The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-08-16
FARMER GREGORY'S REFORM.

"Hetty, Hetty! Mehitable Gregory,
~here are you? What do l WANT? 1
.ant you to hurry right down stairs and
go to the spring for pail of water for
the tea kettle! Here it is, nigh on to sup
per time; five hungry men coming in
4rom the harvest field; my fire almost
gone out, no wood aud no water in the
house, and this blessed, GROSS little baby
screaming hard enough to drive me
crazy, while my head is aching as if it
would burst! Here, Tommy, take the
basket and run 10 the lot, like a good
hoy, and get some chips to make mother
FIRE; be quick, now!'
Hetty, o pretty, rose-looking girl of
Il, came hurriedly down the stairs at
this imperative summons, caught up the
yeil and threw on her sun bonnet, say.
ing rs che passed through the room:
I'm real sorry, mother. I forgot all
about the water. I was reading story
IN the magazine that Mary Greene lent
me, and it was just splendid. Oh,
mother, do wish father would let us
lake something to read. We don't have
anything like other folks" and she went
ssat, giving the door spiteful little bang
xiter her.
Tommy, brown-faced, barefooted
Mstle urchin of seven summers, took the
haskell, mounted stick, and trotted off
10 the lot, while tired Mrs. Gregory
drew the cradle to the side of the table
and rocked it with one foot while she
pared the potatoes and made the biscuit
scr the men who would soon be in from
lie wheat field, tired and hungry.
uokk Al
&nshed and breathless from the exertion
al carrying the heavy pail so far; Tommy,
With the aid of his wooden horse,
brought the basket of chips safely to the
door, and supper was steamin on the
Asbls by the time the men had washed
4he perspiration and dust from faces and
Sands, and made themselves ready for
HE meal.
well, we'll, declare, mother" said
Mr.. Gregory, with a wry face, as he
broke open one of the biscuits, 'what in
she world is the matter with your oven?
There's something wrong, somewhere;
dis biscuit isn't DONE"
''The wood gave out entirely, and
had to send to the lot for chips, and they
never heat the oven we'll. do wish
Giles, that We could have plenty of wood
near the house; its hard on the children
30 have to carry SO much wood and
wafer"
Nonsense; it won't hurt 'em a mite
rs about all they can do toward earning
aAeir grub. Sister Sarah and me had it
- do when father lived on the old place I;
no carried water year in and year out
from the same spring. I calculate to get
Up good pile of wood when the fall
work is through with, but don't. for
Bercy's sake, take harvest time to grum-
he over your little inconvenience"
Mrs. Gregory thought a great many
things, but said nothing, knowing well,
BY past experience. that words availed
oosl,ing in any difference of opinion be-
tween herself and her very excellent, but
rather obstinate spouse; silently she took
the baby in her arms and seated herself
- pour the tea for the weary workmen.
Little Hetty. however, was not so pru.
asnt, and with bright visions of the
psessy book, and the interesting stories
IN her mind, she tried her father on
smother point.
-.Oh, fathsr, won't you please let us
sAke the magazine that Mrs. Greene takes
fr Nary2 1t is 30 nice and has such
splendid stories in it, and the loveliest
pietures, too! I'll work Just ss hard rs
asything il you will. Mary Greene said
he agent told her mother"
mo, no, 1 won't; you needn't trouble
ypurself to tell me what the agent said 10
Mary Greene's mother. I'm poor enough
now, goodness knows, without throwing
way any money in patterning after Mrs.
Greene's extrsvsgant fooleries. They
ara just running them children.
= well" piped up Tommy, ''it's real
nice over to their house, anyhow; ever
- much better than it 10 here. They've
eo4 . splendid swing in the barn for
George and Katie, and they'v got we'll
and cistern, and . woodshed with lots Of
veod in it; and you Just ought 10 SEQ the
piles and piles Of funny books and
Hpsrsr
YES" snarled Mr.. Geogery, land
piles and piles Of reapers and mowers
Gultivators and corn shellers-patent
eAnrns and washing machines. and .
aishwasher, too, for all know; and my
esntleman Greene Just walks about, I
suppose, with his hands in his pockets,
sd takes his esss. while machinery
vsrks for him. I'll warrant you he's
sending every dollar he gets hold Of In
sane new kink or other, instead Of lay
- i up for his old agsi His new-fsngsd