boiled
dinner-everything prepared in the nj
cest manner, and the pot filed with the
clearest of water, and all the Vegetables
as raw as they had ever been. Grand
father stared and grandmother Joined an
other roll Of the yarn upon the distaff,
and began another verse of her song.
"Why, woman, what does this mean 2"
began my grandfather, Indignantly
"Ihis dinner is not cooked at all !"
"Dear me, is it not? Why, it has set
in the sun this four hours"
Z" Set in the sun :"
les; you told me try the next best
thing to having a fire, and thought set
ting my dinner in the sun was about
that"
My grandfather stood doubtful for q
moment, but fually his sense Of humor
overcamc his sense of injury, and he
laughed aloud Then, picking up his
hat, he said
"Come, boys, we might as well start
for the woods. We shall have no dinner
until we shall have earned it, | perceive"
"Won't you have some bread and
cheese before you go?" asked my
grandmother, generous in her victory
as women almost always are. And so she
won the day.
The celar-stairs in the old farmhouse
had become broken and so unsafe of late
that my grandmother bcseiged her hus-
band, early and late, to repair them, lest
some accident should happen. He always
promised to do so, and always forgot to
fulfill his promise. At last, one day my
grandmother fell in going down, and
spilled all the new milk she was carrying
" Are you hurt ?" asked my grandfather
smoking his pipe, beside the fire.
No matter whether am or not tw
returned the angry housewife, re-appear-
ing with her empty pan. "That is the
last time carry milk down those stairs
until they are mended."
Please yourself and find the next
best way to get it down." said the hus-
band, a little vexed at her tone.
81 WILL" said my grandmother, and
she was as good as her word. The next
evening my grandfather went down in
the cellar to draw some cider.
"What in thunder is the matter down
here a.? Why, woman, your milk is all
over the cellar bottom" exclaimed my
grandfather.
Is ?" replied my grandmother tran
quilly. Well, | think that is likely
enough, falling so far"
Falling so far What on earth do
you mean"
Why, you know I said | shouldn't
carry the milk over those broken stairs
and you told me to try the next best way
of getting it down, and so took up a
board in the kitchen floor, threw down
the pans, and then strained the milk down
into them"
The cellar stairs were mended the next
day.
Bs5@ In one Of our neighboring towns
NOT Iono o1o n family had heen aflictal