Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-05-29
VOL. 73.-3737. NO. SO.

saw her husband and his particular friend,
Mr., Warburton.
"Ile has invited him home TO dinnerp ~
she gasped, darting back into the smoky
kitchen. "Oh, what shall do 2"
Two or three narrowing minutes Of sus-
pense, and her husband entered.
"Nell, are you here And what is the
matter Is the kitchen on fire The whole
place is in fog
Nell came forward, looking more like
tattooed Indian than the pretty woman
she was. 'II..
al am making currant jelly, and thought
you wouldn't be home till late, Ned"
"Does IL require such a mess as this TO
make currant jelly2 And what a fright you
are, Nell. I've brought Warburton home to
dinner"
"There's not mouthful of dinner, Ned"
"What Didn't send a ham and pair
of chickens Z"
"Fve had no time to cook; I've been
making jelly all day."
"Confouud the Jelly Come, Nell, you
must get up some show of dinner"
al can't, Ned I'm tired TO death, and
my hand is burned You shouldn't have in
vited Mr.. Warburton without letting me
know"
"Now just hear that" cried the provoked
husband after telling me so often to bring
d friend whenever | liked I'm surprised
at you, Nelll"
Nell sank into chair and covering her
face with her sticky apron, burst into tears,
while the jelly began to stream over again.
| Her husband, half beside himself with the
| Kissing noise and his own vexation, made a
dive at the kettle, and in his efforts to get it
| off the stove, upset it, deluging the floor.
| "Pm glad Of it You've no business at
| tempting to make the confounded stuff
when you don't know how" he cried, Aounc-
ing out of the kitchen, and leaving his wife
to have her cry out. I'll go and send War
burton away"
| Poor Nellie sobbed convulsively, unmind.
full of the meandering red river at her feet,
until Hannah entered.
| "Why, dearie, what trouble you're in, to
be sure and all your jelly wasted But
never mind we'll have the next kettle all
right"
Nell sprang up and threw herself into the
old woman's arms.
"Oh, Hannah and Ned's gone to send
MIR. Warburton away without his dinner,
and he'll never forgive me- she sobbed.
{" Yes, he will, dearie; yes, he will-don't
you fret I've sent them over to your moth
er's for lunch. And now let me tell you
what to do. Put all this jelly-making by
till to-morrow-we'll begin bright and early
in the morning, and"
But Hannah, it won't come to jelly"
"Oh, yes it will, when we add little
gelatine."
"Didn't tell you, ma'am p muttered
Jane mopping up the red river.
"Never mind the jelly now," continued
Hannah; "you and Jane set to work and
get up nice little supper, and take down
your curls and put on your prettiest gown,
and I'll hurry over and send the master and
his guest back about sunset that'll make
everything right"
Nell demurred little.
"Ned was cruel to get into passion he
knew / couldn't help it, she sobbed.
Old Hannah gave her look.
Hush, my dearie; put that foolish pride
in your pocket you can't afford to spoil your
happiness. Mind what old Hannah says"
And Nell obeyed.
She and Jane worked as they never did
before in all their lives.
Sunset found the kitchen as clean as a
new pin-the unfortunate jelly banished and
the daintiest of supper tables set.
And as the sun went down Nell herself
walked down the garden path to meet her
husband, robed in crisp, white muslin, scar
let ribbon zoning her waist, rose in her hair
al am glad to see you, Mr.. Warburton, "
she said, smilingly. You have found Inc
in great tribulation to-day. attempted to
do something did not understand and got
into trouble. Ned, dear, forgive me, and
bring your friend into supper"
"Oh, Nell, what a brute | was !" whis'
pered her husband, OBTAINING her minute al
the kitchen door. "Can you forgive me 2
I'll dig up every currant bush in the garden
tomorrow p
, "No, Ned" she replied. al shall learn tc
make currant jelly tomorrow. Let then
one"-.Selected