The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-01-30
TAKEN AT HIS WORD.

n Wluo COOh-klJCneD, WIFI q DfeaJn OF
grape blossoms coming in at the open
windows, and a glistening tin pan on
the table full of dewy, scarlet straw
berries waiting to be hulled-this is our
scene; and our drdnldis persOnCe con-
sist of Mrs. Perkins, whose drowsily-
clicking knitting-needles, keep time to
the purr of the overgrown Maltese cat,
aud a pretty young girl with rather a
flushed face, who had just entered from
a doorway leading to the hall.
"Well," said Mrs. Perkins, looking
mp with that ineffably wise expression
which is impaired to the human
countenance by round silver spectacles
perched obliquely on the bridge of the
nose. he amt asleep, is hep"
Yes, he is, F" was the answer.
Glory he thanked for that, at least"
said Mrs. Perkins, apparently impaling
hers If on long knitting-needle, which,
however, entered harmlessly into the
horn sheath that she wore at her side,
leased in a scalloped red flannel
=" There will be five minutes OF peace, at
lelst. You're tired, amt you, Dora ?"
" Yes, said Theodore White, al am
rtther tired"
But her languid voice spoke plainly
that the more accurate phrase would
have been every tired"
Theodore White was tender, soft
eyed girl of eighteen, with a complexion
of pearly clearness, and a rose. apiece on
her cheeks--a girl with pure, straight
nose AMI a dimple on her chin, and
pretty, pleading way of looking at you
when she spoke. She sat down beside
the window, where the mignonnette-
scented grape blossoms were swaying in
the summer air, aud leaned her forehead
against the easement.
Mrs. Perkins eyed her with an owl
like glance of sympathy.
It's shame, 30 it is" said Mrs.
Perkins, emphatically. GA man hasn't
no business to be SO tryin'-no, not if
he was sick forty times over Scold,
snap, snarl--this amt right and t'other
thing is wrong That's the way he
keeps it up. I'd as soon wait on the
old boy himself"
Theodore smiled family, and arched
her eyebrows.
why, Mrs. Perkins, you don't mean
to compare my Uncle Joseph with 80
obnoxious parsonage as you allude
?" she said demurelv.
"Well, said Mrs. Perkins, reflective
ly, "they amt 50 unlike, after all. /
declare, sometimes, when he gets in his
tantrums, I've two minds and half to
give him a good shakin'. There amt
no sense in mans bein' so unreason-
able. You can't please him no way you
can fix il"
"We can at least try, Mrs. Perkins. "
eyes, and that's Jest what's spilin'
him. He knows very well that if he
was to want the moon, you'd hunt up
the longest step ladder and try to reach
il down. 1t al'ays did spoil children to
let 'em have all they want, and your Uncle
Joseph amt nothin' but II grown-up
child"
"But 1 don't let him have all he
wants. Mrs. Perkins.
" And a pretty kettle o. fish there'C
be if You did. Humph - and the old
housekeeper pounced upon her ball al
if she had, for moment, identified i
with the parsonage under discussion.
at mightn't be such a bad idea,
said Theodore, after a moments thought
full silence.
"Be you zy?" demanded Mrs
Perkins, tartly.
"Hush I" Theodore started from he
s6hJ WIN uphlVSu hHSSh' ~
awake he wants me.
And she was gone, swift, noiseless a
n white-winged dove, before Mrs. Per
kins could volunteer to go in her stead
eyes" said Mrs. Perkins to herself
cit is shame. He seems to think she
made of cast iron and India rubber-th
old torment p
With this rather illogical expressio
of her opinion, Mrs. Perkins resume
her knitting more vigorously tina
ever.
Meanwhile Theodore fastened Il
stairs into a closely curtained sick-roon
where a querrulous old gentleman la,
tortured with great deal of "hypo
aud a very little actual illness. Bl
Uncle Joseph White chose TO belieN
that he was very i'll; and who, pra,
was a better judge of the state OF h
bodily health than himself?
He screwed his face mn into the ser