The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-10-23
BLACKING THE RANGE.

That little maiden's name.
Good Words.
BLACKING THE RANGE.
(which IF Us is going to do it, I'm sure
l don't KNOW" Mrs. Cartwright exclaim-
ed with a shudder, holding her dainty
skirts still closer around her, as if antici-
pating contamination from the very at
mosphe1e Of SO plebian + locality as the
kitchen.
II haven't the first idea of how to set
about such horrid job2' sobbed Belle.
II do think it was perfectly shameful for
father to die and leave US all in this mis-
cradle conditionl''
'Aud my hands and clothes would be
perfectly ruined if should attempt it2''
protested Lillian. II think it was more
than shameful for the servants to desert
us like this as soon as misfortune came
upon US. And we have got to take extra
care of our dresses and things now, for
goodness only knows when we will get
any more"
SWELL, since there must be victim,
will undertake the part" said Amy, step.
ping forward and rolling up the sleeves Of
her pretty morning dress, with deter.
mined air. ~ have read that Queen Vic.
toria had all her daughters instructed in
every necessary domestic art; and it seems
ridiculous that independent American
women should be so hel pless when fortune
frowns and servant girls desert them.
for one feel heartily ashamed Of my igno
rance and am tempted to Look upon our
present reverses as well-Merited dlspen-
sation. have no more knowledge of the
art than any of the rest of you, but
guess am endowed with sufficient Yam.
kee ingenuity to tathom its mystery"
"You always did have such ultra no.
tons about things" observed Mrs. Cart.
wright with sigh. "But if you think
you can do it, l am sure it will be an i'm.
mense relief to us all. If we have to &c
on in this way we will all be in oul
graves before long"
Yes the Cartwright family were in a
pitable plight indeed. Three weeks be-
fore Mr.. Cartwright, then apparently in
the full blush of health and business pros
perity, had dropped dead in the street of
apoplexy, leaving the overwhelming rove
lation to come to his family that his
business affairs we're so hopelessly in
volved that bankruptcy was inevitable,
and that the only support lett to his wife
and family was what little profit could be
derived from the sale of the house, which
was already mortgagcd for nearly two
thirds its value.
Ill rews flies fast; and as the panic
reached the servants, they with one &C.
cord packed up their things and deserted
the sinking ship for other and more Sc
cure places, leaving the aristocratic lady
and her delicately-reared daughters to
grapplc with the mysteries OF housework
as best they could.
A most wretched two weeks followed
Mr.. Cartwright's creditors had seized
upon everything, and the family were
obliged to remain where they were until
the house could be sold, with only the
small amount Of money that they hap.
pened to have in their purses upon which
to subsist meanwhile.
At last Mrs. Cartwright received let
ter from a friend of her late husband
saying that he would call on tertain
day to inspect the house, with view tc
purchasing it if 1t pleased him; and as
he was known to be man of very tastidi
Gus tastes, it was considered of para
mount Importance that the mansion
should be in the most precise order and
prepared to sustain the most rigid ano
critical scrutiny from cellar to garnet.
The family had managed to get along
with the upstairs work with tolerablt
success, large share OF which was due
to Amy. the youngest daughter, brlgh
blooming girl Of eighteen, who possessed
good share Of practical talent and ma
tive wit, and had, moreover, the happ,
faculty of keeping up her spirits anc
adapting herself to these unlocked -fol
contingencies.
But now they were confronted with
task from which they shrank back appall
ed. From the repeated boiling over o.
the contents of various pots and pans dur
ing the management of the department
do cuisine, the once brig ht and shining
range presented the appearance of in
cipient measles, and was in a condition
to bring disrcpute upon the entire plac,
to any one of fastidious tastes.
If they should lose this chance of sell
ing the house it would 90 to foreclosure
and might not bring the amount of til,
mortgage.
The range must be BACKED, and som,
one of them must perform the task, fo
they had no money to spare for hirct
help, and credit was luxury of the past
Their appearance was both ludicrou.
and pitlablc, as they stood around tn.
object in perplexed conclave.
Mrs. Cartwright and her two cider
daughters stood with their dainty wrap
pers and tucked petticoats drawn Tight,
around their stylish boots, gazing upon
this hitherto terra incognita with looks oil
dismay and dread.
Belle and Lillian, with their light hair
done up with crlmping pins in front, and
Jewels twinkling in their cars and on
their fingers, gave NO evidence in their
present appearance of their suddenly al
tered fortunes; but Amy, who, from the
moment she had learned the true state Of
affairs, HAD laid aside all superauous
adornments, and with her pretty curls
led eimply away from her face, and ar
trayod in the plalnest dress she could find
which was, nevertheless, far to handsome
tor such work, stood calmly and bravcly
surveying the scene.
"WellW Mrs. Cartwright repeated with
sigh. "You had better set about It
right away then, Amy; though how YOU
are going to manage it without running
your dress I'm sure don't see."
"Just wait minute and I'll enlighten
you, mother, was Amy reply: and, first
Pinning her dress around her In true do
mestic style, she next 6shed up from the
ironing basket, slowed away IN the cor.
ner OF the Closet, what had once served
- an ironing sheet, but was scorched
and otherwise defaced, and wrapped that
around her in a thoroughly scientific
manner, leaving only the piquant reso-
!ute face and pretty plump arms Wis
IDLE.
"Now Il am girded and guarded and
ready for the fray!" she exclaimed qaily
"you girls and mother can retire in diqni.
fed state up stairs, until I summon Won