Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-11-27

she has found n hand to work up her
ashes into soap"
"Mrs. Mnnottc is rather nm odd wo-
man. remarked Mr.. Scquin. " ] don't
think the Judge is quite pleased with
some of her ways"
Three days after Mrs. Manottc nn-
nounced her intention of making soap,
she called her husband 10 see the result,
which was hogshead of rich brown
liquid, smooth and thick, exhaling a
clean, alkaline odor, ~ IL stood in Il
sunny nook of the back yard. The
Judge gnzcd Mt ii solomnly as his wife
eNtoled its virtues and spoke cXult-
ingly of the good luck which had at
tended her efforts.
" As we burn the best of wood the
ashes were strCng enough without pot
ash, which makes soap biting and harsh.
| added strong solution of bornx,
which will render il softer for the hands.
and also Increase its cleansing proper
tiCs.n
" How much do you call il worth ="
asked the Judge.
Il tNo not purpose 10 sell it," said the
wife, so you will not have the pleas
urc of pcddling it out; but il will last
two years, md save forty or fifty dol
lars
"Is 1t pog.iblc," exclaimed the
Judge. with humorous twinkle in the
corner of his eye. " | AN lost i'm admir-
alton and amazcmcnt Of this nhicyc-
ment. Could ! ever have imagined |
should have a su1p-maEor for a wiir2 -
Mrs. Manottc laughed; she knew the
Judge WA rather pleased after all.
Though his wife disnsycd and almost
shocked his propricty sometimes. he
had certain quiet ride in her prowcss.
He never knew her 10 make an essay
which ended in defeat; nothing She at
tempted " fell through If she could
plan, she could also execute. 4 few
days later, ~ the Judge was walking
home to dinner, lac was aCcostcd hy Mr..
Squinc.
Judge Manottc, will you have the
kindness TO give me the name of your
sott-soap woman? Our folks accident
ally saw her at work in your back yard,
and we want to employ her 10 make up
our ashes. She j. splendid worker
such activity and strength. you don't
find many such in these days
The judge was aghast at first, but he
soon rallied, and said " | will send her
to you tomorrow morning, you would
like, and Mr. Scquin went home 10 toll
his wife, " Judge Manotto's soap woman
will be on hand with the morrow"
The judge merely remarked 10 his
wife at the dinner table that Mrs Scquin
wished her to call at her house next
morning, and Mrs. Manottc thought
nothing strange Of this. The ladies
were acquainted. and attended the same
church Accordingly Mrs. Manottc
made ready 1T the time specified. The
Judges wife was handsome. stylish
woman when dressed. As she approach
cd the door of her ncighbor she noticed
the front part of the house had dccid-
cdly shut up appearance. and she had to
ring once and again for admittHnco.
Within the two girls were "pcCpin-.' -
and hchcld Mrs. Marotto. dressed So
grand y on the front step.
How strange she should cal At such
an unreasonable hour, they said. II
never knew her to do thus before. and
wien we are all in our worst clothes.
with the par.ors shut up, expecting the
soap woman. II u too bad; how can
we let her imp
But the bell rang again rather per
cmptOrily. Mrs. Manottc saying to her
self. As they sent for me and have
been 1T some trouble 10 call nj this hour.
why do they keep mo waiting for en-
trance in this unsecmly Style"
Il must let her in. said Mrs. So1uin,
or she may take Offence. and Mrs. Ma
notte Is too good friend to lose. though
IL is strange she should call NJ such an
untimcly hour. Something particular
may bring her.
So blind was hastily opened in the
parlor and Mrs Manottc admitted.
I'LL L Il. - l..
saying they had some unusual work
claiming their attention that morning.
and told the girls aside If the soap
woman came To show her the ashes and
scraps in the area and set her To work at
once. Then she returned 10 the parler
with Mrs. Mazotte. who was unaccount-
ably silent and rather stiff at length. as
she asked:
WAS there anything particular you
wished, Mrs. Sequin2' and that lany
"Oh. no. Mira. Manottc," as
she bowed her visitor out.
Mrs. NJ. walked homewad feeling
rather vcxcd.
Il thought you said Mrs. Sequir
wished to see me. " she remarked to the
ludgc in the evening.
$50 Mr.. Sequin informed me-" wa
the response, then she did not see tit &c
employ you?"
Employ me?" echoed Mrs. Manotta
but the judge was inscrutablc.
The very next day Mr.. Sequin sough
out the judge and said: Your soap.
woman did not come yesterday: iusi
tell me her Whereabouts. If you please.
that | may seek her out"
THE soap-woman has informed me
that she went to your house yesterday
morning. but your wife did not say any.
thing about wishing her services; / he.
,iove virtually declined them"
at isnot so. said Mr.. Scquin. ~ fear
the woman Is not 10 be relied on"
never knew her to break her word;
she IL rather wilful woman. hut by nc
means an untruthful one.n the Judge
said, with that ely twinkle in his eye
which his neighbor had learned carried
n meaning Of its own.
Mr.. Sequin went home and asked his
wife If she had had any callers ycster-
day9
"Only Mrs. Manotte.r was the an
swer. "and she came before nine o'clock
in the morning; never knew her TO