The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-22

mo, you must remember that you're
not to ask any one to do anything for
you to-day"
The little lad looked crestfallen.
WELL" he said, striving to speak
unconcernedly. go! that's so. But
then l can fix something for myself easy
enough" and he departed for the
kitchen, bordering the question as to
what he should prepare for breakfast.
Now, his great grandmother was a
French lady, and perhaps it was from
her that he inherited the taste for ONE
lette. And on this particular morning
he determined to regale himself with
that dish. But how to make it, he
didn't know. He had always seen
them come on the table light and faky,
and tinted a delicious golden-brown.
He studied the receipt-book, and, when
confident that he had mastered its
mysteries, he marshaled the flour.
eggs and milk, and proceeded to jun
BILE them together in what he considered
very professional manner. He turned
the yellow mass into the frying-pan
and waited the results. The fire was
brisk, and pretty soon there was sus-
picious smell of something burning.
The General thought that perhaps he
had better turn the omelette, and he
endeavored to do this with the dexter
GUS flop that Hannah always practiced,
but, sad to say, the batter stuck to the
iron, and the little boy found that he
had made grave mistake in not greas-
ing the frying-pan before he had poured
the mixture into it. Part of the ONE
lette was burnt, part uncooked, and the
General heard Hannah giggle as he
dished up the unsavory mess. He then
proceeded to broil piece of beefsteak.
He had pounded b nicely, and had left
it for a moment, while he attended to
his coffee, which was boiling over,
when suddenly Lady Jane Grey, the
Maltese kitten, jumped up on the table
and leaped out of the window-the piece
of steak in her mouth!
mysterious monkeyr' cried the
General, angrily. He always said that
when greatly excited. Somehow it
seemed to him to be an awful impreca-
ton.
Well, he toasted some bread, and
with that, the coffee and "omelette,"
managed to make out a breakfast.
Having finished, he grabbed his hat and
was about to bound out of the door,
when Hannah turned around, quietly
saying, "Your grandma said that you
was to clean up your breakfast things
cooking dishes and all.' Scott stood
aghast. The numerous dishes with
yellow batter dried on, the frying pan
stuck full of bits of burnt omelette, did,
indeed, present formidable array.
Nevertheless, puckering his lips togeth-
er, he began to whistle Captain
Jinks." and set sturdily to work at
dish-washing. 1t was whole hour be-
fore he started for the woods. Billy
McEvoy, his schoolmate accompanied
him. Both boys were brim full of plans
for day of delight. They were going
to play "Ingin.' This consisted Of
building wigwam of hemlock bows,
making a fire and roasting potatoes in
the ashes. The most warlike feature
of this savage life consisted in catching
the little silvery minnows darting in rfro~-
brook, or in firing stones at stray squir-
rels and chipmunks. A day thus spent
was always one of much Joy to Scott,
but on this occasion he didn't feel as
happy as usual. Billy McEvoy wanted
his own way about everything, and they
had one or two quarrels. Then Scott
burned his fingers when building the
fire, and, added to this, the hemlock
wigwam tumbled down and one of the
sticks hurt his head. Later, when they
had the fire nicely burning, and their
dinner cozily cooking in the ashes, the
sky suddenly cloudcd and the rain came
pouring down. The boys had to run
for the barn. Reaching it they made
plans for the afternoons enjoyment.
Scott asked his grandpa to put up a
swing. mop said grandpa. You're
the boy that can get along without
favors from any one, SO don't bother me
with your swings!''
They didn't have much fun after
that, and pretty soon Mr.. McEvoy's
hired man came over to take Billy
home. In an hour the sun came out
bright and clear. Grandma and grand
pa started for ride over to the vii
lage, to buy their weekly groceries.
Then General wanted to go along, for
he had five cents, with which to buy
fire crackers; but he didn't dare ask
grandpa, for fear of getting another re-
buff. So he lolled around the house,
wishing that he had some work to do,
but ashamed to ask. He bursted but
ton from off his trousers. and tried to
sew it on. He made bungling work of
it, and grandma smiled when she
saw it sewed ON with blue en-
broidery silk! He, cut his finger, and
had to bind it up. He had to part his
hair himself. and finally made up his
mind that other folks beside himself
were of use in the world. He was glad
when night came, and he could go to
bed. AS he took his lamp and started
to leave the room, his grandma gave
him quizzical, yet kindly look from
over her spectacles, saying:
"Have you had pleasant dayP"
"Meanest day ever WASH quoth the
General.
"Let no man live unto himselfr' said
grandma, and, kissing him tenderly, she
babe him goodnight.
And now comes the strangest part of
my story. Monday morning, when
Hannah arose for her weekly washing,
she found her tub filed with fresh rain
water. "Massy me! Who could have
been so obligin'P" she nuttered. Then
she added, in tones of intense surprise,