Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-06-02
The Leisure Hour.
- TRRRFBLB TUR.uOGL.
ny WITCH HAZEL.

Every year | endeavor to make some inn
provcmont in my method of house clean
ing. This spring, made up my mind to
adhere no longer to the poky old plan Of
my grandmother-whichw was to begin in
the attic, and wind up in the cellar-but
determined to strike out in another direc-
ton and so, while the subject was rife in
my mind, set about executing my new
projects at once. although it was but the
first of April, and the weather quite chilly
and raw. In the first place I had every
stove moved ont, then every carpet taken
up, all the pictures removed from the walls,
the curtains down, everything piled out in
the back porch and the carpetless halls
crammed to overhowng with books,
chairs. statues, feather-dusters, vases, hair
mattresses, parian brackets, and pillows;
and while everything was in the widest
confusion, Frank came in with distended
eyes.
"What on earth is all this, Hattie ?" he
exclaimed.
"Why, Frank" replied, pausing in my
efforts to reach swaying cobweb, 1--WE
have commenced to clean house :" ard 1
lowered my broom, and looked straight
into his face to see If he realized the i'm
portance of these words but to my cha
grin he looked utterly indifferent; and
brushing off some stray cobwebs which
had floated down from the ceiling on to his
coat sleeve. asked impatiently, "Isn't din
ner ready?'
"Dinnerv' I cried; 81 had no idea it
I.ta
dinner yet
pretty state ofaiiairs, 'grumbled Frank.
81 brought Ed Graham home with me-"
"Where is he?" asked family.
"In the parlor," replied Frank crustily.
"The floor is bare and there isn't chair
or anything else for the man to sit on. /
expect I'll find him seated on the piano.
But come, Hattie" he added, "what are
you going to give us to eat?'
40, Frank 1 said coaxingly, thinking
of my rough hair, and the greasespot on
my dress, "can't you get your dinner down
town today?"
Frank looked cross, and said he suppos-
ed he could, and went down to the parlor.
l leaned over the baluster, and when
Frank opened the door, caught glimpse
of Ed roaming around the desolate room,
shivering with his hands in his pockets. 1
watched them go through the hall, and
heard Frank make some hateful remarks
about women and use-cleaning. He
slammed the door violently, and serene
ly resumed my sweeping not in the least
disturbed by Franks unconcealed annoy
ance and provoking manner. Frank was
always little unreasonable and he was
always bringing somebody home to dinner
when least expected it. Just then little
Il ed came toddling in, and wanted to help.
As was about TO make a change of base,
l took him with me down to the parlor.
gave him rag and basin of water, and
told him he might clean the floor. He sat
down in one corner of the room, and with
face of unearthly solemnity, at once
commenced vigorous scrubbing. Norah
was up stairs washing windows in the front
chamber. Suddenly there came loud
crash, followed by terrific yell. 1t sound
ed as if the whole house was tumbling
down. "Heavensw | exclaimed, "what
can have happened y I mounted the
stairs, two steps at a time, and there beheld
Norah lying full length on the hoor, a.
midst debris of broken step-ladder,
pieces of glass and soapsuds.
"Whats the matter?" I cried 10 the
groaning girl.
"Suro mum, | fell of the ladder agn
the windy an cut meself most awful,
moaned Norah.
helped the heavy girl to arise. bound
up her lacorated arm, left her. to pick up
the fragments Of glass and wood, and re-
turned To the parlor, there to find Ted
securing the piano-legs with the scrubbing
brush. | quickly relieved him from all
further labor, bundled him up, and sent
| him out in the yard to play.
"Faith num-" said Norah, standing in
the door, 81 feel so faint, an if don't be
taking somethin strong, l can't work no
more today
"Then make yourself some tea," l re-
piled.
But Norah disdainfIlly said, "Sure, l
never could stomach tay the very smell
of it makes me sick"
"Well, then, take some brandy" l re-
piled. Now l ought to have known bet
! Ter IMAM W hlloN NpIah ~ hclp hcIHtll W
the brandy but being in such hurry to
finish the parlor, could not conveniently
stop. When | had occasion to go through
the hall again, l paused and listened.
mounted the stairs. There in the middle
of the room, she sat in rocking chair d
bucket Of water stood before her, while
she swayed lazily back and forth with tho
mop in her hand, which left long trail o
dirty water behind it.
"Norahw cried, "didn't | tell you tC
mop this hoorH'
"Faith, mum, and Tm doin' 1t as fast as
can,' she replied. "Iiow can you MOI