National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-09-05

" Yes, aunt. Do you want me p
asked the girl, darting to the door
Come up" was the rejoinder f;
and Miss Hetty, looking triamphantly
back as she attained secure position
in the doorway, had the satisfaction,
dear to her mischievous heart, of be-
holding discomfted countenance dis
appear from the window, AS Mr.. Frank
Kennedy dropped down on the outside
Tho vines rustled for an instant, and
then were still. Hetty closed the door,
and the sunbeams and the huge pan of
doughnuts had the big kitchen all TO
| themselves.
Mrs. Baxter sat examining n chestful
of wooden clothes, in the cool solitude
of the north chamber.
"Thosc pesky moths have got in
here after all, she remarked, as her
niece entered the room. Look at
that, now and she exposed to view an
ancient garment completely riddled
with small holes. "You Just sit down
here, Henrietta, and sort ont all the
stockings into that basket by them
selves. You'll have just about time be-
fore you set the supper-table.
Hetty sat down us directed, and was
soon deep in n musty heap of stockings
and daunels.
"There's VIII Lowry going by" said
her aunt, pausing moment in her oc-
cupation and glancing out of the open
easement. "I mnst ask him about
Aunt Elizy.-Goodevening, William"
she called, leaning over the sill, and adj
dressing looking, broad-shoul-
dered young fellow who was passing
the gate. "How's all the folks, par
ticularly your aunt Elizy %
"All the folks are well, except Aunt
Eliza, and she's better" replied the
Young man, pausing in his walk and
leaning on the gate, as if quite willing
to prolong the Interview. "Aunt Mar
tha is going to have the sewing society
up there tomorrow.
"They'll eat he' out of house and
home, rejoined uhe old lady, rather
grimly. "That reminds me, William,
promised to send your aunt some of
my yeast cakes, and if you don't mind a
bundle, you may take 'em along with
YOU They're on the kitchen table. If
You'll just step round to the back-door
you'll fnd em quite handy"
"Tll just run down and get them for
him., proposed Hetty, anxious to es-
cape from the wool chest, and not at all
averse to a little Irritation with Will
Lowry.
"You'll just stick TO the stockings,
Miss Morris, answered heraunt, prompt
ly. "Let him wait on himself"
Presently the last pair of stockings
was laid away, and then her aunt said,
"now get the tea and be quick about
it, too, Henrietta, for see fathers
wagon driving round to the barn now"
Hetty flew down to the kitchen, hur
riedly put the tea to draw, and neatly |
set ont on the white cloth snowy bread
golden butter, and crimson jelly. all
made by her own deft fingers. Then
she ranged before her uncle's place a
huge platter of cold boiled beef, dish
Of cold potatoes, and another of pork
and greens. Then, standing at one
side, she glanced critically over the
generous board to see if all was COM |
plete. Something about the arrange
ment struck her as faulty; but at first |
she could not satisfy herself as to what
it was. At last light broke in upon |
her mind.
How near I came to forgetting the
How uncle would have
fretted, to be surel lam glad thought
before he came in.
So saying, she took plate and went
into the pantry. Not a doughnut was
to be seen. She examined the cupboard
under the milk shelf There was the
bread box, jar of cookies, and two
usty loaves of gingerbread-but no
loughnuts. She brought wooden
chair from the kitchen, and stood there
IN to search the topmost shelf. There
she beheld only pots of jam and pre-
serves, together with some disused tins,
al very much covered with dust-but
10 doughnuts. Then she pulled out
he big pie board from behind the flour
larrel (the pie board made by Frank at
he age of ten years-his earliest essay
n the carpentering line-and which
warped past all using within the first
month of its existence). No doughnuts
nothing but two or three cobwebs,
against which she promptly registered
vow. As she was replacing the board
thought darted into her mind which
'aused smiles to fade quickly away, and
frown of annoyance as quickly succeed
hem.
Frank That is the reason he
vent home so early from his work, is it?
low silly of him to play me such
rick If he only knew how cross Uncle
Baxter can be when he is vexed What
hall do" And poor Hetty began
urning over in her mind all sorts of ex-
uses for the non appearance of her un-
les favorite delicacy, none of which
would do in the least, and in the midst
# which she heard his rough voice in
he kitchen.
"Supper ready ?"
"All ready" she answered, family,
rom the depths of the pantry and
Iastily cutting several thick slices of
gingerbread. she hurried out and took
Ter seat at the table.
"What time did Frank go?" inquired
Ier uncle of nobody in particular, at
he same time heaping his plate with
neat and vegetables.
Hetty said nothing and her aunt re-
lied
Somewhere between five and six /
ont know exactly"
"Did he get through with that door
iefore he vent 2" demanded the gruff
oice again.
" He did," replied Aunt Baxter, {
oncisely Hetty breathed more free
Y.
"What that fellow does with his time [
; more than 1 know" growled Uncle {
Baxter. "It's lucky for him he's work ,
ng by the job, or he'd hear a piece of
ny mind.
Farmer Baxter's womenkind," as !
e was wont courteously to term the
aides of his family, understood his |
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