Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-03-16

opened the market basket. A piece
of beef for roasting, green peas
asparagus, potatoes, and young beets
met my dismayed vision.
Beef to roast, peas TO shell-all to
be read At two o'clock, and at one ]
stood alone in the kitchen, without a
ray of fire
How was | to make that fire ?
lit paper enough to fill bushel
basket, and turned the coal on it.
That wouldn't burn. Then | tried
the coal first and the paper on top.
That was no better. Then | put the
coal IN the paper, rolling up a few
pieces in little pieces of paper-oh,
dear, that wouldn't burn either
was getting desperate
Chi2sl What good angel suggested
chips don't know, but I flew down
to the cellar, and collected basketful.
threw them in, added more paper,
put on more coal, and then lit the
whole. Didn't it burn =? Fast and
furious roared the blaze, and | turned
to the sink, washed my hands, and
went to work on the peas Ishelled
like mad. An ominious silence made
me turn. The last spark of my prom.
ising fire was just dying out.
Dinner ready, Fan?'
George voice, Georges step and
next, Georges six feet of manhood
in my kitchen.
'Oh, GoorgoP and there / broke
down, and great choking sob fn-
ished the sentence.
Why, pet what's the matter?'
haven't arrived at the dignity of
any special talent yet, and the fami>
ly call me pet, little woman, blossom
old lady, or any other soubriqnet
that comes handiest.
George looked at the fire, then at
the basket, and took all ia that one
glance
Don't cry, Fan, I'll make the fire.
But the dinner
Travel down cellar with that.
Give US some coffee, and scrambled
eggs, and bread and butter. What's
in those two big pitchers p
My milk | had forgotten to put
it on the ice, and there it stood.
Wasn't it sour, that hot, hot day ?
took the market basket and the
peas shelled and unshelled down to
the safe. George, the darling, was
as good as his word. When [ return
ed, he had taken off his coat, and was
at work at my fire.
shall know how to make it if it
goes out again. Didn't | watch him?
| got out the coffee mill, and
ground with q will.
Dinner ready, Fan?'
Eater father with basket of rasp-
berries.
Ny fire was burning spl mildly,
and promising George q Kiss after |
had washed my face, drove them
both up stairs.
Ny coffee was delicious, nay eggs
perfect, the butter was fresh, ditto
the bread, but whero-where was the
milk TO come from. Again George
volunteered, and went with butter
kettle to buy quart Five quarts
in one day for a family of three !
Economy nowhere !
We dined at three o'clock, and
didn't eat /? | was almost starved,
and we all laughed together over the
mishans of the morning
Oh, how tired | was when | had
cleared away the dinner dishes and
started up to my room for the long
postponed dressing.
Tea was easily got, and the dishes
washed up. We have had company
all the evening, and | heard the
clock striking eleven as | write
this line. Heigt-ho am very stiff.
very tired, my hands are blistered
with sweeping, and | began to have
serious misgivings about my domes-
tic talents.
July 22d.- Well, yesterday was
bad enough, but to-day-"Augels and
ministers of grace defend usp Where
shall / begin ? At the beginning z
The beginning Of the day is generally
after one is mp in the morning, but
my day began before that. | was
reused by the most tremendous rap
ping at the gate | listened. Then
| sprang out cf bed and threw open
my window.
who's there p
Catherine. I've come to wash
Sure enough | now rememb ered
that ma had postponed the washing
until to-day, because | was to put
the clothes to soak yesterday after
noon, and | had, as Susan used to say,
elaine forgot it,.
wait minute I'll come down to
you = [ cried to Catherine.
| hurried on my clothes, and start
cd to go down. On the stairs an
ominous sound fell upon my ears.
One, two. three, four, five, six, seven
Seven O'Clock Our breakfast hour
was seven, and | was just up. For
tunately, pa and George gave no
signs of being awake as | passed their
doors.
| admitted Catherine, who always
comes to help in the washing, and TO.
day was to do it all, and then |
started to bring the soiled linen from
all parts of the house | piled 6
large quantity in large basket, and
away went. Down one flight safely
down another, and | stood at the
head of the last fight-the long
flight in the hall. A tiny tear in the
carpet caught my foot caught al
the banisters missed them, and dowr
| rolled. First | was on top, then
the basket. Shirts, skirts, stockings
marked our.rapid passage. Bump
went, scratch came the basket,
screamed. PAS door opened, ther
Georges. 1t seemed week before
landed at the foot of the stairs
Where? Right in the basket. | an
a big girl, but in | went, bead-f
buried in the clothes.
where's Fan y asked George.
Whats the matter I? said pa.