Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-09-26
LOVE AND HOUsECLEANING.

LOVE AND HOUSECLEANING.
"Saidee! Saidee Where are you /?
Why don't you answer me when I
call ?"
"Yes, Aunt Leah-I am coming in
minute"
I'm minute !" sarcastically repeated
the old lady. "It's always in minute
with you, Saidee! But I suppose, be.
cause I'm old and helpless, my comfort
is matter of no consequence what
ever"
"Dear Aunt Leah, you must never
think that!" answered bright, CHEEKY
voice and Saidee Lynn came into the
room with little tray, where was ar
ranged, on snowy napkin, some tea
biscuit, half dozen pink radishes, few
thin-cut shavings OF smoked beef and q
little pot of tea, with cup and saucer of
old blue china which would have been
invaluable to collector. "You see I
had you in my mind all the time, Aunt
Leab,n she said, merrily. II gathered
the radishes from our own garden. Don't
they look nice?"
Aunt Leah, q withered, little, old lady,
in a dress of worn black silk, and sharp,
gray eyes, peering through gold bound
spectacles, tasted of the tea and shook
her head. Its too weak" said she.
sit isn't fit to drink ="
II put ali the tea there was in the
canister, Aunt Leah" said Saidee, with
a distressed counteDance.
"It is as might have expected, (" said
she. my nieces have too little thought
for my comfort to study my poor and
few necessities. Never mind the tea; I
can drink cold water, / dare say !"
Saidee wrung her bands jD despair
How could she tell this weak feeble, old
lady, above whose declining years hung
the threatening Damocles sword of heart
disease, Of their narrowing circumstan-
ces, of the empty exchequer, the clam
oring creditors, the pitiful straights to
which they were reduced?
"What shall ] do ?' she asked herself,
as she went slowly back to the little
kitchen of the ruinous Gothic cottage,
which they had obtained for ridicu.
lously low rent because it was ruinous.
"I've borrowed of the rector's wife
twice, and Pm ashamed to go there
again, and I've sold everything I can
lay my hands on. But" glanciDg up at
a picture which hung in the hall be.
yond, "there's the Velasquez still. A
Velasquez is always worth money. Belle
will scold about parting with 1t. and
Aunt Leah will mourn; but we can't
live on air and dew, like the fairies.
"I'll take it down to Mr.. Bruner, the
artist, this afternoon, and ask him to get
us a purchaser. Poor people. such as we
are, can't afford to retain any old family
relics.n
And so, when Aunt Leah was indulg-
ing in her afternoon nap, and Belle, the
beauty of the family, was ironing out
the flounces of her white muslin dress
for the morrow's picnic, valiant Saidee
climbed on a chair, took the unframed
old Spanish grandee, with a stiff.point-
ed ruff, and an evil leer in the eyes),
wrapped it up in newspaper, and crept
silently across the meadows with it to
the village.
Mr.. Bruner was in his studio-a griz-
zled. headed, blunt, old gentleman, in q
belted linen blouse and a faded velvet
cap. He nodded kindly to Saidee, who
had once taken few lessons from him,
bus when she displayed the canvas he
shook his head.
"How much do you think 1t is worth?"
asked Saidee, wistfully.
"Nothing!" said Mr.. Bruner.
"But," cried the girl. sit is a Velas-
quez!"
THAT Velasquez ?" said Mr.. Brun-
er, contemptuously. my dear, there
isn't picture dealer in the country who
would give fifty cents for 1t. It's men,
dacious imitation. and wretched one
at that"
So Saidee tied up the poor picture, and
went home again, shedding few tears
as she walked under the whispering
trees.
"My last hope gone!" she thought
"But I'll not tell Aunt Leah or Belle
that it is an impOsture. They have al
ways taken such innocent pride in the
Velasquez."
AS she came past the old brick house
at the foot of the Locust Lane, a load of
furniture was being carried in, for it was
the second week in May. Wicker chairs,
twined with blue ribbon, cottage piano,
cases of books, engravings, bird cages,
plants-all sorts of pretty things.
Saidee paused and looked at them, not
without interest.
II wonder who our neighbors are to
be ?" she thought.
just then out trotted a stout, cherry.
checked old lady, with her cap all on
one side, and wOrsted shawl tied over
her shoulders.
"O!" said she. "are you the young
woman who disappointed US yesterday
about cleaning?"
mo" said Saidee, crimsoning to her
temples.
"Oh, dear (! oh, dear! !" said the old
lady, what is to become of us? All
the furniture coming in. and my daugh
ter lame from falling off the step. ladder
and the girl gone. and-but," with an
eager look, perhaps you can recon
mend some one to help US settle ?"
II am sorry to say tnat I cannot"
answered Saidee, aud she vanished be-
yond the lilac hedge, rather amused at
the mistake which the old lady had
made.
Belle was full of news that evening
30, Saidee." she cried, ''such a nice
family is moving into the Locust
House! ]"
"Yes," said Saidee; 81 saw the furni-
ture carts at the door as 1 came back
from the village this afternoon
30, the village!" cried Belle, tossing
her blonde head. "It's strange, Saidee
how much time you get to run about
and enjoy yourself, while 1 am drudg-
ing at home. But there's young gen.
tleman there-the handsomest man.
Alice Aiken says, she ever saw-and Mr..
Pyle knows him, and he's to be at the
picnic tomorrow, to get acquainted