The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1873-04-24
UNTANGLlNG.
A Story for the Home Circle, in
Four Chapters.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER
"It's time to get up, Jenny" sait
, Mrs. Fanning, standing at the foot o
, the stairs, at six o'clock, one hot Jul,
morning.
The speaker was . sad-faced, tiret
looking woman, thin and worn, ant
as she turned to hush the cross baby
there was discouraged expression OF
her face, that told pitiful story.
Ten, twenty minutes passed by. ant
Jenny did not appear. The baby grew
worse and worse; the voices Of thu
hired men were heard outside tn,
door; the weary mother anxious ane
fretted, hurried from the stove to tn,
table, trying in vain to get break fas
ready at the usual hour.
"This will never do" said Farmer
Tanning, coming in bluff and hearty
and seeing the table only half set
do you call this economy, keeping
half a dozen men a waiting for their
breakfast, and more hay out than we
can possibly get up?"
"The baoy's been so troublesome
that | couldn't get along with the
breakfast" was the reply.
where's jenny"
''In bed, s'pose"
well, all I've go, to say is, that ii
you let that girl lie abed all day, in.
stead of getting up to help, it's your
own fault"
At last the fried ham and eggs were
dished up. the brown bread cut, the
coffee pot aud pitcher Of rich milk put
in their places. and the family sat
down. Just in the nick Of time there
was a rustic Of starched draperies. and
pretty figure appeared in the fresh
| est of blue cambrics A sweet mouth
and bright blue eyes said good
morning." and then everybody fell to
eating. Everybody except the moth
er. She fitted from the monstrous
cooking stove. to the table, and from
the table to the baby, so often, and
was so flushed aud worried, that the
break fast was half spoiled for all the
rest.
do sit still, Jane" said Aunt Mil
ly, the guest in blue, you'll never eat
your break fast"
"Oh, it doesn't matter about me-"
wasethe injured reply
Breakfast was almost over when
Jenny came slowly in. Her dress was
untidy, and her whole appearance was
careless, yet u brighter, better face
than Jsnny Fanning's, one would not
often see.
The child looked uneasily at her
mother, conscious that she had not
done the right thing, but Mrs. Fan
ning's lips were compressed, and her
whole face expressed q sense Of injury
that was even morbid in its intensity.
The wistful look in JeDny's eyes that
betOkened q desire to "make upu bv
doing better the rest Of the day, faded
out, ana the gloom or her mothers
taCc was TcHecteu Ill neFs.
Mrs. Fan ming finished her coffee
aud began clearing the table.
IF you want to do anything said
she to Jenny, who attempted to help,
you can pick the beans for dinner.n
Jenny took her pail aud went out
into the garden. On the way she met
Aunt Miliy, who was tying up a rose
that had been beaten down from its
trellis the night before by the rain.
The child fingered, aud finding that
Aunty wanted a piece of twine, ran
back to get it, already forgetting her
moroseness in the pleasure Of being
useful.
Il thought you were picking the
beans, !" said her mother, meeting her
at the door.
II came back to get a string for
Aunt Mil!y."
well, you can stay back" and
flushed, and actually trembling with
Mrs. Tanning rushed into
the garden, believing that the whole
world was in league to make her the
most miserable woman in existence.
The glimpse that she caught of Milly's
crisp dress as she passed, added q drop !
to her over-full cup.
"Some folks can be dressed up all
the time; and others are bound to be |
slaves" she said to herself, stripping
off the beans nervously, aud casting a
glance at her dingy calico dress. Its
a good thing not to have anything to
do but tie up rose bushes in the fore
noon. | guess if she'd married John
Tanning there'd be different story
In the meantime Aunt Miily joined
Jenny in the kitchen. She found her
sitting by the uncleared table weeping
The BABY fortunately
was asleep, with its thumb in its
Wouldn't picking up the dishes be
better than cryiDg?" she said, putting
her hand gently on the child's tangled
hair.
There was no answer but soos.
Come, dear, get the hot water, and
carry the dishes to the sink. and I'll
sit down and dry them for YOU. My
back won't let me do any more than
that you know"
"Oh, Aunt Milly," said Jenny, her
face still hidden, "you know l don't
want you to help; I don't mind the
work. but-'and poor Jenny burst in
TO fresh sobs.
"But want to help. Come, there's
no time to lose. Let's get fairly under
way before mother comes inn
Jenny got up and began to work
the big hot tears running down her
cheeks. Suddenly she stopped, and
with look not pleasant to see in a
shild's face. said, Aunt Milly, could
DO anything If Mother was like you.o
Jenny said Aunt MilIy very gen.
tly, lit would be better to think about
what you can do now, than what you
could do under other circumstances.
What is the very arst thing that you
:an think of now to do?"
Wash the dishes, y said Jenny.
Very well, then let's hurry, before
baby wakesS BY and by when every
hing Ia done wa nv IN uo ont hv cnr