The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-01-15
her nephew's front door, patiently wait
ing an answer to her ring.

very little way, and a pretty face, sur
rounded by q spiked fence of crimping
pins, peered cautiously out.
"Oh it's only you, Aunt Nancy J"
exclaimed young Mrs. Ellis, in a tone
of relief. "I was afraid of callers
am just doing my bair. Come right
in Don't look at the hall carpet,
please-I haven't swept this morning
Oh! don't 60 into the kitchen-my stove
is not polished-nor the sitting room.
Let's 60 into the parlor I can finish
my hair there, while / talk to you"
So Mrs. Bent followed her pretty
niece into the parlor, which was Get US
do it's pretty mistress credit when we
CAM in perfect order, TO be sure, but 30
damp and chilly-as is generally the
case with unused rooms-that the good
lady shivered before she had fairly
crossed the threshold.
"Ugh Lizzie, I shall catch my
death If sit here ! Never mind il your
sitting room isn't very tidy-it is at
least comfortable.
"Such cold old auntie |" responded
Lizzie, gayly. But her fair cheek red
dened as she ushered Mrs. Bent (the
her disorderly sitting room.
And with all due love for my heroine,
1 think she had cause for shame. The
apartment was strewn with the inde-
scribable litter that any two average
people can contrive to make in the
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 q plate half
filled 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, O drowsy fire
was still obscured by the heap of wet
cinders with which it was every night
covered by Harvey, who, being a man,
usually divided the ashes pretty
equally between the CRATE, fender and
hearth-rug.
Mrs. Bent took in the scene at q
glance, and smiled furtively as Lizzie,
with many apologies, drew forward
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 capabiity 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 10 chat with her
visitor.
81 can't bear to sit down in an un-
tidy room," she said, "and that care
less Harvey contrives to make the place
a perfect den. Men have 80 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 fan
cier. 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 intelli-
gent little creatures. AZ suppose you
attended to your birds hours ago,
auntie ?" she added, pleasantly, while
ministering to her pets.
Yes, indeed. 1 always serve them
while the water is heating for coffee.
fancy the tiny things want their food
and clean water just as much as we
do" You're SO methodical, Aunt
Nancy Why, could no more find
time to attend to my birds before break
fast than / could"
"Get up early in the morning." in
terrupted Mrs. Bent, laughing.
Lizzie blushed, and then pouted a
little.
"well. it is true-I don't get up very
early"
"Not before nine o'clock, for in
stance?"
"Now, auntie What o shame I'm
always out of bed before seven-that is,
1 try to be but sometimes l take too
long O nap while Harvey is lighting
the fire. This morning he went away
earlier than usual, and 30 ! thought I
would 'slumber again, like the slug
gard. And do you know my heavy
head never woke up until half past
nine o'clock !"
Lizzie's laugh OF amusement at her
own expense was 80 joyous and sponta-
neous that Mrs. Bent joined in it most
heartily.
81 ehall never breathe o word OF the
dire occurrence to Harvey" resumed
Lizzie, after the laugh had subsided,
cor / shall be slain by the sword in
his righteous anger. Early rising ID
the poor boys hobby, and he would
swoon with horror il he thought yor
bad almost caught me in bed after your
housework was done for the morning.
You're his model, Aunt Nancy indeed
il you were not such dear, kind
lovely old auntie, should hate
you for your virtues-I know / should
Having by this time ministered :,
Dick and Jennie, putting them in higi