Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-09-23


about that abominable soup, till Her
bert wished he had said nothing about
it.. But his imagination detecting q
burnt flavor in the pudding, he could
not refrain from mentioning it, and be-
fore he could demonstrate, that dish had
followed the soup.
{" I'll get this house in some sort of
order before leave it," said Lima, en-
phatically.
" Before you leave it," said Herbert,
sharply. :" Do you suppose you are
better housekeeper than EssieI Why,
have not friend who does not envy
me the exquisite order of my house and
my dinner table"
Herbert, you surprise me. Only
yesterday / heard you say you did wish
there was ever anything tit to eat on the
table"
One doesn't expect every word to
be taken literally" said Herbert, rather
sulkily. But not an hour later, finding
streak of dust in tho s,tting-room, he
declared emphaticaliy it was not Git for
a pig to live III. What was the conse-
quence2 Coming iuto it the next NOM
ing, he found the curtains torn down,
the carpets taken up, the floor Uttered
with pals, soap and brushes, and Lima
in dismal dress, her hair tied up in q
towel, directing two women, who were
r scrubbiug vigorously.
Good gracious, Lima !" he cried,
"what are you doing ?
" Cleaning this room"
"Why, EsSie had the whole house
cleaned only the other day." he added,
nOniemUtnOnSiy
"WeIl," said Lima, slowly, q
thought thi3 r, ON a marvel of neatness
myself, but wbtn you said it was not
lit for the pigs / supposed you wanted
it cleaned"
"Ihe room was well enough" was
the curt re y. "For mercy's sake
dJn't turn a9y more of the house upside
down."
. At breakfast tiny tear in L )uie's
VI apron caught her fathers eye, and, oy
- his own angry statement, "she never
i had a decent stitch of clothes, and he
Z did wish somebody would see to her"
Two days after formidable liren
" Diapers bill was sent to him, and Lima
!" explained it in this wise:
&c '' You said, Herbert, that Louie
-, hadn't a decent stitch, and you wished
L somebody would see to her, so l bought
y her a complete outfit. J. could not see
any fault myself, but Of course got
i + more expensive articles, as you did no;
i like those already provided. ] an GLAD
!! you called my attention to the poor
Is neglected child"
" Poor neglected child l' echoed as
tonished Herbert. "Why, Lima, Essie
fairly slaves Ler life out over those
=. children. | am sure ! never see any
|. better dressed or neater."
'e 'e5 Lima merely shrugged her shoulders
y A month passed. Essie gained strength
= in the genial atmosphere surrounding
l Louie and her mother, while Lima ruled
Herbelt's house with a rod of iron
's Herbert begun to experience sick long
% ing for Essie gentle presence. Lini
re took him so very literally in all he said
and yet he could not rebuke her TO
Ut doing exactly what he openly wished.
An arm chair with tiny spot Of dir
"S being declared absolutely filthy, wa
g. upholstered and vanished ct cost 0
le ten dollars. A dozen new shirts, Essie'
er Last labor of love, being said to "se
"a like meal bags" were bestowed upo1
%, the gardener, and new set obtained
~ Every window was opened after a pei
AZ tish declaration that the Groom was O
IL hot aU an oven" and au hour later tn
90 CRATE was fired up to smothering hea
as because he declared it "cold enough
:, freeze a polar bear"
ia In short, with apparently an energeti
70 ~ attempt to correct all shortcomings, an
~ put the housekeeping upon perfeC
,rt ,rt basis, Lima in one month nearly double
nv her brothers expenses, and drove hill
Id to the verge of distraction.
nd But Essie, well and strong again, wa
w ov coming home. On the day of her e.
~ pected arrival Lima, with a solemn face
,er invited her brother into the sittingrool
or. for few moments of private convers'
ast tion.
D." "Herbert," she said, very gravel,
L." 81 have a proposition to make to yot
et- You are my only brother, and Ineed NJ
oe- tell you love you very dearly. 1t HI
a really grieved me to the heart to see no
ou much there is to find fault with in yol
beautiful home" Herbert twisted hin
get self uneasily in his chair, but Lima col
tinued:
ent You know that mother is very
for pendent upon nee, Louie having Il
RS house and children to care for, but
use think she would sacrifice her own cor
or fort for yours. So il you wish, He
an bert, will come here permanently,
sh. keep things in order for YOU"
all Here Lima was obliged to pause an
led strangle a laugh at Herbert's expressit
RS. Of utter horror and dismay.
son " You are very kind, he faltered, Il
to Instincts of a gentleman battling wi
the strong desire to tell Lima she won
all certainly drive him into lunatic asylu
ov- by six months more of her model hous
nal keeping.
six /" Not at all. A man who has ma
the an unfortunate marriage certainly nee
and all the aid and sympathy his family C
but give him."
ion The last straw was laid upon t
the camel's back. Herbert spoke hotl,
pa You are entirely mistaken, Lima.
+. have not made an unfortunate marriae
.ina If ever man was blessed in O wife,
Irs. am that man."
Ter You amaze me, HERBERT |" Lii
the cried, in we'll feigned astonishment.
her "I don't see why you should be 81
of pIised. Essie is gentle, loving, order
Sc model mother and perfect hol
self angel-God bless her u
rul- Herbert, is that trueG"
n of Certainly it is true"
CT cannot believe it |" was the slt
2 of response.
lar UCannot helieve IL Why2"