Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-01-16

gan to fall, the white crystals OF Host
could be seen glimmering IN the early
sun light, when Marian. came to me, latter
breakfast, and putting her little hand
on my shoulders, sweetly said: Hubby,
| wish YOU would call at Smiths pottery
and tell him to send me three dozen
cracked pots, and ash Mr.. Jones to send
me some boxes about two feet square
and six or eight old nail kegs" l
asked Marian if she expected to move.
"Oh no." she replied, "you come home
early this evening, and We'll have some
fun" l anticipated fine time, but
could not think what Marian intended to
do with all the crockery, boxes and
kegs. have no curiosity, but all that
day l wondered. l hurried through
business and reached home before the
clock struck four, Hubby" she said,
l was Just ready for you, come out into
the yard" came, ofcourse, and there l
saw neatly arranged around the flower
beds, the crockery, kegs and huge boxes,
while an idle grubbing hoe and shovel
suggested exercise.
II am so glad you came soon," said
Marian, ''you can get them all inibefore
night, for l could not sleep if any OF
my dear flowers were exposed to the
frost. Don't you think it will be cold,
to night" l told her, no, l thought the
Indian Summer had begun that day and
would last six weeks; but she remarked
that was mistaken and that had
better digup the pelargoniums first. She
had five varieties-the Blanca, the
Eligans, the Lobbe, the Optima and
one other. / worked hard and by five
O'Clock had them transferred to the
kegs. Then she wanted her eight
varieties of fuchsias taken up, then the
lilies, the begonias, clOrodendrums, and
thirty five different geraniums, inciud-
inc the Gen. Grant beautiful flower,
but | never liked the name. had
transferred one which, with the neces-
sary earth, filled one Of the large boxes.
| had lifted it up when my hand slipped
and the corner of that heavy box fell on
nv big toe, while the plant and dirt
rolled out. Ny face lost its amiable
expression aud the tears were starting
from my eyes, when Marian remarked,
"Oh my! that's the hell-e-bore." l told
herI thought it was, or something Of
that kind. As the clock struck ten, the
last cracked earthern pot, with its con-
tents was deposited near one OF the
front windows. hut / had not seen the
fun.
l congratulated myself that my work
was over, but there never was more
mistaken mortal. When the sun shOne,
l had to carry the flowers out to have
them warmed, and when the rains fell,
to have them washed, and in carrying
in and carrying out, I have worked
harder than any mule in this community.
The arrival Of the cold weather was JOY
fully welcomed, but it brought with il
new troubles. Last Sunday night.
when:wc returned from church, Marian
remarked, Chubby it is getting cold"
1 told her l thought so too. ''Welp'
saws Marian, What Will we do with oul
flowers?" II don't know" says L, but
about five minutes afterward, her dear
hubby, transformed. into pack mule,
was carrying that lot Of boxes, pots
cans, kegs, broken pitchers, &c. to
points near the stove. As soon as my
work was done, l hurried to our cham.
Der and went to bed. l dropped tc
sleep while some kind guardian angel
was whispering in my ears may be
they'll freeze Ny sleep was troubled,
and | dreamed that some wicked wretch
had thrown two pieces Of ice on my
fleet. | awoke with start, when Marial
remarked: whats the matter, hubby
were you asleep aready:" told her
didn't know. Again, fell asleep an(
was wandering in my dreams through
some delightful grove, when suddenly
some wild animal seemed to have
caught me by the arm. l made {
: spring to get away and awoke, wher
Mauar remarked, Hubby, it is very
cold" l told herI thought it was
Il cant sleep" she replied, IL an
: afraid my flowers will all freeze. Th'
clock has Just struck two, and the fire
know, has burned out. Won't yO1
get up and make fire in the dinln,
room stove? you'll find the wood on tn
b back porch, the klndling in the kitchen
drawer and the matches on the clocl
shelf"
l obeyed, l always do, and l did'n
even take time to put on any Of m
l clothes, but struck a straight course a
l thought, for the clock shelf. Unior
tunately my foot was caught between
keg and one Of the large boxes, and ii
my hasty efforts to get the matches,
Z. was thrown sprawling, my knees com
: ing in contact with the edges of the ii
# cans, my hands scratched and M
: mouth striking the outer edge of a larg
s box. l, at last, found the matche
= which were on the top Of the SEWN
2 machine, instead of the clock shell
i lighted the lamp, and looked at III
: surroundings. Ny lip was swellln
i rapidly, the blood was trckling dow
IS my limbs aud, feeling no little mortified
T looked at those flowers and earnestl