The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-02-13
"FROM UNDER FOOT"
BY MRS. b. p. CULBnRTEoN.

b. P. ouLBnRTEoN.
The heat of the sultry July afternoon
had found its way even into Mrs. Var
nell's cozy sitting-room. 1t looked as if
it should have been the coolest of com
Portable places. The little gothic cot
tage itself was almost hemmed in by the
tall slender naples, whose shadows SEEM
ed bound to protect it from the too-ar-
dent glances of the sun.
The open windows, the white curtain.
futtering airily in the breeze, and the
straw mating on the floor. would have
been refreshing to any one but the weary
woman who drew her chair to one of the
windows. Young and pretty she was,
but for the cloud upon her face, and the
tired look in her eyes.
With rapid movement the light work
table was wheeled up before her chair.
and she sat down. her discomfort finding
vent in words as she turned over the ar
ticles of clothing to be mended.
Rates. best linen blouse, torn at the
shoulder, she remembered IN the wild
romp with the May childred the Saturday
afternoon previous Effe's dress, the
white cambria, which had been bought
and made by her grandmother, had
rent in one of the hounces. The child
was certain it had lust come there,
and cried herself to sleep about it
for Effie was careful little thing, and
thoughtful beyond her years but her
sorrow did not mend the dress nor calm
her mothers displeasure.
Then came the mythical " last straw"
which broke the cancels back-the over
skirt of her own best muslin woefully
torn by the cliDging fingers of Robbie.
Poor little Robbie who had clamored
for ''tates' till he grew tired, and only
meant to enforce his argument the least
bit in the world, succeeding in getting a
slap on the little fat fingers, which quite
took away his relish for the cake which
came tardily.
Nothing but mending, week in and
week out" she said to her husband, who
stopped by the window with glass of
fresh water And Il never will be any
better till the children are from under
foot. ] am heartily tired of it all ="
From under foot! T. Poor little ne'er-
doweels! You mean by that, when
they have laid aside the baby ways which
delight US so aud, in common perlance,
are grown up"
:" 1t is easy for you to jest who have
so little real care of them" she remarked
acridly But the Utopia to which l
look with longing eyes is when the chill
dren are from under foot !" There was
a show of resentment in her manner,
and the needle snapped through the
sheer folds of the muslin with swift
ness astonishing to behold.
Yarnell walked away slowly, half re-
GREETING the fate which had SO changed
the sweet bride he had won to the i'm
patient woman mending by the window.
Where's Robbie, mammal And
.Effie's anxious face peered in at tina kit
chen door.
i" l don't know. With your papa,
likely" And the needle flew after the
interruption. while she wondered in a
vague way if Robbie had fallen asleep
behind 9 shock" of wheat.
is the baby with you, mothor?' 1t
was Rafe this time, ank his brown eyes
were darting here and there in fruitless
search, for Robbie's busy fingers were
not delving in the work basket for stray
spools, and every toy and book was in its
place on table and whatnot; the lounge
was smooth, and the chintz cover alarm
ingly straight.
He is not here. l think your father
took him out to the field
/ have beon out in the field all the
afternoon, and | have not seen Robbie
since uInner. There was a quayer in
Rafe's ~uioc that struck fear to her
heart. and 1t was the anxious mother
who laid her work aside hastily, but the
lmpatience had given place to deeper
feeling. Robbie was but an unreasoning
baby at best, and there was 10 coniee-
ture as to the mischief lie might be in, or
the harm he might be exposed to-
Quick eyes searched the house every
thing was in its place, and not vestice
OF Robbie, The hobby-horse was stanC-
ing disconsolately in the spot where he
had left it yesterday. In the kitchen.
on the door step, lay his little straw hat.
guarding, as it were, Lalf-eaten cake.
The mcther's anxiety was at It's height
when Yarnell came up from the field.
Robbie is not in the house. Do you /
know any thing about him 2
Let Us hope he is from under foot 4
if only for an hour, he replied, cruelty;
not less than human, though, for her
fretful w@sds were yet fresh in his memo
ry, His carlessness was born of fatigue.
and he rerented TIE next moment her
white face and anxious eyes touched him.
AID he continued: IN sorry l said
that. Mary. Never mind; so in Tie
house. viii iud iiiin and bling him
In
But remembering the garden swing.
she was half way down the path tei;4r
lie had flushed speaking. There was