The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-02-05


course of an evening. Lizzie's work
lay on the table near her overturned
basket-said overturn being Harvey's
last exploit before he retired the night
before. The reading-lamp stood near
it, in evident need of trimming.
Harvey's tobacco tray, with the even
ing paper, and book from which he
read aloud to his wife, were grouped in
picturesque confusion near plate half
filed with rosy-cheeked apples. The
cover of the cottage piano was awry,
and on the floor near it were strewn
several sheets of music. Every chair
was out of place, luxurious Harvey
generally preferring to sit in two at
once, and having tendency to change
his seat once an hour ON an average.
The plants needed watering. Dick was
chirping in his cage, calling dismally for
his breakfast, and evidently exchang-
ing confidence on the subject of pro-
visions with his sharp voiced mate,
whose temper suffered under the state
of affairs. And, to add to the depress-
ing effect of the whole, drowsy fire
was still obscured by the heap of wet
cinders with which it was every night
covered by Harvey, who, being-a man,
equally between the CRATE, fender and
hearth-rug.
Mrs. Bent took in the scene at
glance, and smiled furt1vely as Lizzie,
with many apologies, drew forward a
chair, busted it, and then paid vigor-
GUS attention to the fire, which soon re-
paid her by leaping brightly from its
gray bed. That done, with rapidity
which showed her capability as q
housewife, the young matron swept the
ashes from fender and rug, cleared the
table of it's litter, picked up her scat
tered music, wheeled the chairs into
place, and prepared to chat with her
visitor.
ST can't bear to sit down in an un-
tidy ROOM" she said, 'and that care
less Harvey contrives to make the place
perfect den. Men have SO little idea
of order However, it looks better
now-it's astonishing how much ar
ranging one can do in five minutes
"Don't sit down till you've at
tended to the birds, Lizzie" said
Mrs. Bent, who was quite bird fam
cier. Z" They want their breakfast, I'm
sure"
"Poor Dick Pretty Dick! Did
him's want him's breakfast ?' chirped
Lizzie, in the pretty baby talk with
which she always addressed the inteli-
gent little creatures. s. suppose you
attended to your birds hours ago,
auntie ?" she added, pleasantly, while
ministering to her pets.
" Yes, indeed. I always serve them
while the water is heating for coffee. I
fancy the tiny things want their food
and clean water just as much as we
do" "You're SO methodical, Aunt
Nancy! Why, I could no more find
time to attend to my birds before break
fast than could"
sGet up early in the morning." in
terrupted Mrs. Bent, laughing.
Lizzie blushed, and then pouted a
little.
e Well. it is true-I don't get up very
early"
"Not before nine O'Clock, for in
stance?''
"Now, auntie What shame! I'm
| always out of bed before seven-that is,
try to be !; but sometimes take too
long a nap while Harvey is lighting
the fire. This morning he went away
earlier than usual, and SO thought !
would slumber again, like the slug
gard. And do you know my heavy
head never woke up until half past
nine o'clock u
Lizzie's laugh of amusement at her
neeus that Mrs. Bent joined in it most
heartily.
s'I shall never breathe a word of the
dire occurrence to Harvey" resumed
Lizzie, after the laugh had subsided,
''or I shall be slain by the sword in
his righteous anger. Early rising is
the poor boys hobby, and he would
swoon with horror if he thought you
had almost caught me in bed after your
housework was done for the morning.
You're his model, Aunt Nancy indeed,
7aIN \ -, \
lovely old auntie, should hate
you for your virtues-I know I should -
Having by this time ministered to
Dick and Jennie, putting them in high
/ good humor with an extra lump OF
sugar, Lizzie first kissed Mrs. Bent on
the head, then on her ear, and finally
on her chin, and, laughing merrily, sal
down beside that kindly old lady, who
was wondering how she should best ad
: minister q needed lecture to the bright
loving creature.
sLizzie," :" said she, at last, rather alb
ruptly, Sc at what time does Harvey have
his breakfast ?''
"Oh, anywhere between seven an6
half past.
81 thought he was obliged to be a
the store as early as that"
"Well, so he is; but q few minutes
here or there don't make much differ
ence," said Lizzie, carelessly
My dear Do you really believt
what you say ?' asked Mrs. Bent, in an
expostulating tone.
ssWhy, yes, aunt, replied the younl
wife, slowly, her face becoming cloud
ed, "at least, I suppose I do. To tel
the truth, Harvey has talked SO mucl
to me about getting his breakfast il
, time, as he calls it, that I'm out of pa
\ | ~r;k11 tho vvho1a ar1HSank ov1 a.,