The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-11
An Unluokv nav

Last Friday was one of those warm
sunny days that remind one of April. in
stead OF the middle of New England
winter, and Mr.. A, who had recently taken
TO himself better-half, was Just getting
into the habit of dropping into the grocery
when e'er he takes his walks abroad" to
do few errands for the family.
Having boarded for several years, he had
got into the way of thinking that the doz-
ems of little articles in daily use in house
"came by nature" like the three RS.
lie couldn't quite understand yet why It
was soap and candles and saleratus to-day,
and sugar and pepper and spice the next, or
why the want of the indigo and clothes
pins need make any difference with wash
ing day, especially as he had bought so
many things lately.
friday noon as he put on bis Sunday
overcoat and best hat, preparatory to going
out on business, it occurred to him that he
would delicately hint to the mistress of the
house that he couldn't go on buying these
Ait'iS az nSiOb All buC tlulb.
So he observed carelessly, 81 suppose
there are no errands to-day, Mary, for l
must have sent home things enough to start
first-class grocery with by this time ?"
He was rather taken aback when she an
swered that the sugar was out, aud II he
cared for griddle-cakes in the morning he
must get some buckwheat flower.
Buckwheat cakes were his particular IA
vorites, though they might grow naturally
upon boarding house tables, it revealed it.
self to his inner consciousness that they
would not upon his without the flour to
start with.
About four o'clock he started for home
with a small sack of A No. flour, and
package of sugar, not thinking it worth
while to wait till evening to have them
sent by the obiging grocery man, for the
house might be locked up in the evening,
and ''he could just as well carry them as
not, lie said
Not being used to the business, he placed
his packages on the sidewalk for few
minutes while he chatted with friend,
then gathered them up with laugh at his
having turned expressman and started
homeward with quick, firm step.
He thought people eyed him curiously,
and ladies in particular seemed disposed to
give HIM plenty of room.
small boy sung out, "Been to mill,
haint YEP" Another shouted, "Michael,
flour is fallin', to-day"
Mr.. A. felt uneasy. lie could not tell
why, but this feeling deepened as he passed
a couple of strong EARNED Irish women and
heard one of them say "Be aisy, now;
it's short short weight and small measure
he'll be getting, any how"
Of course this could not refer to him,
but as he turned the corner friend shout
ed, "Hello, A., what's that you've got
You look like a travelling snow storm.
Why, there is hole in that bag-didnt
you know it?'
A. made some remark, which need not
repeat here, and set down the sugar to fix
the flour.
"Why," says B., "you have had that
sack of flour in the wet-thats what's the
the matter. Just turn it upside down and
it will go all right. Here is your other
bundle. You'll get used to these family
cares after little"
A. looked at his best overcoat, and handled
the flour as if it were an internal machine,
liable to go off at any minute, and sure
enough the sugar had got wet this time,
and was coming out in hurry. AS he
made quick motion to save the sugar, the
string gave out on the flour sack, letting il
all out without farther ceremony
If he Lad looked like travelling snow
| storm before,i it was storm that was rapid
ly increasing in fury.
His exclamation, more forcible than ele-
CANT, brought B. back in haste.
"Well, you have done 1t now, IN good
earnest. Let me fix that sugar"
A. handed it over, and while b. wrap
| ped the flour sack around it and brushed
| Off the first layer of flour as well as he
| could
"There," said b., "as you are in sight of
| home, l rather guess you will be able to
get there with part of that sugar if you
| devote your mind to 1t"
OF course Mrs. A. had company that af-
ternoon, but Mr.. A. chose to remain in the
back kitchen, brushing his overcoat and
| relieving his wounded spirit with remarks
| suitable to the occasion.
They have had no buckwheat cakes this
winter and Mr.. A. is firmly convinced that
| he was the victim of a conspiracy which
compelled him to appear in public in the
| character of a miller.
| He utterly refuses to bring home any
more bundles of any kind, and believe il
| it was absolutely necessary for him to get q
| paper of needles, he would want a good
strong tin pail with cover.
| SAGE GREE.
| Fairhaven, VT, Feb. 4.
|