Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-01-28

The first dinner saw the beginning of
the lesson Lima meant to teach. by prac-
tlcally illustrating some of Herbert's alb
surdities. Herbert entered the dining
room, his handsome face dis1gured by it's
habitual frown. Harry and Louie were
seated, and the waiter girl in her place
behind Lina's chair
" Soup" said Herbert, lifting the
tureen-cover; perfect dish water,''
" Susan" said Lima sharply, before
Herbert could lift the ladle, " take that
tureen to the kitchen and tell Jane the
soup is not fit to eat"
Susan promptly obeyed Herbert
looked rather ruefully at the vanishing
dish. He was especially fond of soup,
and the savory fumes of the really de-
icious dish were tantalizing. Essie
would have made some gentle excuse
never whipped off his dinner in that
way. All dinner time Lima kept up a
dingdorg at Susan about that abom-
Unable soup, till Herbert heartily wished
he had said nothing about it. But his
the pudding, and before he could remon-
strate that dish followed the soup.
"IWget this house in some sort of or
der before 7 leave it" said Lima, emphat-
ically.
Before you leave it," said Herbert
sharply. "Do you suppose you are
a better housekeeper than Essie? Why,
have not friend who does not envy
me the exquisite order of my house and
my dainty table"
" Herbert, you surprise me. Only yes
terday I heard you say you did wish
there was eoer anything fit to eat on the
table"
Gone don't expect every word to be
taken literally" said Herbert rather
sulkily. But not an hour later, finding
streak of dust in the sitting-room, he
declared emphatically it was not fit for
pig to live in"
Coming into it the next morning he
found the curtains torn down, the carpets
taken up, the floor Uttered with pals,
soap and brushes, and Lima in a dismal
dress, her hair tied up in a towel, direct
ing two women scrubbing vigorously
Good gracious! Lima" he cried,
"what are you doing?"
" Cleaning this room"
why, Essie had the whole house
cleaned till it shone in the fall, and
didn't make half this muss," he added
CONTEMPORARY.
" Well" said Lima, slowly, "I thought
this room marvel of neatness myself,
but when you said it was not fit for the
pigs l supposed you wanted it cleaned"
The room was well enough" was the
curt reply. For mercy's sake, don't
turn any more of the house upside
down"
At breakfast tiny tear in Louie's
apron caught her fathers eye, and, by
his own angry statement, she never had
a decent stitch of clothes, and he did
wish somebody would see to her"
Two days after formidable dry goods
bill was presented at the store, and LIMA
explained it in this wise:
" You said, Herbert, that Louie hadn't
a decent stitch and you wished some
body would see to her, so I bought her a
complete outfit. [ could not see any
fault myself, but of course I got more
expensive articles, as you did not like
those already provided. l am glad you
called my attention to the poor neglected
child"
Poor neglected child" echoed as
tonished Herbert. "Why, Lima, Essie
fairly slaves her life out over those chill
dren. I am sure [ never see any better
dressed or neater"
Lima merely shrugged her shoulders.
A month passed. Essie gained strength
in the genial atmosphere surrounding
Louie and her mother, while Lima ruled
Herberts house with rod of iron.
Herbert began to experience sick long
ing for ESTES gentle presence. Lima
took him so very literally in all he said,
and yet he could not rebuke her for do
ing exactly what he openly wished.
A chair with a tiny spot of dirt being
declared absolutely filthy was uphol-
stored and vanished at cost of eight
dollars. A dozen new shirts, ESTES last
labor of love, being said to "set like
meal-bags," were bestowed upon the
gardener, and new set sent from a fur
nishing store. Harry's blocks were burned
at the kitchen fire when Herbert, step
ping upon one, said he would not have
such rubbish in the house" Every win
dow was opened after pettish declara-
ton that the Groom was as hot as an
oven," and an hour later the stove was
fired up to smothering heat because he
declared it " cold enough to freeze polar
bear"
In short, with apparently an energetic
attempt to correct all shortcom ings and
put the housekeeping upon a perfec
basis, Lima in one month nearly doubled
her brothers expenses, and drove him to
the verge of distraction, keeping accu-
rate account of every complaint.
But Essie, well and strong again, was
coming home. On the day of her ex-