Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-02-28
One Day.

If she hadn't left the pantry window
open the night before, ::it wouldn't have
happened, and Sam wouldn't but to
begin at the beginning.
| She didn't feel we'll that morning and
bugged her pillow as late as she dared ;
then hastily dressing, che ran down to
the kitchen. The water was boiling for
the coffee. and In her haste to make 1t she
poured some of the boiling water over
her thumb going to the sink after some
water to bathe 1t she found an empty
water pail. the sink pump run down,
the new light snow foot deep out
doors, and Sam at the barn milking.
Giving the thumb Q savage little shake,
she opened the pantry door after the
milk for her mullins, and there was q
solid bank of snow from the window to
the door, and the lower shelves were
covered also. She snatched the dust
pan and brush. and shutting the door
behind her to keep the snow from melt
ing, went to work at the eolid whiteness
I-forgetting to tell the ten year old
daughter. who had just come down to
tend the kitchen fire.
It took longer than she had any idea
1t would, aud the wind blowing direct
ly In at the window threw little of it
back into the room in spite of her, every
time she emptied the pan. When she
did finish she went iato the kitchen to
find the fire out, the windows frozen
thickly over from the tea kettles steam,
and Trot as blue ss q whetstone with
her feet on the cold stove hearth, com
| pletely absorbed in her wide Awake. I"
"Dear me! can't you lay the table
while get breakfast under way? I'm
almost froaen |" cramming the wo0d
into the stove as abe spoke
She was no better than you or, I and
80 presume she did speak little i'm
patiently but you must remember her
fingers and toes we're aching with the
cold.
Trot got up and laid the magazine
down rather sulk:ly, and began to draw
out the table, while Mabel went out tn
slice some bread for toast-there being
no tiMe to make muf1es. The bread
was frozen solid, and while she was
struggling womanfully to cut 1t, Sam
came In with his brimming milk
pals.
II don't know when shall have
break fast ready, Sam; I've been at
ever since came down; but I'll have
1t some time.p
~ Why what in tbsIwprld did you 70 to
should have thought you'd know bet
ter! I would have done it when /
came in"
"Well, Sam, didn't do 1t for fun. 1
did not suppose you had the time, and,
beside couldn't go im and out over
that snow bank; )" siicing away at the
bread
:, Sam took bis pail of hot break fast for
the hens and went out. Mabel went
into the the kitchen and found that
Trot had only put Up qpe leaf oftbe table
and 1t must be all relaid' She gave I'D
the idea oftoast, and dropping her
frozen btaad into the steamer che set 1t
over the tea-kettle and began t. straigh
ten things on the table.
"You never said thank you,' nor
anything to me for laying the table,
and did it just as good as I could"
rDid you ever see me in your life
leave the table against the wall in that
style?"
Ne, no; l guess not; but didn't
think" Sata Game tn and began to draw
some water to wash his hands, and
looking at the table, then at the stove,
he said
thought should like few of those
beans warmed for breakfa fast.n
"WeIl. there isn't drop of well-wa
ter in the house."
Sam began to dance, wash dish in
hand and said:
"I'll run for my life and get you some
If you wont be cross ~ .,
Trot began to laugh, epd Mabel began
to cry. She tried to hide her tears ffOm
Sam and succeeded until they were
seated ct the table but she couldn't
eat-s lump in her throat choked her
every time she swallowed spoonful of
coffee. Sans face drew down and .
scowl gathered on his forehead. He
waited few minutes and then said:
why don't you ear your break fast ?"