Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-08-08
WASHING DONE HERE.
BY ELSIE LOCKE.

BY ELSIE LOCKE.
Ellie and Emma are two little twin
girls, brown-eyed, mischievous, and low
able One day their mamma went away
n the buggy just after dinner, to be gone
tll the afternoon. She promised to bring
Aunt Nellie home with her and before she
went dressed her little girls in their new
blue linen gowns and their best ruffled
aprons, that they might look their preIti-
est for Auntie.
Ellie and Emma had never seen this
aunt, but they had beer told so much
about her that they looked upon her as
quite an old friend. Besides, she had
sent them two beautiful little dollies,
lressed just alike, last Christmas. And
there was no knowing what she would
bring them this timel So they promised
mamma to he very good all the afternoon,
and mind Bridget, and not do any of the
many things that mamma forbade. In
Iced, think their minds We're rather
confused when she drove away as to what
hey could and what they could not do.
Bridget was in the kitchen, ironing.
II was so lonesome without mamma;
Tolls and playthings were stupid. So they
tormented Bridget by wanting a cookie
Just a. she was polishinga shirt bosom, or
drink of water just as she was fiuring IA
ruffle. Mamma had forbidden them to
touch the pump. and there never were
'wo such thirsty little mortals beforel
"What shall we do, Bridget?" they
teased.
Bridget named over a great many
'hings, but not one of them suited. "Ochi
nut it's deliberations We arei' she exclaiHl-
ed at last. al used to tend baby when
[ wasn't any larger than YOU, Miss Ellie,
g., 7 Iaf ha al
more / wasn't. Its bein' idle sinds yous
INTO mischief an all manner o. thruubles,"
She added, looking at Ellie, who was
rumbling a cookie into bits and scatter
ng them all over the kitchen floor, as if
he were feeding a lot of chickens. BE
pff wild We; run out doors and play now,
like good childers."
There was a new house building next
to Mr.. Clyde's, and as one of the work
men was a very kind. fatherly ma l, Mrs.
Clyde sometimes let the children go over
there and play for little while.
So to-day, as soon as they were out in
he yard, they wanted to see Mr.. Kline,
who always lad a welcome for the little
ones
Lets go and ask Bridget" said Ellie.
81 don't suppose it would be just proper
to 60 without asking her"
Bridget, who was busy fiuting, said,
Eyes, yes" without pay ing much heed to
what it was that thev wanted. So over
they went. No Mr.. Kline was there; but
they picked up some blocks in the yard
and played with them for a long time
building all sorts of things, from pig-pens
% castles, until at last Emma, tired of the
sport, said, ELLIE, let's play we're ladies
making calls"
So they played at making calls. In the
irst place they called on Ar. Bennett. the
GOOD natured man. who was at work on
she window-sashes.
"How do YOU do, Mr. Bennett -
'aid Ellie. "We have come to make you
1 call"
"Pretty well, thank you, marm," said
dr. Bennett, with an amused smile as he
hook hands with them.
''Are your childrens well ?" inquired
Emma.
"Splendid health, marml" answered
Nr. Bennett, who hadn't child.
"Got their teefs froo?" asked Emma
anxiously.
Certainly, OH certainly, loads of teeth,
marm." laughed the gentleman.
"Wcll, we must bid you good after
aoon And then, with some more
nand shaking, the little witches walked
,way, putting on young-ladyfied airs
that can better be imagined than de-
| ,cribed.
There was a mortar bed in the yard.
| hat had Just been filled with fresh NOR
| ar, and Ellie began the fun of balancing
| IN the edge of the board side.
"You don't dare to do it, Emma +" she
| said.
"Yes, dare, Ellie Clyden
| "Well, let's see you, then"
So Emma let her see, and displayed a
| little more daring than was wise, for sud-
denly in she went. splash into the middle
Of the mortar-bedi
OH what a pitiable sight and what a for.
| lorn-looking little girl she was when Pat
| Murphy, the hod-carrier, lifted her outi
Pat cleaned her the best he knew how.
| hen sent her home, telling her that she'd
better be after stayin' out of mortar-bed-
| { she didn't want TO he gettin' into 'em.
Emma cried all the way home, but Ellie
like the little woman that she was, tried
her best to comfort her.
"Never you mind, sissy. l tell you
what let's do; let's go right up stairs into
the ballroom, and I'll wash your little
| clothes all clean in the baf-tub, and
| Bridget'll iron them, then you'll look iusl
| IS clean as me! Won't that be nicef" and
Ellie wiped away her sisters tears as a
| grandmother of seventy-six might have
done. Emma was comforted. or, at any
rate, her crying was over. So through
the front doorway, tiptoeing upstairs
the naughty little mischiefs went to the
bathroom. 1t had two doors, one lead,
| ing into the hall and one into mammals
room; they fastened the door leading into
the hall, and fastened mammals room uF
| 100, so that no one might disturb them
Then they went to work.
| Emma took off all of her clothes that
were soiled, shoes and all, and put them
into the bath-tub. Then, turning the
faucet, Ellie filled the tub with water.
1t was all ready now for the washing, so
at it they went-swash. splash, and scrub,
until they were breathless.
| "Isn't it fun ?" said Ellie.
eyes, splendid ~ said Emma.
"Pm going TO be a wash-woman when
I grow up, ant you ?"
al guess / will"
But I'm not going to have red face
though. are you ?"
"No, indeed"
"Tm going to have a pretty face like
mammals, and a waterfall, and"