The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-06


ripping laugh, Rnthie handed him the
hall opened rose.
"Why, don't you see ? Ips a flow er. .
"Well, we'll, do tell mel" and the pale
nose buried Itself deep in the rose.
"This is the way -four grows. l always
thought it was made out of oats, some
way, or pop-corn. Smells sweet. Some
thing like onions, maybew
. And the sun riding slowly, grandly up
the blue arch above, did not check his
chariot's stately course, but sent down
warm .beamed messengers to warn the
two mUrtals by the woodpile of his
march. "Dear, dearl' cried Ruthie,
jumping up at last; IL must go and get
dinner. Won't you come in and sit on
the poarch9 fear you are working too
hard" a
"pll gather up my old bones and rest
a while"
SO the old bones, sustained by pair
of very good boots, followed her nimbly
in, and stretched upon the porch,
their possessor amused himself by
watching Ruthie getting dinner.
Perhaps those curious eyes had never
seen 50 heat q little girl before as this
one, who, in a clean calico, rutl9 round
her neck, blue ribbons and shining hair,
darted around The great clean Kitchen.
Perhaps all they had seen of young
ladies before had been a glimpse through
parlor windows, Of dainty-looking an
gels clad in flowing robes, who seemed
perpetually rIveted to the piano-stool,
or velvet cOuches, like wax dolls on ex-
hibition. So perhaps when dinner
steamed temptingly on the stove, the
white-robed table stood waiting for the
men, and tinkle of music came from
the parlor, we may excuse this man,
who crept up to the open window, and
peeped through the muslin curtains at
IRuthie, cooling OFF, and drawing rip
ples of sweet music from the old piano.
She gave start at sight OF the slouch
hat. ...
"Beg your pardon, marm," said the
lowner, "but could walt until after the
men folks have eaten? 'TisRt easy for
the like OF me TO sit and be pokeu lun
at"
80, indeedy !" said Ruthie, earnestly
"no one here would do that-buJ you
can wait il you would rather"
"By Jove," said he, to himself, as he
stole another look at her sweet lace, "ll
I don't 20 and cut the whole of that
wood-pile. She makes fellow ashamed
of himselIW ...
The flies buzzed impatiently as the
great brush made of paper strips waved
i Slowly to and fro; but through all their
hum, the rustling of the brush, and the
clatter of the dishes, came a steady
chopl cuop! chop from the wooe-pile.
"Who'Ve you got out yon, Rulhie?
1 NV. what a heap Of tlies they ought to-
4 have been plsenedV and Mr.. Vale
i pushed over his plate for some more
II nam and potatoes! The psper ceased
Il its rustIing, and for one blissluI moment
4 Iunwelcome guests tasted OF Ruthie's
dinner.
80, a poor man, uncle, who has been
working eyeG SO hardl You must give
me some money to pay him"
Again the brush started, and black
cloud of vagabonds rose to the ceiling,
leaving six members swimming in the
milk.
folks to get drownded," said Mr.. Vane,
helping the poor strugglers out. sAnd
| what fetched the man here, Ruthie ?
Pass the molassus. l see we are most
out of 'em."
"Yes, uncle, but aunt will bring some
from town. o, the man was hungry, anu
| gave him a job"
"Good for you'll he's working right
smart. l was aleared your amt would
have come to coal. Come, boys, short
nooningsl Here. Ruthie, pay your man
we'll, aud keep the change"
:
ua cup, and bethought herself that she
didn't need any change. Aud the hu-
man Vagabond ate his dinner, eyed by
the insect Vagabonds, then slouched
back to his work so the otattering chat
tering dishes kept time in their noisy
, toilet with the'Dusy ak outside.
, Work done, kitchen bright and shin
, ling, and Ruthie, in pink dress, pinker
cheeks, and hair with its golden lignts,
, stood waiting at the door for her good
aunt to come up the lane.
"Johnny's taken the mare round to
, fe,ch Mrs. White her bag O. flour. NV !
ain't it warm Tor Fail! How'Ve you been,
RuthieY
"Here, auntie, sit down where it's
, cool"
"Gracious. Ruthie, who's out to the
} woodpile"
"On, auntie, the poorest man you ever
| did see! He has SIX children and the
3 Oldest is only eight. Why, they had to
eat all their chars and tables. they were
so hungry! But they couldn't get of
+ lhis boots when the feather bed Was
a boiled-no,l mean the boot-jack roasted
And his oldest daughter dresses in
blankets, and is going to be married, so
| gave her my blue riDDonl He's got the
rheumatism, SO he can't stir-can't
+ hardly still
"Rutbie Vane, are you out of your
, senses? The Oldest child only eight, and
going to get married! Eat bJOt-jacks,
, indeed! Ii you amt Tor all the world
) like your uncle! Alters begins 50 fierce,
d too? Where is that critter?"
"Oh, auntie, do sit down." whispered
RuLhie, in agony. "He's coming to the
mouse ior drink OIL water, and he's So
, sensitive he put down his head every
, time he talked to me. DON'T send him
, away, please-not until L pay him."
And away went pink dress anu little
gaiter boots to the cupboard. But all
china cups looked alike, and right on
TOD Of RuLhie's bill was nestled bright,
innocent looking one, but empty as-an
egg-shell alter the inside has gone Of
course.
! So little fingers were still poking ami d
, the laughing cups, when CAM quick
= step and a red, excited face.
"Oh, Ruthie, Ruthie Vanel' and a
, plump lore6nger beat time to each word,
'.do you know what you've gone and
done? Ruth Vane, did you ever hear
; me tell OF Mr.. Alkire, what owns this
, farm, what lives in The city, and is a
lawyer, and is rich, and what is bach
eIor, toOY Did you ever hear me tell of
i, him, and how when he comes out a hunt.
"A u