The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-08-07
BLEACHINGT THE LINEN.

BLEACHING THE LINEN.
= STORY OF THE FOURTH OF JULY.
In little gable-roofed cottage in the
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.
I say "pretty," though some of the
ladies who boarded at the old-fasbioncd
summer hotel, mile or so away, and
who had had their attention unwisely
called to her by their escorts, as they
passed her on the road, declared they
could see no beauty in hcr-"a little
brown thing, with babyish nose and
eyes rs big rs an OWLS"
Winnie was a "brown little thing"
that's true, for she had not yet learned
that in really civilized life compilations
arc made Of powder and rouge, and her
dark hair was brushed back from Il low
brow, innocent of chang or ''friz," and
hung in one heavy bral(l--tied at the
end with crimson ribbon-down her
back in the most primitive manner. Her
eyebrows were archcd and darkcncd as
much as nature thought proper; her big,
soft, black eyes owed their brightness to
no foreign aid, and her prcttily shaped
hands, still browncr than her face, had
shocking as it may appcar--ncvcr known
the soitening influence of gloves of kid.
1t was the afternoon OF the 81 of July
when Grandmamma Van Dorn--a
hearty old lady of seventy sat
alone in her neat sitting room (thc car
pets and mats on the floor made by her
own hands and the qucer-shapcd gourds
that ornamentcd the mantel grown in her
own gardcn) bolt upright in straight
backed chair, spectaclcs on her nose,
holding letter she had just received, in
both hands, and slowly reading it aloud
in low voice. The letter was from an
other granddaughter, a cousin of Winnie s
and formerly also IN inmate of the little
cottage, but who having had the good
fortune to attract the attention Of IL
wealthy old bachelor, whose little nephew
had dragged him one summer evening
from the hotel to the widow Van Dorm S
for the purpose of buying some of the
delicious ''whitc hearts" for which her
garden was celebrated, was now that
gentleman's wife and fashionable CITY
lady, and read thus:
DEAR GRANDMAMMA.--Thre or four
young men, acquaintance 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 l think
they cannot fail to be, they will stay
longer, perhaps a couple of weeks. They
are all cool 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. 1
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 was to
be his wife, and would protect Winnie
from like experience.
Those young city men seem to think
that the heart OF Il country girl can be
won and thrown away like daisy or
clover blossom.
Your affectionatcll granddaughter,
PAMELA BROWN.
P. S.-Don't imagine that have anv
feeling about Mr.. Brewster now. 1 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 poor
bookkeeper."
"Right Thoughtful of PAMELA" said
Grandmamma Van Dorm, as she refoldcd
the letter and placed it in the envelope.
"l'm glad she's contented. l was afcard
Mr.. Brown being so old and so uncom
monty humble would have riled her
some. But money is a great consider.
How contrary to think Sarah's gone to
Maine. What will I do with Winnie?
Good lands! what fool I be. There's
the linen to bleach. That'll take two
weeks, and she'll go and come 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 her
capaclous pocket and looked up over her
gold-rimmcd spcctacles as demurely as
though her thoughts had never been of
the knitting that lay IN her lap.
swell have peas in few days, grand
mamma said Winnie, sand the vine that
we thought dead is all in bloom"
what's good news, DEAR" said the art
full old lady. "And amt it pleasant tc
think that the paintings all done and the
things a-growin' nicely, and everything
in order till next fall? But, sakcs 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 t.
the old bleaching place by the brook to
morrow and bleach it for a week or two. ,
Dear me! grandmamma,' said Win
nie, with charming little grimace, how
lonely that will be. Couldn't It be blcachcd
here somewhere? I'm sure there's enough
sun and grass"
"But there amt no brook" INTERRUPTED
the old lady, land you don't want to be
carrying water all the time from the well
to sprinkle it with. And, Winifred, I'm
right mad" (shc didn't look mad, though
she tried toy "at your not wantin' to take
care OF your own, for yours every specA
Of that linen will be-tablccloths, sheets
Plller-cascs and all. I've been savin' il
tor you for years till you git married, and
gness that needn't be far off if you're
willin, for George Topnot was a speak,n
10 me about you tother day"
"George Tcpnotw exclaimed Winnie
with a flash Of temper. "If ever he
speaks to me of marriage he'll have nc
top-knct''
''There, there said Widow Van Dorm
soothingly, don't make such a rash vow
l declared wouldn't have your grand
father
F. but two weeks, granny DEAR" sale
WINNIE going back to the original sub
Jcct, Ills such u long time.''
.'"Long time! how you talk. A fort
nit, and fortnits only fourteen DAYS
You can take the dog with you and YOU,
story books Parmeler sent YOU. And
you're right near Mrs. Williams tell he1