The Princeton union., 1881-02-17

rlseA0 ~ WY VI 0o0. WntIc tuty were OlOTCu
ate as to find a large stump to do duty
as table, and a convenient log for a
seat. Polly proceeded to arrange the
luncheon, and when this was done to
her satisfaction she said
And now the next thing is to look
around arc for something to drink. Ef I'd
known we were comm long enough
beforehand, I'd a he'd some coffee
made, but we started so sudden like.
that there wan t no time for it, so I'll
hey to go down to that there house
and git some water, or some milk: !:
that would be just the thing with
these berries and this apple.pie. Til
be back in second.'' And she seized
a pail and bore down upon the ramb-
ling old house like inexorable fate.
Mrs. Clephane watched her disap-
pear behind the lilac. bushes at the
gate, heard the sullen bark of dog,
and then all was quiet again, and she
sat down and waited.
She looked at the view until she
was tired. "A solitary horseman pass
ing along the road reminded her Of
the 8 poor, unfortunate Teller . in the
unfinished picture, and she revolved
in her mind plans for the Improvement
OF his appearance. She watched a
pair of fussy squirrels. and they re-
turned the compliment by regarding
her from all points Of view, seeming
unable to satisfy themselvs from
which she appeared best, and appar-
entity keeping up an animated discus
sion in regard to it. Then she recit-
ed all the poetry she could call to
mind; but an hour passed, and no
Polly came out of the gate under the
lilacs.
Mrs. Clephane became fearfully
hungry, but disliked to begin her
lunch without the milk, and deter
mined on an investigation so she made
her way to the house. A round-faced.
pleasant looking old lady sat at the
door, knitting, but there was no sign
ofPolly. In arather astonished frame
of mind, Mrs. Clephane accosted the
old lady and inquired if any one had
called at the house for some milk
within an hour.
$ Yes ma am was the reply, and
| s'pose you're the lady she come with.
She said you was a-waitin' but amt
she wonder. though? She come in
here and she see what condition we
was in. You see my sons wife died
two year ago, and since then we've
had to depend on hired help, and
the last girl left three days ago, and
I'm dreadful lame in rheumatic, so I
can't get around, and so things is in a
pretty bad shape, and she's Just took
hold and began to straighten up, and
she S at it now down in the cellar. I
don't know when I've seen ANYBODY so
energetic like, and so kind-hearted in
her othink of doin' it. IF you'd like
to see her, the cellar steps is round on
the other side of the house,
Mrs. Clephane walked around the
house and down some extremely dirty
steps to the cellar, where she found
Polly, with very red face, battling
with might and main with the
dirt on the floor. When she saw
Mrs. Clephane, she stopped with a
jerk, and explained matters by say
ing:
$ Well, Is'posed you was a-waitin,
but reely | never see nothin that
worked on my feelin's like the condi-
tion Of this house. You see 1 come to
the door and asked the old lady if she'd
sell me some milk, and after a little
talk, when she told me about their
havin to depend on girls so, she told me
to go to the pantry and get somethin
to dip with, and go down cellgr and
help myself. Well, you never see such
a lookin pantry. That was bad
enough, but the cellar is enough worse.
The outside door was wide open, and
the sun a 'shinin right there in, a sourin
the milk, and right there on the milk
table, SO as to be handy to the cream,
sat cat and two kittens. They looked
at me as if they thought I was
intrudin they wasn't used to bein
disturbed. And I think the dog come
out of here when he come to bark at
me, and the milk hadn' t been SKINNED
since the girl went away, I should
judge. and so much milk had been split
on the floor and the steps that they was
fairly slippery, and I just felt as if I
shouldn't sleep for week ifI didn't
take hold and leave things IN a better
condition; SO here I be; and now you
jest go and talk to that old lady until I
get through
Mrs. Clephane obeyed, as usual, and
socially visited Mrs. Parker, as she
found her name to be, for half hour,
when Mrs. Parker's son returned from
an unsuccessful search for hired girl.
He had his mothers good d-natured face.
but he looked very downcast from his
failure to find help, and the thought
of his comfortless home. He seemed
pleased and much struck with Polly's
kindness when his mother told him of
the transformation going on in the
cellar. He tried to express his thanks
to Polly, and added,
s'This must have interfered con-
siderable with your pickin' berries,
but I II see that you don't lose nothin'
by it.
Mrs. Clephane and Polly soon re-
turned to their lunch, and then, when
Polly was satisfied with the quantity
Of berries picked, Billy was hitched to
the wagon and they started for home.
a few days later, Mr.. Parker had
occasion to go to town, and a pail of
berries found it's way to Mrs. G Clephane's IS
kitchen. Mrs. Clephane felt abund-
antly satisfied and hoped matters
would stop there, and that they had
seen the last of Mr.. Parker. But the