Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-10-12

And Betty flung tn" rolls among
the rosehu-hes. where they Were
speedily devourcd by Cato. the New
forndland dog, and Rob and Roy. the
two settlers.
But what am J to eat for break
fast" ncwailed Uncle Black.
Crackers. Of course" said Josce
lind. Anything is better than i'm
pcriling ones digestion with such
stuff a. this, Ard Betty, if you send
mp any more fish in month. you may
consider yoursel discharged do you
hear"
But. my dear, | am rather fond of
fish" put in the old gentleman.
One can't eat fish the whole time,
said Jos 'olind. impcriously. Here,
Betty, this coffee isn't tit to drink.
and the toast is burned: and you
must have put the cooking butter on
the table by mistake" Let these CT
rurs be- rectiicd at once
Betty retired, with an ominous
rustic of her etiilly starched apron.
MY dear. said Mr.. Black, rather
apprehensively. Betty is very old
servant. and"
Il don't care if she is the age of
Methusclah." said Joscelind; no
body can he expected to put up with
such wretched cookery as this
Il really think she is not SO bad,
if"
"Oh, pray don't apologize for her,
Uncle Black" said Joscelind. They
are all shiftless, lazy creatures, who
must be discharged promptly if they
don't do their duties.'
Uncle Black began to look fright
cned He had kept Betty. Sylvia and
old John for ten years. Was it pos
sible that he had scolded at them for
ten years, only to have Joscelind
Darkridge outscold him now!
IL wouldn't be too short with 'em,
my dear, il l were you" he remon-
stratei
Then lot them do their duty
said Joscelind, with the air Of an EN-
press.
I'VE are all mortal" pleaded Uncle
Black.
Il expect every one around. me to
live up to their conditions" said Jos
celind.
Uncle Black ate the rest of his
breakfast with but little appetite
Sylvia, the housemaid, was finishing
busting his library as he entered it
Not through YETI" growled Uncle
Black, the fretwork of wrinkles once
more coming into his brow.
Sylvia, said Miss Darkridge
severely, If this happens again, ]
shall dispense with your services
Look at that clock!'
MY DEAR" said Uncle Black, "Syl
via is generally very good girl
if"
Dear Uncle interrupted Josce
lind, pray permit me to be the judge
of these matters You have ruled
your household with a slack and in
dulgent hand altogether too long.
shall now institute reform"
And poor Sylvia had never moved
about SO briskly, as she did that day.
Old John, the gardener, was not ex-
enpt from his share of the general
turmoil. Miss Darkridge Glanced to
overhear her uncle reproaching the
old man for some fancied neglect in
the flower beds. whose diamonds,
ovals and cresents of brilliant colors
were the pride Of his horticultural
heart, and she came promptly to his
aid.
Gardening, JUDGED! Do you call
this gardening?" she said. "Uncle
Black, I'm astOnished that you keep
such man as this about the placer
And the torrent of taunts and re-
proaches which she showered upon
the luckless head of poor old John
was enough, as that individual OBJ
served, Ito make ones flesh creep"
MY niece is a young lady of spirit
and energy" apologized Mr.. Black,
when at last Joscelind had gone back
to the house.
"Verra like you, sir-verra like
you!" said old John, scratching his
head. =
Like me!' said Mr.. Black, slowly.
And he stood tor full five minutes
quite speechless and motionless, star.
ing down at the messy rim of an
ancient sun-dial, half sunk in the
velvety grass.
"Like-mer'
There's no KNOWN the masther
he's that changed" said Betty, in the
kitchen, a week or SO after. He's as
mild rs lamb and as peaceable as a
kitten"
"Sure, isn't that JUS what the
young lady told u.s." said Sylvia
when she came down into the
kitchen that first morning before the
fire was lighted, and told us as she
was goin' to try an experiment, and
we wasn't to mind a word she said,
cause it was all by contraries. He
don't know what his temper has got
to be- said she. and I'm going to
show him. And, bless her sweet
heart, her plan has worked like a
charmr'
1t had, in good truth. Uncle Black
was changed man. And Joscelind
had relapsed into the original sun
shine Of her temper-and all the do
mestic wheels of Black Grange
seemed to revOlve ON velvet.
But Uncle Black took all the credit
TO himself. He never knew that JOS
celind had taught him a lesson.
I'VE get along nicely" said he,
now that my niece has subdued
those little tempers of hers"
And Joscelind was his heiress and
darling after all-for he will always
belisve that it was he who formed
her character"
MORE HEARTLEss THAN A CAT.-Fri-
day morning little three year old
boy of Andy Glover's in Schley
county, Ga, was delighted beyond
measure, and called his sisters at
tention to nice little bushy tail
L. A II