The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-05-28
BARBARA'S GUEST.

what shall We do?"
II was a sunshiny. day in early
July, with the great cluster of tiger
lilies all in blossom in the garden. the
cherries beginning to turn crimson
on the trees, and the roses flngIpg
their subtle fragrance on the slr, ss if
they !sDcled themselves blooming in
some Persian vale. The tnerm0 ne.
ter stood at eighty in the shade.
Squire Dulcimer's haymskers were
dott!ng the sides of the distant up
land, and all the windows OF the little
cottage were wide open to admit
whatever stray Whlfs of cold winds
might be roaming sthWsrt the blue
air.
And little Barbara had ripped her
muslin dress apart and was sitting,
Turk fashion, on the floor, considering
now best she might combine the
breadths into something more
mo fern, when Lisette, her sister,
came flying unanimously upstairs,
like the wild little sprite that she
was.
Barbara was small and dark, with
blue black braid Of hair. large, solemn
eyes, a crimson dot Of a mouth. and
the prettiest OF round, dimpled chins.
Liaette was tall and slender-a sort CT
human lily, violet eyed and transpa-
rent-skinDSd, with shining yellow
curls, gathNred into q net, aud a
bird-like voice, not unlike that OF a
linnet. And these two girls, with
their little brother Benny, were all
that the Doctor had.
| He bad married late in life. this
cid, eccentric disciple OF Galen, and
lost his wife wnen Benny was but a
baby; and ever since the young things
had grown up by themselves like the
wild roses on the edge Of the woods.
''Do!' repeated Lisette. I'VE
Gust go down and see to the table;
that's what We must do"
"But there's nothing in the house
for dinner" cried Barbara, tragicaIly
clsspiDg her hands as she rose out OF
the whirlpool Of pink muslin on the
floor. Lob, desrl Why don't peo-
pie stay at home when they aren't
wanted2 Who is it, Lisette, any
howf"
"I'm sure l don't know" An
swered Lisette. Some travelling
book agent, I suppose. or some
shabby genteel medica man, from
nobody knows where, who thinks he
is entitled to come here lust because
papa is an NJ. D. l only caught
sight of the back of his coat, but it
had a dreadfully seedy look"
81 do think papa is too bad,
sighed Barbara. II was going to have
the whole day for dressmaking, 80 as
to look decent at church next Sun
DAY, for Mr.. Dulcimer and his sister
are coming back, and one doesn't
want to look like a native Patago-
MAN. And [ was going to give papa
bread and cheese, land glass of home
made root beer. Papa don't care
what be eats. But he's go particular
about his guests. And l sent the last
dozen of eggs to the store to exchange
for three spools OF sewing silk and
paper of needles, and told Benny to
carry the pot OF chicken soup to poor
old Mrs. Gumbo, who is sick and
poor, and all alone 10 the world.
"Cnarity begins at home" dolor-
ously quoted Lisette. Couldn't We
catch u iowl?"
"As we'll try to catch a savage
zebra of the wilderness" said Bar
bsra.
"One would think they were every |
one OF them trained racers by the
way they run"
"A meat pie!" suggested Lisette. =
There's no meat to make it Of"
said Barbara. brusquely.
There's the remains OF day before
yesterdays steak. said Lise,te. I'VE
might mince it up fine, and"
oh, Lisette-desr Lisette!" cried
Barbara. "I'm 60 sorry, but gave
the steak to a tramp yesterday. be-
tween two slices of bread and butter.
He looked 80 hungry, and said he had
had nothing but raw turnips to eat
for two days. And when was lock
log for white roses this morning
saw the two slices, with only one /
mouthful bitten out of each, flung
into the bushes. And, oh, Lisette'
there was black bottle beside them
And I'm afraid he wasn't a nice. hon
est tramp"
"Thsn that settles the naeat-pie
business, said poor Lisette.
Couldn't We make the white MIG
cons into fricassee?"
"My white doves into fricassees'
almost shrieked Barbara. Oh. Won
cruel, cruel, heartless, marble-sonled
thingl Why don't you talk OF max
ing me into fricassee and be done
With it?'
Barbara, don't speak 80 loudl"
said Lisette. energetically. "We'u
send to Widow Millett's and borrow
her dinner!"
"Wby?" said Barbara. fairly
astounded at the magnitude and
originality OF her young sisters idea.
Send Benn5, said Lisette "TeIl
her we'll return it next week Write
a note and say that papa has inv;tod
a gentleman to dinner, and that we
haven't mouthful ft TO eat in the
house, except bread and cheese
Mrs. MilleH is an excellent cooE. che
always has something niee And
you will see that this will hoIn rooIt
Of our dilemma" 10 va ,
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