Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-26
House Cleaning
EI wLrcHHAzEL.

Every year I endeayor TO make some
Improvement in my method Of house clean
ing. This spring, l made up my mind TO
adhere no longer to the poky Old plan OF
my graIdmother-which was TO begin IN
the attic, and wind up in the cellar-but
determined 10 strike out in another direc-
tion aud 50, while the subject was rife
in nv mind, | set about executing my new
plan at once although IT was but the first
Of April, and the weather quite chilly and
raw. In the first place, / had every stove
moved out, then every carpet taken Up, all
the pictures removed from the walls, the
curtains down, everything piled out on the
back porch and the carpetless halls
crammed TO overhowiDg with books. chairs,
statues, feather busters, vases. hair mat
tresses, parian brackets, and pillows and
whils everything was in the widest con
fusion, Frank came IN with dIstended
eyes.
What on earth Is al this. Hattie =: be
exclaimed
Why, Frank, l replied, pausiDg in ny
efforts to reach . swaying cobWeb, We
have commenced cleaning house and
lowered my broom, and looked straight in
his face to see if he fully realized the i'm
portance Of these words but to my cha
grin. he looked utterly ind iffersnt, and
brushing Of some stray cObwebs which
had foated down from the ceiling. on to
his coat sleeve. asked impatiently, Isn't
dinner ready p Dinner " cried /
had no idea it was 20 late haven 7
even commenced dinner yet
Pretty state Of affairs, grumbled
Frank. | brought Ed. Graham home
with me-
Where is heg 1 asked family.
In the parlor,' replied Frank crustily
The floor Is bare; there Is n a chair or
anything else for the man to sit on. l
expect to hud MIN seated on the piano.
But come, Hattie, be added, what are
you gong TO give Us 10 eat p
.. Frank, l said coaxingly, thinking Of
ny rough hair and the grease spot on ny
dress, can't you get your dinner down
town to-day -
Frank looked cross. and said he sup
posed be could, and went down to the par
or. | leaned over the banister, and when
Frank opened the door, caught q glimpse
OF Ed roaming around the desolate room,
shiveriDg with his hands in his pockets
| watched them 20 through the hall heard
Frank making some hateful remarks about
women and house cleaning. He slammed
the door violently, and l serenely resumed
my sweeping. not in the least disturbed by
Frank unconcealed annoyance and pro-
vokng manner. Frank was always a lit
tie uureasoDa bic and be was always
bringing somebody home to dinner when
least expected II.
just then, little Ted came toddling in,
and wanted TO help. As l was about TO
make change Of base, l took him with
me down to the parlor, gave him rag
and basin Of water. and told him be
might clean the floor. He sat down in
one corner OF the room, and with face of
most unearthly solemnity, at once commen-
ced vigorous serubblDg. Norah was up
stairs, washing windows in the front cham
( Der. Suddenly there came loud crash,
followed by terrific yell !; it sounded as
if the whole house was tumbling down.
Heavens : / exclaimed, what can have
happened | mounted the stairs, two
steps at a time, and there beheld Norah
lying full length on the floor, amidst de-
bris of broken step ladder, pieces OF glass
and soap suds.
What is the matter p l cried to the
groaniDg girl.
Shure, NUN. fell of the ladder