American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-08-10
WASHING DONE HERE.
BY ELSIE LOCKE.

| WASHING DONE HERE.
BY ELSIE LOCKE.
Ellie and Emma are two little twin
girls, brown-eyed, mischievous, and low
able One day their mamma went away
in the buggy Just after dinner, to be gone
all 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 rutfied
aprons, that they might look their pretti-
est for Auntie.
| Ellie and Emma had never seen this
aunt, but they had 1sbeen told so much
about her that they looked upon her as
quite an old friend. Besides, she had
sent them two beautiful little dollies,
dressed just alike, last Christmas. And
there was no knowing what she would
bring them this time! So they promised
and mind Bridget, and not do any of the
many things that mamma forbade. In
deed, think their minds were rather
confused when she drove away as to what
they could and what they could not do.
Bridget was in the kitchen, ironing.
1t was SO lonesome without mamma;
dolls and playthings were stupid. So they
tormented Bridget by wanting cookie
Just as she was polishinga shirt bosom, or
i
ruffie. Mamma had forbidden them to
touch the pump, and there never were
two such thirsty little mortals before!
"What shall we do, Bridget?" they
leased.
Bridget named over great many
things, but not one of them suited. ''Och!
but it's deliberations we are" she eXclaim-
cd at last. 81 used to tend a baby when
1 wasn't any larger than you, Miss Ellie,
for l was never let be idle a minute, no
more wasn't. It's bein idle sinds yous
into mischief an all manner O. throubles,"
she added, looking at Ellie, who was
crumbling a cookie into bits and scatter
ing them all over the kitchen floor, as if
she were feeding lot of chickens. ''Be
Off wild we; run out doors and play now,
like good childers."
There was new house building next
to Mr.. Clyde's, and as one of the work
men was very kind, fatherly man, Mrs.
Clyde sometimes let the children 60 over
there and play for little while.
So to-day, as soon as they were out in
the yard, they wanted to see Mr.. Kline,
who always lad welcome for the little
ones.
"Let's go and ask Bridget" said Ellie
81 don't suppose it would be just proper
to go without asking her."
Bridget, who was busy f1uting, said,
eyes, yes" without paying much heed to
what it was that they wanted. So over
they went. No Mr.. Kline was there; but
they picked up some blocks in the yard
and played with them for long time
building all sorts of things, from pigpens
to 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
first place they called on Mr.. Bennett, the
good natured man. who was at work on
the window sashes.
Chow do you do, Mr.. Bennett ?"
said Ellie. 1--WE have come to make you
a CALL"
Pretty well, thank you, marm," said
Mr. Bennett, with an amused smile as he
shook hands with them.
care your childrens well ?" inquired |
Emma.
"Splendid health, marmt' answered |
Mr.. Bennett, who hadn't child.
"Got their teefs froo?" asked Emma
anxiously.
"Certainly, oh! certainly, loads of teeth,
marm," laughed the gentleman.
"Well, we must bid you good after
noon" And then, with some more |
away, putting on young-ladyfied airs,
that can better be imagined than de-
scribed.
There was a mortar bed in the yard, |
that had Just been filled with fresh NOR
tar, and Ellie began the fun of balancing |
on the edge of the board side.
"You don't dare to do it, Emma ~ she |
said
Yes. l dare, Ellie Clyde!''
"Well, let's see you, them
So Emma let her see, and displayed |
little more daring than was wise, for sud-
denly in she went, splash into the middle |
of the mortar bed
Oh! what a pitiable sight and what for |
Unlocking little girl she was when Pat
Murphy, the hod-carrier, lifted her out!
Pat cleaned her the best he knew how,
then sent her home, telling her that she'd |
better be after stayin' out of mortar-beds
if she didn't want to be geitin' into EN-"
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. / 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 Just
as clean as me! Won't that be nice?" and
Ellie wiped away her sisters tears as
of seventysix 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 ono into mammals
room; they fastened the door leading into
The hail. and fastened mammals room up
too, 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 filed 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.
"Tm going TO be a wash-woman when
grow up, ant you ?"
81 guess | will"
" But Pm not going to have red face
hough, are you ~
/" No, indeed"
Z" I'm going TO have pretty face like
and a WATERFALL and" -