St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-02-12

ulnlDH-IObIn. lllS ililluS'Iiit id'' uiS-
figured by its habitual trown.
..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 tit to eat"
Susan promptly obeyed. Herbert
looked rather ruef'ully at the vanishing
dish. He was especially fond of soup.
and the savory fumes of the really de
licious dish were tantaliZing. Essie
would have made some gentle excuse
never whipped off his dinner i'll that
way. All dinner time Lima kept up
dimg-domg at Susan about that abomi
nabe soup. till Herbert heartily wished
he had said nothing about it. But his
imagination detected IL burnt flavor III
the pudding. and before he could re
momStratc that dish followed the soup.
"IW get this house i'll some sort of
order before / leave it," said Lima en-
phatically.
before you leave it, said Herbert
sharply. DO You suppose you are Il
better houSeke"per than ES>ic Why.
have not Il friend who does not envy
me the exquisite order of IL, house and
my dainty table
Herbert, yOu surprise me. Only
yesterday heard YOU say you did wish
there was erer anything fit to eat on
the table"
lone don't expect every word t" he
taken literally said Herbert. rather
sulkill. But an hour later. finding a
streak of dust in the sitting-loom. he
declared emphatically lit WIS not fit
for pig to live ill.,"
Coming into il the next morning. he
found the curtains torn down. the car
pets taken up. the floor uttered with
pals. soap, and brushes. and Lima, in
IL dismal dress, her hair tied up i'll Il
towel. directing two women. Scrubbing
vigorously.
Good gracious, what are You do
ing ,"
"Clcaning this room"
"Why. E>sie had the whole house
cleaned till il shown, in the fall. and
didn't make half this muS>." he added.
contemptuou>ly
well" said Lima, slowly. Il thought
this room marvel of neatnr>> myself,
but when you said it wa> not tit for
the pigs ! supposed y"u wanted it
cleaned"
The room WAS. we'll enough. WAS
the curt reply. For mcIcl'> sake
! don't turn any more of the house up
| side down.
At breakfast. Il tiny tear in Louie :
apron caught her fathers eye. and. 10y
his own angry statement. she never
had u decent stitch of clothes. and he
did wish somebody would see t. hen.
Two days after. Il formidable dry
goods bill WIS presented 1T the store.
and Lima explained it in this wise:
''lnu said. Herbert. that Luuir hadn't
decent stitch. and you wished some
| body would see To her. 50 bought hci
il complete outfit. | could not >rc ANY
/ fault myself. but of course got mon,
expensive articles. It, Nou did not like
those already provided. Iam glad yorr
called my attention Ia tine poor. nee
/ iectcd child"
Poor. neglected child" echoed As
toniShed Herbert. "Why. Lima. E>>ic
/ fairly slaves her life oHt over those.
children. | am sure never see amy
| better dressed on mrHtrr.
Liua merely shrugged her shoulders
\ month passed. E~~ir gained strength
! in the genial atmosphere >urruundin.
Louie and her mother. while Lima ruled
/ IlcrbcIt'> house with Il rod of iron
/ Herbert began to experience a >irh
longing for ESSic'> gentle presence
Lima took him 80 very literally in all
/ he said. and Vet he could not rehuk,
her for doing exactly what he openly
wished.
\ chair with tiny spot of dirt he
ing declared absolutely filthy, was up
holStered and vanished at cost 81
eight dollars \ dozen new shirts
ES>ie', last labor of love, being said t.
''set like meal bags" were hr>t"vc,
upon the gardener. and Il new set sen
from Il furnishing store. llalrN'> block,
were burned at the Kitchen fire whcI
Herbert. stepping upon one. said he
would not have such rubbish III Tia,
house" Every window WIS npcIc,
after Il pettiSh declaration that tn,
room WIS a> hot is IN oven. and N
hour later the stove WIS fired up I,
>motheIimg heat hrcau>c he declared i
"cold enough To freeze Il polar hcal.
In short. with apparently an rucrgrt
ic attempt to c0Ilcct ali short coming
and pat the housekeeping upon Il per
feet basis. LIMA in one month nearly
doubled her hr"rh"r'> expenses. an,
drove him to the verge of distraction
keeping accurate account of even
complaint.
But ES>ir. we'll and strong again. wa
coming home. On the daN of her tx
pected arrival Lima, with solemn
face. invited her brother into the sit
ting-room for Il few moments of priva',
conversation.
''I1erhert, she said. very gravcly. e
have Il proposition To make To Nuu
Iou are my only brother. and nee,
not tell You | love YOU very dearly. |
has really grirved me to the heart t,
see how much there is to find fault will
III your beautiful home" HcrhrI
twisted himself unea>ily in his chair
but Lima continued:
''lou know that mother is very dc
pendent upon me. Louie having tn
house and children To care for. hut
think she would sacrifice her own com
font for yours. SO if You wish. Herbert
will come here permanently. to keeI
things i'll order for YOU.
Here Lima was obliged to pause AM
>trangle Il laugh at lIerbert'S expression
of utter horror and diSmay.
You are very kind" he faltered, tn
instincts of il gentleman battling will
the strong desire to tell Lima she wonl'
certainly drive him into IL lunatic aSy
lum by six months more of her mode
housekeeping.
"Not at all. \ man who has mad
an unfortunate marriage certainly need
all the aid and sympathy his famil,
+ ann ,ri g.. him