The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-24
WIN Il.
RY WITCH HAZEL.

Friday is day of i'll luck; therefore, as
this was Friday morning, she could well
understand why nothing would go right
Vine was obliged to be IN very early
in order TO prepare breakfast for her
father, who had to walk long distance
to his work. She drew the little table
from the wall into the center of the floor,
and over it spread clean white table
cloth-Vine did so love spotless table
cloths-then she put two old steel forks
that boasted but two prongs apiece by
the side OF two broken handled knives; q
couple of cracked blue plates were next
placed upon the table, together with
corresponding number of cups, but there
we're no saucers on the re-losking cup
board shelves.
Vine did not like the battered steel
forks: she had seen some splendid, gilt
tering, silver ones at Mrs. Blacks, where
she had been called in to wash the dish
es one day; but she loved the blue platter
in splte of the frail white china she had
seen.
She few around very briskly that
morning, for she had promised her father
TO weed the lettuce beds; but the fire was
stubborn and would not burn-"Just bo-
cause 1t is Friday" thought Vine, but !
know that the green wood caused all the
trouble. She poked, and stirred, and
fused and when she went for the grid
dies, her usually smooth brow was drawn
into an ugly scowl
Now | have often observed that fussing
snd .cowling never do any good, and
they certainly did not help Vines fire
one bit.
When she placed the griddles on the
stove she .et them down so hard that one
OF them cracked clear across the center
bad luck" again; then she forgot to shut
the cupboard door, and the cat jumped
I'd and Tapped the milk which WAS in
tended for breakfast In came her father
telling her to hurry and give him his
breakfast; Vino frowned and flew about
faster than ever; she poured some batter
on the griddles, which by this time had
become 30 hot that the cakes were burned
to a crisp in moment. That baking
was given to the chickens, and Vine
pushed the griddles to the back of the
stove.
After repeated failures the cakes prov
ed a success and Vine smoothed out her
brow as they turned over so crisp and
Asky. while her father sat at the table
dsvouring them as rapidly as she could
bring them smoking from the stove. AT
length the father finished his meal, put
on his torn straw hat and went away
calling to Vine not to forget the lettuce
beds. Vine promised to remember, and
after she had eaten her breakfast with
only the cat for company, and washed
the dishes-taking care to polish the blue
platter very long time--she put her old
brown shaker on her head and went to
work at the lettuce beds. While still on
her knees hard at work she heard some
one calling, Wine! Vine!
Here i am" said Vine, "whats want
ed7" And looking up she saw Barbara,
one of Mrs. Black servants, standing ut
the gate.
airs. Blacks 'spectin' host OF COM
pauv to-day" said Barbara, "an' Elien's
sick an Mrs. Black wants you to come
an wait on the table"
"Ill come right off" said Vine, jamp'
ing up and throwing down q handful of
weeds. Barbara disappeared and Vine
hurried into the house to wash her soilcd
hands and heated fsce and to put on 3
clean apron; then locking the door and
placing the KEY carefully under the door
mat. where her father could find 1t IN case
be reached home first, she set out for Mrs.
Blacks.
Vine was always delighted when Mrs.
Black had need Of her services, for she
lived in fine large house on the hlll,
and there were beautiful soft carpets on
the floors, and mirrors and pictures on
the tinted walls, and rare, lovely flowers
ia the conservatory. y, 1t was almost
like fairy land to little Vine. But best
Of all there were the splendid silver
f,rksl How she longed for them! Why
she firmly believed that if she could pos
sess but two of them she would be made
happy for life, and would never wish Tor
anrt6ipg more in this world; so all the
money she earned she laid away IN tiny
green box, and called it her fork-money
@. simple Vinel ITO fancy she would be
content with two silver forks, when there
are thousands of people who own whole
sets of them, and are yet not happy.
Vine had never waited on the table
but once before and this she liked better
than any other work, for she then had an
opportunity te SEQ all the grand ladies
and gentlemen, and agasn beheld the be-
loved silver forks The dinner was now
on the table; the ladies and gentlemen
were all seated, and Vine was al her post
gazing at all with wondering eyes. One
Young lady, whom Mrs. Black addressed
as Miss Lou, Vine particularly admired
How pretty she was, and then how grace
fully she handled her silver fork.
Vine could imagine herself help,
inc herself to food Just in that way; but
.be feared that her hsrds could never BE-
so white, and such flashing rings would
not become her little brown fingers
After dinner was over Vine helped
Barbara with the dishes, who Grossly de
clared that she was las long wlp!h
them forks as she would be a wipin, eve
~ dish in tho house" But it was differ
ent with Barbara, for she washed silver
forks every day, and did not know any
thing about Vines longing admiration
for them.
when you get through with the dish
es,' said Barbara. "you can jest carry
some water up to Miss Archer's room
, and then come back for these here flow
ers
This was nicer than ever. and Vine
fastened to put away the dishes, thinking
| that this Friday had not turned ont suct
Il very bad day after all.
When she entered the pretty room W
stairs, she saw that Miss Archer-whC
was sitting by the toilette table brushing
l. ~ A..