Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-06-26

| the "SuperiOrity OF Man." but they ge,
pretty we'll rubbed out of him among sc
many sisters; father has lately taken him
into his law office, and he is rather more
impossible than usual Nell, brown
haired, black eyed little gypsey, is the life
and fun-maker of the family, quick and
| impulsive, but with a noble character
while Susie, our beautiful, tair-haired
darling-just budding into womanhood--
| fades like a snow-wreath from our midst
| ''The mother" whose placid, lovely face
is just shaded by soft, gray curls, is oul
friend, confidant and counselor, entering
| into all our plans with zest prompted by
| a heart young and sweet to the core.
| The conversation which l have given
| above took place on Saturday, and the
next week, after the washing and ironing
| was out of the way, bright and early
| Wednesday morning the work began
| Mother always believed in taking hold OF
the worst end of job first; so Kate anG
Nell went up into the garrett while mother
| and | undertook the cellar. 1t was love
| ly, sunshiny day, and there was crisp
| sparkle in the air that was wonderfully eX-
| hilarating, and everything went on as
| merry as marriage bell" So energeti-
cally did we work, that not only were the
| two extremes of the house set in'order,
but the girls finished the spare chamber,
| Susie's room and the upper hall taking
| up no carpets) while mother and | cleaned
| the kitchen and dining-room, pantries and
| the china closet That evening, when we
| gathered round the CRATE in the sitting
room, we felicitated ourselves greatly on
the wonderful success of our plan; while
| father. who now heard of the compact
for the first time somewhat chilled our
| enthusiasm by prophesying that every one
of us would have to pay forfeit before
the week was over, and added, with a
laugh, 80 much feasting will give US all
the dyspepsia'
The next morning l found, on rising,
that l had taken cold in my subterranean
labors, and was dreadfully stiff and lame,
and Hates heavy eyes and listless manner
at the breakfast table betrayed that one of
of her headaches was coming on. We
| fingered at the table, and after prayers
did not "spring to" as we had the day be-
fore. Still, Tom volunteered to stay at
home all day, and the way he beat carpets,
| moved heavy furniture and made himself
generally useful, was quite overwhelming
So, in spite of aching head and rheumatic
bones, we finished all the chambers, tax
ing up the carpets. Susie, of course,
could not join in the work, but her trial
lay in her lonely hours and the inconveni-
enCeS she was often subjected to in the
general upheaval; and what wonder if the
poor, helpless child sometimes grew a
little fretful! [ was racing down stairs
for clean water that morning, when she
called from her room :-"Bessic, won't you
shut my door?"
Yes, in IA minute, Sue" | answered,
and hurried on.
While | was in the kitchen, mother
wanted me to peel the potatoes for dinner,
and that done | went up the back-stairs
to my cleaning, quite forgetting poor Sue.
In about half an hour / had occasion to
go down again, and as | passed through
the hall | heard Susie's soft voice, this
time a little tremulous:
Bessie, dear, you forgot to shut my
door"
why, bless your heart! so I did"
exclaimed, going in; and there the dear
child lay, curled up in heap, and with
Il great newspaper spread over her
Its lucky had this big paper" she
said, trying to smile; there is such a
| "a word of reproach did she add But my
heart smote me as tucked the silk com
Portable around the wasted form. | poked
sittingroom, and with penitent kiss left
her once more alone.
Friday morning came dark and lower
ing, and we all felt the depressing effect
of the general gloom Tom declared he
himself off right after breakfast; and
worst Of all, Susie had taken cold, thanks
to my carelessness, and was suffering one
Of her painful attacks, and mother could
only leave her few minutes at time.
She gave us the hall, parlor and sitting
room for that days work, and we knew it
was doubtful whether we could finish it /;
but we went to work with a sort of grim
determination that was quite contrast to
our frolicsome mood on the first day. In
stead of song and merry jest, almost com
plete silence reigned among us. [ felt
myself growing sullen and irritable, and
thought despairingly of Cur Compact"
But | shut my lips, firmly resolved that
however might feel inside, there should
be no outward sign; but towards noon, as
| was passing through the hall with my
arms full of blankets to be aired, Kate
called out:
Here, Bess, you may polish the stair
rods"
Her authoritative tone irritated me.
knew Lady Kate" disliked staining her
white hands with such work, and would
have been glad to hum0r her had she asked
me kindly; bat | was about to make her
an angry retort, when | caught "A rogulsh
glance from Nell, and checking myself
Just in time, | marched off without word.
By the time | had the blankets all hung
out | had recovered my equanlmlty, and
was able to speak pleasantly as | gathered
up the stair rods, and Kate, whose back
had been turned, never knew how near l
came to mourning the forfeit.
HalfpaSt twelve came and we were still
hard at work Nell, perChed on the high
step-ladder, was busting books on the top
shelf of the secretary. Kate was mailing
down the drugget in the sitting room, while
I was oiling the furniture, when suddenly
Tom appeared in the doorway and sur
veyed the scene with a prolonged whistle
of establishment.
"Ain't dinner ready YETI"
''No, it amt, sir" responded Nell, curt
", but not offering to stir.
Well, step round lively, girls for Pm
in an awful hurry" said he, roughly, but
not ill-naturedly.
| was just leaving the room, but looked
back as Nell exclaimed with flashing
eyes:
"Gct it your"
Tom clapped his hands when she
stopped suddenly and buried her face III
her dust-cloth.