St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-07-25
Mrs. Gays Prescription.
BY LOUISA M. ALCoTT.

nett to collect her wits and draw a long
breath after the usual morning furry.
The poor little woman looked as if
she needed rest but was not likely to
get it; for the room was in chaotic
state, the breakfast table presented the
appearance of having been devastated
10y swarm of locusts, the baby began
to fret, little Polly set up her usual
whine of Il want sumpin to do" and a
pile of work loomed in the corner wait
ing to be done.
81 don't see how l shall ever get
through it ALL" sighed the Respondent
matron as she hastily drank cup of
tea, while two great tears rolled down
her cheeks, as she looked from one puny
child to the other, and felt the weari-
ness of her own tired soul and body
more oppressive than ever.
ga good cry" was pending when
there came brisk ring at the front
door, step in the hall, and a large rosy
woman came bustling in, saying in a
CHEEKY voice as she sat a flower pot
down Oh the table, "Good morning |!
Nice day, isn't it? Came in early on
business and brought you one of my
lady WashingtOns, you are so fond OF
| flOwers.n
''Oh, it's lovely How kind you are.
Do sit down if you can find chair; we
are all behind hand to-day, for l was
up half the night with poor baby, and
have not energy enough to go to work
yet,n answered Mrs. Bennett with a
sudden smile that changed her whole
face, while baby stopped fretting to
stare at the rosy clusters, and Polly
found employment in exploring the
pocket of the new conner us if she knew
the way there.
"Let me put the pot on your stand
first, giIls ale so careless and am
proud of this. 1t will be an ornament
to your parlor for a week." and open
ing the door, Mrs Gay carried the plant
to sunny bay window where many
others were blooming beautifully.
Mrs. Bennett and the children follow
ed to talk and admire, while the ser
want leisurely cleaned the table.
"Now give me that baby, put your
self in the easy chair and tell me all
about your Worries" said Mrs. Gay, in
the brisk, commanding way which few
people could resist. -.....
"I'm sure don't know where to be-
gin,' sighed Mrs. Bennett, dropping in
to the comfortable seat, while baby
changed bearers with great cOmposure.
81 met your husband and he said the
doctor had ordered you and these chicks
off to Florida for the winter. John said
he didn't know how he should manage
it, but he meant to try"
''Isn't it dreadful He can't leave his
business to go with me, and we shall
have to get Aunt Miranda to come and
see to him and the boys while Pm gone,
and the boys can't bear her strict, old
fashioned ways, and l have got to go
that long journey all alone and stay
among strangers, and these heaps of
fall work to do first, and it will cost an
immense sum to send us, and | don't
know what is to become of me-"
Here Mrs. Bennett stopped for breath
and Mrs. Gay asked briskly, "What is
the matter with you and these chill
dren 2"
"Well, baby is having hard time
with his teeth and is crOupy. Polly
doesn't get over scarlet fever well, and
I'm used up; no strength or appetite,
pain in my side and low spirits. An
entire change of scene, milder climate,
and less work for me, is what we want,
the doctor says. John is very anxious
about US, and l feel regularly discour-
aged"
"I'll spend the day and cheer you up
bit. You just rest and get ready for
new start tomorrow; it's a saving OF
time to stop short now aud then and
see what to begin next. Bring me the
most pressing job of work 1 can sew
and see to this little rascal at the same
time" .......
As she spoke off went Mrs. Gays
bonnet, and by the time her hostess had
returned with the overfiowing work
basket, the energetic lady had put a
match to the ready laid fire on the
hearth, rolled up a couch, table and
easy chair, planted the baby on the
rug with bunch of keys to play with
and sat blooming and smiling to her
self, as if work worry and November
weather were not in existence.
'.TOt's frocks and Polly's aprons are
the things | am most hurried about
, they need so many, and l do like my
children to look nice among strangers,
began Mrs. Bennett, unrolling yards
upon yards of ruffling, for the white
frocks and pinafores, with glance o.
click had grown detestable to her ear.
"Make them plain if you are in 6
hurry; children don't need trimming
up; they are prettiest in simple clothes
| can finish off that batch of aprons be.
fore dinner if you will put that rufflins
away. Come, now do, it will be loaC
off your mind, and Polly won't know
the difference" -...... 5..
81 always do trim them, and every
one does," began Mrs. Bennett, wht
a was welded to her idols.
"When l was in London 1 saw ;
d dukes children dressed in plain BROW
linen pinafores, and thought I'd neve
:. seen such splendid babies Try it, ant
T if people make remarks bring in th,
English aristocracy, and il will be al
; right" .......
$ There was a twinkle in Mrs. GAY
, eve that made her friend ashamed t,
$ argue, so she laughed and gave up th,
!, point, acknowledging with a sigh tina
l. it was a relief.
: sit is this mania for trimming every
S thing that is wearing out so many wO
men. Necessary sewing over, then drol
Il your needle aud read, rest, walk O
play with the children, and see hoy
= = much you have lost heretofore with thi
y everlasting stitching. You'd soon ge
a ia over that pain in your side if you le
n- the machine stand idle while you wen
e. out for an hour every day." -
% ''Perhaps | should, but can't leav
the children, Biddy is so careless.n
"Take them out with you. Roll bab
s. up and down that nice, dry sidewal
and let Polly run before, and you'd b
a different set of people in a month";
sgDn vnn really think snn ..