The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-03-23
NUMBER FOUR, R,PROvIDENCER ROW.
CHAPTER I.

| CHAPTER l.
| PROVIDENCE Row consists of collec-
ion of little cottages, with long, narrow
gardens in front.
Their outward appearance is inviting
but to find out what pretty little homes
they are we must take peep into No. G.
for No. 6, Providence Row, is always in
readiness to receive visitor
The Dutch clock strikes two; and
Mary Gooding begins to fold her work as
she says:
Il suppose l had better go now,
mother. l promised Mrs. Parkns I
would run in for little while as soon as
you could spare me-"
Every well, my dear, be off as soon as
you like; and if you can help her to get
her home little straight, do So"
Mrs. Gooding might well make this
last remark; and Mary thought Of her
mothers words as she entered Mrs. Par
kins' house, number four, few minutes
afterward, and cast a glance around at the
picture of misery that it presented.
As she looked at the unswept stove, and
the unwashed breakfast and dinner
things, thought came into her mind how
different the room would look if these lit
tie matters were attended to. The room
altogether wanted treshening; there was
Mary long tc throw open the window and
to have a purifying current OF fresh air
through at once.
She had ample leisure for noting all
these things; for Mrs. PMkins was few
doors down the Row, gossiping with a
neighbor, whose tastes were, unfortunate
ly, very much like her own.
On seeing Mary turn in at the galdcn
gate, Mrs. Parkins had given her friend
lynOd as she called out:
"You can let yourself in! Pm coming
in minute!n
But the minute extended to twenty be-
fore she could put an end to her interest
ing conversation.
The sight of Mary Gooding, looking so
neat, brought up a fresh subject to talk
about, and Mrs. Parkins and her neigh.
Dor had to wonder at the apparent extrava-
gance of Mrs. Gooding in wearing, and
allowing her daughter to wear, print
dresses, which, as Mrs. Parkins and every
one else knew, showed the dirt at once,
and required to be washed so frequently.
"But then some people are like that
said Mrs. Parkins; land il went to those
extravagances, my young man might have
cause to complain of me; but as l am as
saving as | can be, do think it's little
hard when he's everlasting fault tindlng'
"That's Just as feclr' and the neigh
Dor settled herself against the rails in
order to be little more comfortable while
she poured few of her troubles into Mrs.
Parkins' ears.
I'm sure we poor wives are perfect
slaves"
"Yes, nothing but work"
"When am | ever tidy and done? when
does any one ever see me sitting down to
needewSrk ~
"Ncverw
"Nol It's as much as can 30 to get
straight by the time Jones comes home,
and then he's always grumbling because
l don't mend the children's clothes"
"Mendn exclaimed Mrs. Parkins,
"there's not much time for that. But l
must be off now"
"Yes, and suppose l must go in and
light the fire again; l dare say it is out by
| ln, lali n
wood we burnr' added Mrs. Jones, in in
iured tones; "but my grumbler expects a
good fire when he comes home, cost what
it will"
With laugh the two neighbors sepa-
rated. Mrs Parkins, with her two I'M
washed children, hastened down the dusty
Row, raising quite a cloud behind her by
the fluttering of the untidy rags at the end
of her dress.
"I've got back at last" she said, as she
stepped into her cottage. Really, when
Mrs. Jones gets hold of one, there's no
knowing when to get away. But, Mary,
what are you about?"
ooh, Mrs. Parkins, hope you won't
mind" and Mary looked up from the
stove at which she had been 1ustriously
brushing, "but thought might help to
clean up the place Bit
"Yes, but you needn't take ali that
trouble; and you've taken up all the Gin
dersn'
81 would have sifted them for you, but
| couldn't find sieve"
"Oh, we've no SITTER"
"Well, we always burn our cinders.
Mother says it is such a saving of Goals; it
makes them last as long again.
Mrs Parkins made no answer to this
but in moment she said:
"Well, it does seem . shame to let you
do that for me, with your clean dress on
81 brought my large, coarse apron with
me, for knew you wanted to get bit
straight for when Mr.. Parkins comes
home"
"Ah, that do; for of late he has been
more than usually grumbling, and he has
threatened to be off to the public house,
so thought of doing up little more, to
see if that would make him better pleased
but the time goes on, and there's such a
deal to do"
"Oh, we shall have time" interrupted
Mary, briskly: "we can make the place
look so nice before he's home; he'll be
so surprised"
"Well you are making me feel quite
bustling," answered Mrs. Parkins, pleas
antly, as she rose from her chair.
Both set to work with a will, and in
less than an hour quite change had taken
place in this home. Not only was the
cottage itself in order to receive its master
but the wife and little ones presented such
trim appearance that Mr.. Parkins him.
self would scarcely have recognized them.
No cottage home could look more com.
Portable. The tea-things were set, and the
curtains were drawn; and as Mrs. Par.
kins sat enjoying the fire whose cheerful
blaze lighted up every corner of the little
room, she began to look back over the
years of her past life. She had time to