The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-12-31

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awe didn't expect you so sOon," was
al Dlttie could find TO say in the confu-
sion Of the moment.
sBut we're very glad, Cousin Tom"
Joined In another voice, and then he be,
came conAclous for the first time that
Nelly had entered. She carried q candle
IN each hand, and when she had set them
down and given Tom a welcome and
iound 4 chair Tor him and her father, she
moved about the room, giving bright
little housewiiely touches here and there
--poking the fire 10 blaze, and making
things look neat and cheerful. Her dress
was only common print, but II was
fresh and Spotless; her hair was as glossy
% satin; and the neat little collar and
bow Of ribbon made the simple garb as
becoming as richer material. All the
time she was arranging the room she
went on talking In pleasant voice, ask.
ing questions about the journey, and
ditiuSing that atmosphere Of home and
welcome which Is so acceptable to q
stranger.
"Dlttle slipped away, but Tom forgot
70 miss her, he was so well entertained.
By and by she came back In 3 smart
gown with her hair curled; but somehow
Tom couldn't think her as pretty as he
used 10. The vision Of the shabby dress.
Ing gown and rough locks was too recent
to be forgotten.
"Well, a supper appeared and q first
rate supper It was. Tom was glad TO sec
II, for the journey had made him very
hungry. Nelly poured the tea. It up.
peared she was housekeeper; and as she
sat there, looking sweet enough to sweet.
en- the cups without sugar, Tom saw for
the first time what q dear little face abe
had, and how honest and true her brown
eyes were. Her teeth, too, were like
pearls-Ghe showed them when she
laughed, and that was pretty often, for
Ditto seemed sulky and silent, and sho
was anxious to make up for 1t and have
Cousin Tom feel at home.
"Next morning Ditto looked subdued
and distracted, with none Of the lively
ways she had worn In New York. Tom
found alterward that her head was full oil
the blue silk gown which she had set her
heart on finishing for Thanksgiving.
"Soon after breakfast she went away to
work upon It, leaving Tom in Nelly's
hands, which was announcement; for Nelly
hsd all sorts Of things to do that day
apples TO pare and pumpkin to stew, and
pies to bake, and ! don't know what all,
"However, there was no help for it,
She made bright fire in the keeping.
room and brought some books for Tom,
and told him that she must leave him for
awhile, and II got lonely he must come
out in the kitchen, for there she must be.
Aud oil course Tom had no idea Of her
sitting alone: so he soon came wandering
after her, and spent almost the whole day
there, helping and hinderinR; for, though
he pared some apples and beat great
bAny eggs, I'm afraid his long legs and
bis conversation were good deal in the
way.
"Howevcr, Nelly did not let him know
It If they were. And It was so pleasant
to watch her at work that he would have
been sorry enough to have been ordered
of. She was the quickest, most skillful
little creature in Ill her ways, and yet so
orderly and systematic. Whether whisk.
Ing some dainty mixture with abig spoon,
Or welding the rolling.pin, or touching
the oven door with her white knuckle
10 see II the heat was right, all she did
seemed graceful aud charming. All, Il
tell you, children, girl never looks half
30 well as when she Is doing plain, use.
Iul work in the incest and prettiest way.
And when those pies came out Of the
oven, said granpapa, smacking his lips,
you never saw the like. They resenI-
bled snow flakes fried 10 a rich brown,
only they were great deal better"
"Not better than grandmas," broke in
! chorus Of indignant voices.
"Well," said grandpa, looking wickedly
about, "grandma's pies, as 1t happens, are
The only ones I ever saw which were ex-
Rctly like Nelly's, and just as good"
The dear old lady blushed like girl.
Now, Thomas" she said, "You mustn't
talk such nonsense 10 the children"
"Oh" shrieked Jack, the irrcpressible;
grandpa's name is Thomas, amt III Il
But here somebody choked
him Of, and grandpapa went on, very
last: q. Az ar
$50 all the pies were baked, and the
loaves Of bread, and tho Thanksgiving
cake, and the plum.pudding mixed and
put over to 'half'boil,' for it was a great
business in those days to get pudding
boiled, and by that time supper.time was
nearly come. Ditto came down very
good natured and laxative. She had
finished her dress and quite recovered her
temper; and Nelly, who was tired, looked
q little pale, and sat quietly most Of the
evening.
"But there was no'danger Of Cousin
Toms making any further mistakes.
Twenty.four hours had done the work Of
q month, and he had made up his mind,
once for all, that the pale, weary face in
the corner was the sweetest face in the
world.
"wednesday was almost as busy as
Tuesday. There were the last touches
to be given TO the cooking, and the house
10 be given up, and the rcd apples to
wipe and arrange with autumn leaves.
Cousin Tom helped in everything; and
and when the afternoon came, and he
found that q great many Of the pies were
to be carried about the neIghborhood as
gifts to the poor people, who depended
upon this yearly remembrance, he insist
ed upon going along to carry the basket
and hold the umbrella, for 1t was showing
q little. I need not inform you that Mel
lie was the pie distributor. All the work
-or most all-of the house fell upon her.
Ditto found an excuse for avoiding every
thing that was troublesome or inconven-
lent, and on this occasion she wanted TO
haste some lace on the blue dress.
"Well, they had o splendid walk. /
won't pretend to tell you all they talked
but they come home very rosy and good.
humored and hungry for supper.
~ Z .kHaG A.. Il IL. NJ.