Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-11-22
the collar of his rough coat and put on
his blue mittens, while the old mare shook
her bells as if she preferred trip to
Keene to hauling wood all day.

her bells as if she preferred a trip to
Keene to hauling wood all day.
lilly, put extry comfortables on the
beds tonight, the wind is so searchin' up
chamber. Have the baked beans and
Injun- puddin' for dinner, and whatever
you do, don't let the boys get at the
mince pies, or you'll have them down
sick. l shall come back the minute l
can leave Mother. Pa will come to-mor-
rer anyway. so keep snug and be good. l
depend on you, my darter use your jedg-
ment, and don't let nothin' happen while
Mothers away"
"Yes'm, yes'm-good-bye, goodbye"
called the children, as Mrs. Bassett was
packed into the sleigh and driven away,
leaving stream OF directions behind her.
Eph, the -year-old boy, imme-
diately put on his biggest boots, assumed
a sober, responsible manner, and survey
ed his little responsibilities with pater-
nal air, drolly like his fathers. lilly
tied on her mothers bunch of keys, rolled
up the sleeves of her homespun gown.
and began to order about the younger
girls. They soon forgo, poor Granny,
and found it great fun to keep house all
alone, for Mother seldom left home, bu,
ruled her family in the old-fashioned way.
There were no servants, for the little
daughters were Mrs. Basse,t's only maids,
and the stout boys helped their father,
all working happily together with no
wages but love; learning in the best
manner the use Of the heads and hands
with which they were to make their own
way in the world.
The few flakes that caused the farmer
to predict bad weather soon increased TO
a regular snow-storm, with gusts Of wind,
for up among the hills winter came early
and fingered long. But the children
were busy, gay, and warm indoors, and
never minded the rising gale nor the
whirling white storm outside.
lilly got them a good dinner. and
when i, was over the two elder girls went
10 their spinning, for in the kitchen stood
the big and little wheels, and baskets Of
wool-rolls, ready to be twisted into yarn
for the winters knitting, and each day
brought its stint of work TO the daugh-
tiers, who hoped to be as thrifty as their
mother.
Eph kept up glorious fire, and su-
perintended the small boys, who popped
corn and Whitfield boats on the hearth;
while Roxy and Rhody dressed corn-cob
dolls in the settle corner, and Bose, the
brindled mastitf, lay on the braided mat,
luxuriously warming his old legs. Thus
employed, they made a pretty picture,
these rosy boys and girls, in their home
spun suits, with the rustic toys and tasks
which mos; children nowadays would find
very poor or tiresome.
lilly and Prue sang, as they stepped
10 and fro, drawing out the smoothly
twisted threads to the musical hum OF the
great spinning wheels. The little girls
chartered like magpies over their dolls
and the new bed-spread they were plan
ming to make, all white dimity stars on
blue calico ground, as a Christmas
present to Ma. The boys roared at Eph's
jokes. and had rough and tumble games
over Bose, who didn't mind them in the
least; and so the afternoon wore pleas
antly away
At sunset the boys went on. to feed
the cattle, bring in heaps Of wood, and
lock up for the night, as the lonely farm
house seldom had visitors after dark. The
girls got simple supper Of brown bread
and milk, baked apples, and doughnut
all round as treat. Then they sat be-
fore the FIRE, the sisters knitting, the bro
theirs with books or games, for Eph loved
reading, and Sol and Seth never failed
to play few games of Morris with bar
ley corns, on the little board they had
made themselves at one corner of the
dresser.
Read out a piece" said lilly from
Mothers chair, where she sat in state,
finishing off the sixth ~oolen sock she
had knit that month.
"It's the old history book, but here's
a bit you may like, since it's about our
folks" answered Eph, turning the yellow
page to look at a picture of two quantity
dressed children in some ancient castle.
"Yes, read that. 1 always like to
hear about the Lady Matildy l was
named for, and Lord Bassett, Pas great
great great-grandpa. He's only a farmer
now, but it's nice to know we were
somebody two or three hundred years
ago." said lilly, bridling and tossing her