The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-02-20
NY Aunt Penelope.

we nau Deeu married not QuIJe TWO
years, Jerome and L; and think we had
contrived to be about as happy as mar
ried couples generally are.
Jerome wasn't rich, but had good
salary in his uncle's shipping Office, and
1 had learned the lesson of economy, and
contrived to get along nicely with only
one girl. To be sure, Aunt Penelope
helped us; but, after all, Aunt Penelope,
though she was a good soul, and meant
we'll, was more in the way than other
wise.
We had gone to housekeeping on a
second floor in Camden. 1t was very
nice place, although Aunt Penelope de-
,lared from the first that second floor
wasn't genteel.
SIT is more genteel than running in
debt for whole house that you can't
Afford" said Jerome; and 30 1 didn't
care, although some of my school friends,
who had marie rising young lawyers
and doctors, left off visiting me. And
you may be sure I didn't miss them
much after badly came, like little blue
eyed sunbeam, to fill my heart and hands
With those delicious cares that are so
sweet to mothers soul.
Aunt Penelope was always thinking
IF plans.
"My friend, Mrs. Outerbridge, owns
the sweetest country place up the river, +"
said Aunt Penelope to me one day in a
confidential and patronizing tone.
"My friend, Mrs. Outerbridge, is go
ing to France, and has requested me
m )st politely TO reside at Outerbridge
Cottage during her absence, and look af-
ter things little. And when men
toned that I was devoted to my niece
and her baby, she was kind enough to
say that it would make no difference if
you came there, too-for five months,
from the LIST of May to the 1st of Octo-
Der. And what a splendid thing it would
be for the baby to have five months in
the country"
My eyes glittered at the prospect. The
first tooth had already begun to CLEAN
like pearl in his rosy gum, and dread
ed the hot, sultry air of summer for lit
tie Bertie's sake.
eyes," said I, doubtfuily. But
Jerome?"
cts only twenty-five minutes by
train. said Aunt Penelope. "He can
,ome out every evening""
The more Aunt Penelope and L dis
cusse1 this subject, the more feasible
md delightful it appeared to us. We
could revel in country milk, velvet.mown
lawns, and fresh butter. Baby's per-
ambulator could roll over graveled
walks; Jeromel could hear the nightin-
gales sing OF summer twilight, and
watch the moon. reflected in the streams;
and Aunt Penelope and l could be for
the once fine ladies, at the head Of a
great establishment, for all the Outer
bridge servants were to remain on until
the return of their mistress. Veritably
it seemed delightful idea
When Jerome came home I could
hardly wait to give him his first cup of
tea before I unfol6ed the story of Out
erbridge Cottage, on the Hudson.
Aunt Penelope, sitting graciously by,
feeling like the fairy godmother who
had done it all with one whisk of her en-
chanted wand.
"Well?" quoth I, restlessly, when ]
had finished the recital.
"Well" said Jerome, who by this
time had the baby on his lap, and was
tickling its plump ribs.
"Of course we'll gor p
"Of course we won't ~ said this i'm
practicable husband of mine.
"Jerome |"
"Amy!"
"But why not |"
"In the first place, because I've nc
idea of your turning houskeeper for any
old woman who wants to enjoy herself in
| France and foist off her household cares
on somebody else. In the second place,
like to make my own arrangements, in
stead of having them made for me !"
At this Aunt Penelope bridled littl,
and tossed her head.
looked, with eyes full of tears, o
Ey husband.
L al