The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-08-06
BLEACHING THE LINEN.
A STORY OF THE FOURTH OF JULY.

BLEACHING THE LINEN. -
STORY OF THE FOURTH OF JULY.
In little gable-roofed cottage in the
fragrant country Of Cherryland, 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
summer hotel, a 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 as 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 powder and rouge, and her
dark hair was brushed back from a low
brow, innocent of chang" OF s'friz," and
hung in one heavy brald-tied at the
end with crimson ribbon-down her
back in the most primitive manner. Her
eyebrows were arched and darkened as
much as nature thought proper her big,
soft, black eyes owed their brightness to
no forei gn aid, and her prettily-shaped
hands, still browner than her face, had
shocking as it may appear-never known
the sottening influence of gloves of kid.
1t was the afternoon OF the Sd of July
when Grandmamma Van Dorn-.a
hearty old lady of seventy years-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 ornamented the mantel grown in her
own garden) bolt upright in straight
backed chair, spectacles 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, 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
had dragged him one summer evening
from the hotel to the widow Van Dorn's
for the purpose of buying some of the
delicious "white hearts" for which her
garden was celebrated, was now that
gentleman's wife and fashionable city
lady, and read thus: [.N
DEAR GRANDMAMMA.--Three or four
young men, acquaintance Of ours, are
going to Cherryland on the Sd to remain
over the 4th, and 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 tlirt,
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 tc
Aunt Sarah's while they are there. ]
shall never forget what 1 suffered when ]
heard Of Edward Brewster's marriage
after he had led me to believe in every
way except actual proposal that was t
be his wife, and would protect Winnie
from like experience. - 10 ~
Those young city men seem to think
won and thrown away like daisy o.
clover blossom. ' "'.'E. 800. =
Your Observation-Disclosures, -. w..
PAMELA BROwN.
P. S.-Don't imagine that have any
feeling about Mr.. Brewster now. I an
only too thankful he acted as he did, fo1
it is very much better to be the wife of {
rich merchant than the wife Of. his poo1
bookkeeper." .. .,.. '.' ~E'
"Right Thoughtful of PAMELA" said
Grandmamma Van Dorm, as she refolded
the letter and placed it in the envelope
"I'm glad she's contented. I was afeard
Mr.. Brown being SO old and so uncom
monty humble would have riled he1
some. But money is a great consider
How contrary to think sarah's gone to
Maine. What will I do with Winnies
Good lands! what a fool be. There's
the linen to bleach. Thatll take two
weeks, and she'll go and como by the
back lane. Sure enough! l' '"iT 49,.
At this moment little Winnie came
dancing in, the cat in her arms and the
dog following after. .1 III: 5'' ..'.. .
Grandmamma thrust the letter in he,
capacious pocket and looked up over he1
gold-rimmed spectacles as demurely ak
though her thoughts had never been of
Iue hultClHS Illdt Lay III HoA zap fig, = O.. -,
"We'll have peas in a few days, grand
mamma said Winnie, "and the vine thai
we thought dead is all in bloom . ID"
"That's good news, DEAR" said the art.
full old lady. "And amt it pleasant tt
think that the paintings all done and thu
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 tt
the old bleaching place by the brook to
morrow and bleach it for week or two
"Dear mel grandmamma," said Win
ME, with charming little grimace, how
lonely that WILDE Couldn't 'ti i be bleachet
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