Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-05-19

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tive ribbons and laces, and on their good
behavior, fondly hoped, having been
fed up 10 fullness had donned dress
which Charlie thought particularly be-
coming, and was enjoying beforehand his
pleasure, when he should find us so well
prepared to receive him and his friend,
who was invited to dine with us.
He announced at once, ." have jolly
news for you wifey dear. have just
heard from my Aunt Selma, and she's
coming to make us visit; indeed, ex-
pect she will stay most of the winter.
She will be invaluable to you in the way
Of advice about managing your house.
hold affairs and the children. She has
hada good deal of experience, and though
you may think her little peculiar, still
you are sure to like her in the main, for
her good common sense, and / hope she
will be so happy with us that she will be
disposed to make our house her home in
future. tell you, Chase, ladies do not
understand turning off work as our moth
ers did in their day. Why, Ruth, here,
makes as hard work for herself with our
little family, as Aunt Selma used to with
half dozen boys, and as many girls
nearly. And then Ruth never gets
through its mystery to me, but aunt
will put you on the right track directly,
and you will have time to give me lit
tie attention then, | hope, my dear.
He had said all this looking so smiling
and confident, and / had to smile, too,
just for the looks Of it, you know.
To say was hurt or grieved, seems
only meaningless terms, which do not
half express the rage and despair that fill
ed my heart and surged up to my lips,
but found no vent except in tears, which
| hid by feigning an excuse to wait upon
the baby. l went through the ceremony
of dinner as best I could, swallowing
back the sobs, and washing them down
by good deal OF tea.
As Charlie was going out, he turned
to say, "Oh, look here, my love, Aunt
Selma may be here on the noon train, so
you'd better keep the dinner hot, and
have things as nearly in order as possible
( for would like you to make good i'm
preston upon her"
He was gone with bow and smile, and
| was left to a woman's unfailing solace,
good cry.
| was just getting into the merits of
the case, and both children were doing
their best to sympathize with me, and
the expression was in the active instead
of the passive form, when the door bell
rang violently, and continued to ring
with scarcely a moments intermission.
while l tried to make myself presentable.
| found at the door person who said
at the first breath 81 should think every
body in the house was dead, or is it gen.
teel to keep folks waiting half an hour?"
She whizzed past me, and deposited
various bundles, carpet-bags and band
boxes in the hall, while an expressman
brought in huge trunk, which he was
bid to Put down carefully, because my
chany cups and saucers are in there
left her contesting the claims of the
man to his regular price and tried to
pacify the babies. What aiIs them p
was the first question; "Are they sick, or
is it temper?" TIE dinner she pronoun-
ced 'dried up and cold" She wanted to
know if it was possible that Charles Au-
gustus put up with such cooking after the
raising he had had.
Oh, dear, what an afternoon that was
just managed to get my dinner dishes
washed and put the supper on the table
when Charlie came.
He asked little anxiously, "Ruth,
can't you quiet the haby?"
"The children have been badly manag-
ed, that's plain enough" said Aunt Sell
ma. 81 should like TO take things into
my own hands while; I'd straighteu
'em out / reckon"
"That'sj just what we wish aunt. Ruth
is scarcely more than child herself and
wofully ignorant, you must do whatever
you think best"
She began by taking Charlie into the
next room and giving him long talk. l
could occasionally catch word or two
such as "silly," babyish," +" wasteful,"
did not know any better,' and few
other things equally suggestive to my
mind.
Before she had been there week she
had revolutionized us completely. In
stead of our coy breakfasts, we were up
and ate by light, because she said, "noth-
ing could be accomplished if we lost an
hour in the morning"
We changed our manner of living, for
she found | was "ruining Charlie by my
want of economy, and she only wondered
he hadn't failed"