Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-12-27

wen, Salu tne olu lauy, leading
her guest into the cheerful sitting-room
where a wonderful log-fre blazed anC
cracked in pleasant Righteousness, g"
was speaking to Hiram about it only thi
morning, aud he thought you wouldn'
come He said you city lassies Away
had your hands full about this time o
the year, and it wasn't likely young
girl like you would want to run off from
the fun and frolic, just to see an old cou
pie. But I'm really glad you've come
and won't be so lonesome, either, for my
nephew's coming either tonight or to-
morrow morning, and he will be company
for you. think You will like him"
Maud began to wish she had staid at
home Mr.. Seymour and his wife she
really liked. but their nephew's acquant-
ance she had no desire to cultivate. But
her dissatisfaction soon vanished, under
the Influence of the pleasant December
sunshine, and the strange quiet and
peacefulness, which was part and parcel
of this southern homestead.
The nephew was not forthcoming that
/
ance with a sigh of relief
One evening without strangers" she
murmured, in satisfaction. " And that
is considerably better than none at all :"
and so, at Uncle IIirams" Gas she had
been desired to call him) request she
seated herself at the old piano, and sang
for hours the simple airs which the old
gentleman selected " Bonnie Doom,
and cod Hundred" e Mocking Bird
and :" Lennox," followed each other in
quick succession, and she was just in the
midst of /" Dixie's Land p when in burst
Aunt Ellen, all of glow with excite
ment and exercise
d" What's the matter, wife p asked the
old gentleman, breaking off fro,a "rll
take my stand" with asuddenness which
caused Maud instinctively to follow his
example Anything wrongY'
{" Oh, dear yes" said the old lady,
theoretically removing her wrappings.
g Sallic Browns sick, and she can't
come to help me tomorrow in the bak-
ing, and there's nobody else in the
neighborhood | can get, and what on
earth shall do? | can get along well
enough in the regular Christmas dinner
but Sallie's pair Of hands cannot be dis
pensed with in the baking;" and the
poor woman very disconsolately gathered
up her wrappings, and rose from her
chair,
!" Mercy, Aunt Ellenw said Maud,
choerfully, don't worry about that! |
don't believe I'm as gooda cook as Sal
lie Brown, but | was going to ask you
anyway, to let me help you tomorrow.
Mother laughs at me, because like the
kitchen, and bride our cook to let me
make a cake or pie once in "A while, but
tell her was born with a knack for it,
and ought to put Ito some eccount but
/ don't get much chance at home, and III
be perfectly delighted if you'll play | am
Sallic tomorrow"
To this arrangement the old lady made
few objections, and the next morning
found Maud duly installed assistant cook
in the house Of Seymour. Mrs. Avery
would have wrung her hands in holy
horror at the picture present by her love
ly daughter on that eventful day. Her
soft quilted mcrino wrapper Aunt Ellen
Immediately vetoed as too nice for the
mussy" work on hand, and for lack Of
any thing else, brought forth one Of her
own dark calicoos. Three of tiny Maud
Avery could have occupied it comforta-
bly,, but, by dint Of a pin here, loop
there, and n loop there, and a general
taking-in all over, she at last declared it
able to " stay on" This was then en-
veloped and covered by a voluminous
white bib apron, which although serv-
ing to hide sundry plats, etc, did not
take from the general dumpiness; her
abundant wavy brown hair, concerning
whose reality there had been standing
dispute ever since her de6ut, was tightly
coiied round about her dainty little head,
and, altogether, Uncle Iiram's criticism
was just.
"You don't look so Gifted but ac-
cording to my way Of thinking, you are
greatly improved"
Aunt Ellen was busy in an animated
lecture on buildings and pies, box Of
ginger in one hand and box Of cinna-
mon in another, when her liege lord hur-
riea in with the information that Hugh
was coming up the road Both boxes
were dropped in a jif.y, and with a hur-
ried, Now, child, don't forget only
half of the pudding is to be seasoned
with ginger, because some don't like it,
aud some do" she rushed to the front
door.
Maud was vexed with herself, for at
the mere name Of Hugh, the hot blood
rushed to her face in torrents.
"What goose you are, Maud Ave
ny ?. she murmured, scornfully, closing
the door between the kitchen and the
pantry next to the sitting-room, the
while. What's Hugh Witherill to you,
any more than any other man, that a
chance name should set you to thinking
Of him, ant: make you blush like a school
girl ? Bah I'm ashamed Of you p and
very deliberately she proceeded to the
measuring Of her different spices; but the
sound Of a deep voice in the sitting room
upset all her composure. The box Of
ginger dropped into the pan Of undivided
pudding; the cinnamon followed suit,
and, in tremor Of embarrassment, the
self-constituted kitchen-maid sought 10
desperation for some way Of escape. At
that moment she would have gone straight
back to Baltimore City without changing
her dress but it could not be done. She
could not get out 10 the new station on