Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-11-09

| But Wnen cOnValeSCence DeSuu
Lima sent Essie and the baby to visit
odd Mrs Worthington, and took con-
troll of Herbert the two Older child
rem and the household; determined to
show her brother how far he carried
his habit of absurd fault finding.
With all her severity, she did believe
he was himself unaware of the fire.
quency Of his querulous complaints
and the exaggeratiop of his fretful
statements.
The first dinner saw the beginning
of the lesson Lima meant to teach.
Herbert entered the dining room, his
handsome face dis6gured by its habi-.
tual frown. Harry and Louie were
seated.
"Soup," said Herbert, lifting the
tureen cover, ''perfect dish water !"
Susan" said Lima, sharply, to the
servant, before Herbert could lift the
ladle s'take the tureen to the kitchen
and tell Jane the soup is not fit to
eat"
| Susan promptly obeyed. Herbert
looked rather ruefully at the vanish
ing dish. He was especially fond Of
soup, and the savory fumes of the
really delicious dish were tantalizing.
All dinner time Lima kept up ding
dong at Susan about that abominable
soup, till Herbert wished he had said
nothing about it. But his immagina-
ton detecting a burnt flavor in the
pudding, he could not refrain from
mentioning it, and before he could
demonstrate, that dish had followed
the soup.
"Ill get this house in some sort of
order before leave it," said Lima
emphatica]ly.
Before you leave it," said Her
bert, sharply. "Do you suppose you
are better housekeeper than Essies ?
Why, have not friend who does
not envy me the exquisite order ct
my house and my dinner table"
'FHerbert, you surprise me. Only
yesterday l heard you say you did
wish there was ever anything fit to
eat on the table"
aOne doesn't expect every word to
be taken literally" said Herbert,
rather sulkily. But not an hour later
finding a streak of dust in the sitting
room, he declared emphatically it was
not fit for pig to live IN. What was
the consequence Coming into it
the next morning, he found the cur
tains 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 towel, directing
two women who were scrubbing
vigorously.
Good gracious, Lima" he cried,
sswhat are you doing2"
Cleaning this room"
""hy, Essie had the whole house
cleaned only the other day. be added
contemptuously.
SWELL" sail Lima slowly, 81
thought this room a marvel of neat
ness myself, but when you said it
was not fit for the pigs. l supposed
you wanted it cleaned"
s'The room was we'll enough, was
he curt reply. "t'or mercys sake
ont turn any more of, the house
pslde down"
At breakfast tiny tear in Lopie's
ron caught her fathers eye, and. by
- own angry statement, ''she ned
had a decent stitch of clothege to
he did wish somebody wop'
her" aidable linen
/ Two days after aeo5 him, and Lima
Diapers bill was wise:
explained ~ Herbert, that Louie
y gu .ecent stitch, and you wished
haon Jdy would see to her, SO |
sooght her complete outfit. could
.Iot see any fault myself, but of course
l got more expensive ARTICLES, as you
did not like those already provided.
I am glad you called lay attention to
the poor neglected child"
'sPoor neglected child" echoed
astopished Herbert. s'Why, Lima,
Essie fairly slaves her life out over
those children. I am sure I 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 Iisrbert's house with |
q rod OF iron. Herbert began to
experience sick longing for Essie's
gentle presence. Lima took him so
very literally in all be said, and yet
he could not rebuke her for doing
exactly what he openly wished.
An arm chair with tiny spot Of
dirt being declared absolutely filthy |
was upholstered aud vanished at a
cost Of ten dollars. A dozen new
shirts, Essie's last labor of love, being
said TO .'set like meal bags were