Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-08-07
BLEACHING THE LINEN.
A STORY OF THE FOURTH OF JULY.

BLEACHING THE LINEN.
A STORY OF THE FOURTH OF JULY.
In little gable-roofed cottage in tho
fragrant country of Cherryiand, standing
far back from the road, and almost hid
den by the tall old cherry trees that grew
all around it, lived Grandma Van Dorm
and her pretty granddaughter, Winfred
say pretty" though some of the
ladies who boarded at the old-fas toned
summer hotel, mile or so away, and
who had had their attention unwisely
called to her bv their escorts, as they
passed her ON the road, declared they
could see no beauty in her-"a little
brown thing, with babyish nose and
eyes rs big as an OWLS"
Winnie was 'brown little thing -
that's true, for she had not yet learned
that in really civilized life compilations
are made of pc der and rouge, and her
dark hair was brushed back from low
brow, innocent Of bang or "ftiz," and
hung in one heavy brald-tied at the
end with crimson ribbon-down her
back in the most primitive manner. Her
eyebro were arched and OAR. ened as
much as nature thought proper; her big,
soft black eyes ewed their brightness to
no foreign aid, and her prcttily-s shaped
hands, still browner than her face, had
shocking as it may appear-never known
the softening influence of gloves Of kid.
1t was the afternoon OF the 81 Of July
when Grandmamma Van Dorn-a
hearty old lady of seventy ycars-sat
alone in her neat sitting room (the car
pets and mats ON the floor made by her
own hands and the queer-shaped gourds
that ornamentcd the mantel grown in her
Own garden) bolt upright in a straight
backed chair, spectacles on her nose,
holding a letter she had just received, in
both hands, and slowly reading it aloud
in a low voice. The letter was from an
other granddaughter, cousin of Winnie's
and formerly also an inmate of the little
cottage, but who having had the good
fortune to attract the attention Of a
wealthy old bachelor, whose little nephew
hau dragged him one summer evening
from the hotel to the widow Van Dorm 8
for the purpose of buying some of the
delicious "whitc hearts" for which her
garden was celebrated, was now that
gentlcman's wife and fashionable city
lady, and read thus:
DEAR GRANDMAMMA--T or four
young men, acquaintanccs OF ours, are
going to Cherryland on the Sd to remain
over the 4th, and I have an idea, if
pleased with the place, which I think
they cannot fail to be, they will stay
longer, perhaps couple Of weeks. They
are all good fellows but inclined to flirt,
especially the young civil engineer, Ell
bert Vahlen. with whom half the girls in
our circle are in love. If Winnie remains
at home they are very likely to see her,
and seeing her-she is so very pretty
they would all admire her and some one
of them, no doubt fancy himself in love
with her.
"You had better send her on visit to
Aunt Sarahs while they are there.
shall never forget what suffered when
heard of Edward Brewster's marriage
after he had led me to believe in every
way except actual proposal that l was to
be his wife, and would protect Winnie
from a like experience.
Those young city men seem to think
that the heart of a country girl can be
won and thrown away like daisy or
clover blossom.
Your Observation-Disclosures,
PAMELA BROWN.
P. S.-Don't imagine that have any
feeling about Mr.. Brewster now. am
only too thankful he acted as he did, for
it is very much better to be the wife of a
rich merchant than the wife of his Door
bookkeeper.'
Fright Thoughtful of Pamelia,' said
Grandmamma Van Dorm, as she refolded
the letter and placed it in the envelope
I'm glad she's contented. I as afearCl
Mr.. Brown being 50 old and 50 uncom-
monty humble would have riled hel
some. But money is great eopsoler
How contrary to think SArah's gone to
Maine. What will 1 do with Winnie:
Good lands! what fool I be. There's
the linen to bleach. Thatll take t &C
weeks, and she'll go and como by the
back lane. Sure enough!
At this moment little Winnie came
dancing in, the cat in her arms and the
dog following after.
Grandmamma thrust the letter in hel
capacious pocket and looked up over hel
gold trimmed spectacles as demurely as
though her thoughts had never been of
the knitting that lay IN her lap.
swell have peas in a few days, grand
Mamma" said Winnie, "and the vine tha
we thought dead is all in bloom"
"That's good news, DEAR" said the art
full old lady. "And amt it pleasant t.
think that the paintings all done and tho
things a-growin' nicely, and everything
in order till next fall? But, sakes alive
Winifred, the linen on the top shelf in the
back room closet is dredful yaller-yal
ler's saffron. You must take it down tc
the old bleaching place by the brook to
morrow and bleach it for week or two.
''Dear me! grandmamma," said Win
ME, with charming little grimace, how
lonely that will be. Couldn't 1t be bleache6
here somewhere? I'm sure there's enough
sun and grass"
"But ere amt no brook" interrupted
the old lady, land you don't want to bt
carrying water all the time from the vel
to sprinkle it it'll. And, Winifred, Tn
right mad' (she didn't look mad, though
she tried toy Eat your n t wantin' to tax.
Calc VI your own, LOT yours every Specl
OF that linen will be tablecloths, sheets
piller-cases and all. I've been savin' i
Tor you for years till you git married, anc
I gness that needn't be far off if YOU RI
willin. for George Topnot as speakln
to me about you tot er day"
George Topnotn' exclaimed Winnie
with flash of temper. eff ever he
speaks to me'of marriage he'll have NJ
top-knct."
''There, there" said Widow Van Dorm
soothingly, don't make such rash VOW
I declared wouldn't have your grand
father
''But two weeks, granny DEAR" sale
Winnie, going back to the original sub
ject, "is such u long time.''
Long timel How you talk. A fort
nit, and fortnit's only fourteen days
You can tase the dog with you and you
story books Parmeler sent you. Ant
you're right near Mrs. Williams tell e
III come and see her soon's my rheumat
ic foot's better), and her little Janey viii
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