Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-04-26
Learning to Spell Kate.

One day fearful clatter proceeded from
the hen house cackle, cackle, caekle,
cut, cut, cut. cutarker, cut, cut, cut,
cutarker." cried the hens; then the old
rooster mounted upon barrel at the
door and tapped his wings in triumph
ant fashion. and crOwed so Justify that
Mrs. Arnold. who was frying doughnuts
in the kitchen, exclaimed:
''GOOd land, what's the matter with
them hens Must be they've laid lots
of eggs. Run, James Henry, and bring
'em in fore they eat 'em up"
But James Henry, who was whiting
with an old case knife, did not start,
only asked interestedly, "HOw many do
you suppose they've land, mother? ?"
''oh, don't know, perhaps Two doz-
en-"
Il got twelve and half cents for the
last carried to the store, A Ajackknife
don't cost but quarter
We'll, what of it? Go and get them
eggs"
'.But say, mother, if there's two dOz-
en-, mayn't l buy jackknife? All the
rest of the boys have got 'em. Jim
Green's beauty, and it didn't cost but
a quarter"
why, Mrs Green takes in washing"
said his mother.
James saw his advantage 'Yes, and
Jim can't whittle no morn a"-woman,
he was about to say, but fearing his
mother might take offense at this 1mpor-
tant time, substituted cow-"no morn
a COW. bet them hens have laid as
many as three dozen they're cackling
yet. Say, mother, mayn't buy jack
knife ?"
''Yes, l guess so, if you are good
boy and learn well at school"
James Henry walked off jauntily, his
lands in his pockets and slight swing
in his gait betokening his satisfaction,
until eagerness getting the better of his
dignity, he gave two or three jumps
which brought him to the door of the
hen house. Alas, for human hopes
There were but twenty eggs. Lacks
four eggs of a jaOkknife, " he said mourn
fully to his mother as he entered.
His look of disappointment was too
much for her tender heart, and she went
into the pantry and returned with a
basket in which repOsed twenty-four
eggs.
There, sonny" she said kindly, ''gO
and buy a jackknife, but be sure to get
a strong one. +"
James Henry was the only son of his
mother, and she was widow Years
ago she was rOsy-cheeked farmers
girl, belle and beauty, who for a
while firted and kept the beaux' hearts
a futtering in the way girls are so fond
of, and then to their chagrin, married
the least among them, Matthew Arnold,
with fine chateau d Espagae, but none
in this country, and great fortune in
hopes and plans as yet not realized
Mary's father bought them little house
and garden when he found her mind was
made up to marry Matthew. and they
went to housekeeping in that happy, in
consequent fashion people are apt to pity.
Had Matthew been rich. his friends
would have called him genius, but as
. it was, two years had not elapsed since.
! ere the neighbors said he was ''shift-
less, mo calculator which now ]
think Of it are synonymous with genius.
But whatever the meaning of the word
the house mot the Spanish castle. that
was more beautiful than ever, began to
wear dilapidated appearance. the
fences leaned over In careless fashion,
and the gate swung idly in the breeze.
for Matthew was all the time at work
upon something, that was sure to bring
a fOrtune-but which never did Some
times it was churns of marvellous work
manshIp which were to churn and work
5 out the bustermilk at the same time
then it was clock with many new feat
ures, and was sure to become general
! favorite again, steam engine. kind
, of perpetual motion. as it was to use the
] steam over and over again.
But unhappily, they all lacked some
: important element. The churn wouldn't
work, the clock wouldn't 90. and the en-
: CINE refused to bulge an inch.
Mrs. Arnold was the greatest possible
contrast to her husband. But for her
e they would have come to want. She il
!. was who not only attended to the house.
r hold affairs, but cultivated vegetables il
/ their little garden, sold eggs from their
I, few hens, butter from their one COW, and
spun and wove for her more fortunate
: neighbors- More than all the rest. she
re was CHEEKY and pleasant as ever, anC
had implicit faith in her husbands gen
ius.
Sometimes the neighbors cOndolec
with her, but Mrs. Arnold would say
Matthew never made thing ] cOuldn'
use. There's that churn. now, | use j
to put meal IN. and it's just the nices
thing you ever see for that. The oil
slo.k oo,ldn't net along without.