Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-10-22
FIFTY CENTS A WEEK.

motner 60 ner son, youth OF thirteen
years, "you must cut some wood for the
front stove. Mr.. Crawford comes to-
night
Mr.. Crawford is young man who is
keeping company with Fanny, Tommy's
sister. The time was one Wednesday
evening. Tommy had been skating since
school, and was now anxiously awaiting
his supper. Tie announcement came up
on him with a disagreeable force.
IFS that old rooster comm around
here tonight ?" he impetuously inquir-
ed.
''Thomas p cried the mother, in
voice of horror.
Thomas having eased his mind some-
what of the burden, proceeded to the
wood-pile without further remark.
He was not in good humor as he
looked around for the ak, and articles
foreign to the search were moved with
graceless haste.
''This is reg'lar dogs life," he
moodily calculated. "First it's Sunday
night, an then it's Friday night, an ev-
cry little while an extra night is thrown
in. [ dent see what's the use of girl
about the house. If I've got to cut wood
every time that fellow comes, I'll know
the reason why. | won't be put on like
this. | amt going to be made pack
mule of by all the Crawfords and Fan
nys on earth. It's all nice enough for
them to be in there toasting their shins
and actin sickish, but l notice that l
have to do all the work. It's played
out, by Jinks ! l amt that kind of a
hair-pin. I'd just like to have somebody
tell me" he added, looking around for
the person in question, chow much of
the candy an oranges an other stuff
that Fanny gets that l get. Not one
Whit, by gracious Not one single, SOL
itary Whit An here 1 chop wood for
her an him night after night, an if it
wasn't for me they'd shake all their
teeth outen their heads. Oh, they are
a sweet-scented pair, they are"
Closing his remarks with this gloomy
observation on his sister and her compa-
ny, he worked away at the wood until
the amount necessary was prepared.
About seven o'clock Mr.. Crawford s
knock sounded at the door Fanny's mo-
ther was to have let him in, but Tommy
volunteered his services. He escorted
the young gentleman into the front room,
door, he pointed to the stove, which was
a welcome heat, and sternly inquired:
"Is that what you'd call good fire %
"Yes, indeed" said Mr.. Crawford,
rubbing his hands gratefully.
"Ahl !" observed Tommy, in tone Of
relief, although his face scarcely relax
ed the severity of its expression.
"You couldn't very we'll get along in
here without fire, could you ?"
Hardly
"S'pose not. Now, who do you s'pose
made that fire %
|
Why-I-I supposedly, l don't
know" said Mr.. Crawford, apparently
embarrassed by the question.
"No? Well, l can tell you; I mad,
that fire. | cut the wood for it. Gu
the wood and make every fire you hav'
here. I've been doing it all the Will,
you've come here, an you an Fan hay
set by it, an toasted yourselves, an at
candy, an sucked oranges. You an Fal
. have had all the comfort of it, an Nv,
done all the work, every bit of it, an
not smell of them candies and orange
have had-not one living SMELL
The unhappy boy knit his eyebrows
and instinctively clenched his hands
Scarcely less disturbed appeared th
young man. He glanced uneasily froI
l the fireman to the stove. But he mad
no reply. e'waited apprehensively fo
: what was to follow.
"I'll bet you've got pound of assort
e ed candies in your clothes this minut
i for Fam
y This came so directly in the form {
an interrogation, that Mr.. Crawford III
t hesitatingly nodded.
$50 thought" pursued Fanny's br,
: ther. "Now, l want to tell you that
y this fire business is to be carried on b
me, there's got to be different arrang
ment of awards. If not you can con
le here and cut your own wood. Will yc
'f divvy on them candies p
1t "Why-why-I-hardly would lii
l. to do that, Tommy. [ got these for Fa1
T. ny, you know"
1T "Yes, l know" said Tommy, griml
"a "When see you coming up here agai
er l shall expect to see you luggin' an ;
over your shoulder"
T. Mr.. Crawford looked aghast.
e. "But, Tommy" he ex postulated, ''y'
es won't go back on me like that? Iii p;
you for doing it"
!, "Ohl What will you pay?"
- "I'll give you fifty cents week.
70 "Hope to die ?"
:. YES" said Mr.. Crawford, eagerly.