Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-12-25

be much trouble, You have ah day
tomorrow, and ] particularly want
Aunt Prue to be pleased, From what
l have said of you she will have no
ordinary expectation, ast to your taste
and ability, So do me honor"
II was always ne with lordly Wal
ter Allison, Bessy looked up In the
lace Of her tall, handsome stalwart
husband, az he stood there no klnGly
IN his beauty, the lovely babe still
smiling from his shoulders one chubby
arm eneireling his neck one dimpl'
ed. white,ddgered hand half hidden
10 his luxurious whiskcrs.
Superb IN his royal privileges as
dictator and commander, how could he
fathom the expression ofthat too pde
yet tender face, whose sweet serenity
his thoughtless fault-hnding so often
clouded And yet she wasgricying that
moment because he so seldom praise,
oil her,
The next day Aunt Pme ca,ne pune.
tually at seven In tic evening, Bcssy
the baby, everything, looked charm
ing by gss light, Asto Aunt Pruc,
Bessy's first longing was to fall on her
bosom. aud feel herself encircled by
such an embrace us she iancied her
mother would give her for Bessy's
mother had been in heaven many
years,
Aunt Prae was very weary, being
unused to travelling, aud declined sup
per, taking only cup of milk, and
retiring almost Immediately, "How
do you like her 7" asked Walter
"Very much. l am sure l shall
love her dearly, before long"
81 think you will, Has she not Il
lovely face . She is beautiful as my
mother was, but she has always seem.
cd like mother to me. We must
try to make her visit enjoyable. The
only thing | uemble about is, the
table-the fare. Of course you will
do the best you can. but there is Il
knack about these thing, might say
genius, which only the favored few
possess. was glad she declined sup.
per she is so very particular about
her tea. dread o,monow's dinner
more than / can tell. It will be New
Year, and we ought to have some.
thing fine.
"Why should YOU dread it 2" asked
Bessy, looking up.
ooh | am sure you will do your
best. | believe you always do your
best" lie repeated, in a way intimat-
ing quite plainly, shut that best is SO
poor y
Bessy smiled, but be did not see her.
"You think ! am very paticu|ar
about my food" he went on. "Wait
till you taste some OF Aunt Prue's
dishes, and you will understand why.
Food well cooked and assimilated has
much to do with the spiritual, as
well as the physical being Of man.
II makes the monster good-natured,
too. Why l have tasted bitter cup
Of coffee all day, and likely as not
been cross to my clerks On account of
it, So you see much depends on the
cuisine Now suppose we make out
q bill of fare.
The next morning, at break fast,
Walter made a wiry face three times,
and quite as many excuses for every
thing that was served. Aunt Prue
said nothing, though she enjoyed her
meal. But she took mental notes
Bessy did not look we'll by day
light an expression Of fatigue pervad
ed her whole being. The baby had been
restless ; Walter was evidently az.
noying her. She had worked too hard
at this well-aranged breakfast.
81 will 90 now and make my New
Years calls" said Walter, as he rose
from the table. "That will give you
Bessy and Aunt Prue, good long
morning together"
"Is it possible that you do all the
cooking q said Aunt Prue as the two
women left the ,lining,room, Bessy
holding the heavy baby.
"The girl helps me little" was
Bessy's reply. sand is willing
to do more but Walter is always !
dissatisfied with her cooking. Indeed
Aunt Prue it is a great pleasure for
me if l could please him ; but since
baby came, it is not always possible.
I had nurse for time, but Walter
objects to nurse, and it is hard to
get a good one
"How often do you go out :" asked