The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-09-29

wires NUO NQA0A1 ~
a hunter might pursue a stag. No
bold-natured fly ever dared to buzz
within her dainty walls. No cat pur-
red upon her hearth-stone. Plants
were tabooed because their leaflets
would fall. Canary-birds were ruth
lessly excluded lest they should scat
ter seed. Sunshine was regarded as
an arch enemy. at brings flies, and
fades the carpets" said Mrs. Hop
good.
As for Mr.. Hopgood and the chill
dren they lived mostly in the Kitchen
II can't have the boys mudey
boots tramping yer the carpets, and
the girls sewing in the p%arlor," said
Mrs. Hopgood. "As for Hopgood,
no don't care where be sits. One
place is as good as another where he
is concerned"
The Hopgood family also took their
meals in the kitchen.
i've got a dining as nice as
auvbody's," said Mrs. Hopgood,
with a real carved oak side-board,
with q marble top, and silver, polish
ed till it's better than any looking
glass; but where's the use Of turning
things all upside down, just for ones
own family? Common ~crockery ware
and good bone-handled knives are
lust as good for every day use"
Mamma" said Elsie Hopgood a
cherry-cheeked girl of sixteen, Il
should like to sit in the parlor some
times. Mrs. Montfort and daughter
use theirs every evening, AID It looks
so pretty and pleasant there"
"Stufr and nonsense J" said Mrs.
uopgood, sharply. 81 keep house
myself after my own fashion, and /
give others leave to do the same"
But, mamma" pleaded Elsie, 81
was thinking how / should like to
invite ali the girls here some wen
ing. and have tea, and afterwards a
little dance. I've been asked out 50
many times without responding, that
I'm really ashamed to 60"
Then you had better stay at
home" said Mrs. Hopgood, polishing
vigorously away at the stem OF her
silver c~ard-receiver. Il think i see
myself, with all the young folks in
town, dancing on my Brussels car
pet. and cake crumbs and melted
cream daubed over everything"
Elsie made no answer, but her
eountenance fell.
Il wish ma was like any D else
she said to herself, the tears obscur-
ing her eyes. 81 wish she was like
Kate Pickett's mother, who lets her
have company every Thursday even
ing. John Elton wants me TO marry
him. If was married, | could have
a house of my own, and do as i
pleased"
Mother said Mr.. Hopgood, a
q week or two afterwards, with a
troubled face, as it true that our
Elsie is out walking with John Elton,
evening after evening? He is a
worthless, dissipated fellow, and no
a. associate for any girl"
Mercy upon usl / don't know"
said Mrs. Hopgood, with a %perturbed
face. Il supposedthat she was with
Kate Pickett or Clara Montfort, Pm
entirely too busy with picking and
housekeeping to run at a giddy girls
heels the whole time. But I'm going
20 commence cleaning tomorrow W,
and then I'll warrant you III give
her enough to do, to keep her out of
mischief"
Mother" said Isaac Hopgood,
grayely, sometimes / think that if
we made our house a little more at
tractiye to our children"
20, nonsense" petulantly inter
rupted his wife, II suppose you'd
like us to have t~ableaur, ike Mrs.
Mo%ntfort; or a magic lantern Ike the
little Mickfords. Our children hav-
emit been brought up that way"
And Mr.. Hopgood said no more.
Mrs. Hopgood was, to use her own
expression, "In the thick Of the house
cleaning" the next day, with the
carpets rolled into heaps, the floor
spattered with soapsuds, and her
head tied up with q pocket handker-
chief, when the door Suddenly open
ed.
Take care Of my pail of ~soapsuds
and soda ]" cried she, shrilly. 90!
IL. you, is i. Ally 7"
Ives mother it's me-" said Alex
ander the eldest son, who had just
gone into business as Junior party
TO his father. II say-do leave of
washing . minute, and attend to me-
Ryerson's in town-my old chum,
YOU know-only for one day, and I've
asked him here to dinner"
ITO dinner!" almost screamed
Mrs. Hopgood, dropping her brush
in CONSERVATION. Alexander Hop
good, are you crazy? OF course /
can't have him to dinner. just
look at the condition the house is in"
20, he won't mind that, mother.
Ryerson is q thoroughly good fellow.
Just let him sit down to pot-luck with
the rest Of us, any"
Il shall do nothing of the sort,
Alexander" said Mrs. Hopgood, Sc
yerely COMPRISING her lips. "Yoa
know | do not approve of your inyi-
ting company at any time, stillless at
such a period as this. If you have
been fool enough to ask him, you
NAV get out Of the scrape the best
way you can"
But mother"
Il don't want any more discussion
on the subject" said Mrs Hopgood,
dabbling away with the brush.
And Alexander went out slamming
the door.
by George ~ quoth Alexander
Hopgood to himself, "if | can't ask q
friend to my home, there's at least
the alternative of inviting him to a
hstel. l never did such q thing be-
fore, but | don't see how else | can
manage"
So Alexander Hopgood entertained
Mr.. Ryerson at the hotel, and gave
an unlimited order for iced cham
payne and dessert. Aud the upshot
Of it all was that Alexander Hop
good was brought in at eleven
O'Clock at night, by two of the wait