Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-06-25

chickens roasted to crisp.
aHad bad luck with your biscuit,
didn't you, Catherine?" said her
brother, making wry face at the
yellow streak of saleratus he found
on breaking open one of the leaden
Jumps; but Miss Catherine smiled
leniently.
"Olympia had bad luck with her
biscuit" she said s'but / think my
bread is as good as usual,'' and she
passed him a square of light, golden
hued corn-bread, more tempting than
pound-cake.
Lysander left his biscuit untasted,
but cast glance of compassion at
Olympia.
''Accidents will happen, he said,
consoIingly, though he could not
help noticing sullen look on Miss
Jones' face in spite of the smile she
flashed at him. He noticed also the
tumbled curls and soiled, untidy
dress.
s'Have some cold mutton, Lysan-
der" said his sister, ''if you can't
eat any of the chicken. Olympia will
learn how to cook after awhile"
So it was Olympia who burned the
chicken.
Lysander finished his dinner in ST.
lence, though he still made excuses
for all shortcomings.
Olympia changed her soiled dress
before tea time, and was beaming
with smiles when Lysander took his
seat at the table. But the tea had a
wishy-washy taste, the butter dish
was smeared and untidy, and the
apple sauce was insipid and flavor
less. The biscuits were light and
puffy this time, for Miss Catherine
had made them herself.
Lysander had a good disposition,
but unpalatable food will disorder the
best regulated liver and upset the
temper of an angel, and Miss Cathe-
rine soon discovered fresh wrinkle
over her brothers nose.
One morning, Lysander strobe into
the kitchen where his sister was mix
ing light bread-for she could not
trust it to Olympia, who had already
spoiled two patches, which had to be
thrown to the pigs.
Catherine" whispered Lysander,
hurriedly, 'the minister's folks are
coming up the lane! Of course they
spend the day, and do, pray, Cathe-
tine, cook the dinner yourself? Don't
let us be disgraced in their eyes !''
Miss Catherine saw her opportuni-
ty and seized it.
''Cook the dinner myself! Dear
me, Lysander, how kin II" she ask
ed. "We must have turkey, of
course, and mashed potatoes, and
pumpkin pies, and a steamed batter
pudding with lemon sauce, and cab
bage salad. Besides, who will en-
tertain the visitors while I'm in the
kitchen? Olympia?'
"Olympia! Pshaw! She can't do
anything but giggle!" growled Ly-
sander, savagely, much to his sisters
amusement.
"Fll tell you what, Lysander, !"
said Miss Catherine, refectively, 81
must have some help, and if you'll
| just saddle the mare and lead her
around for Huldah Rush, I'm sure
she'll come"
Lysander hastened to do his sisters
bidding.
Dinner was on the table at precise
ly twelve O'Clock, and the Rev. Mr..
Shepherd and his family testified to
the excellence of the richly-browned
turkey, juicy and unctious, the mash
ed potatoes and gravy, the golden
hued pies, and the yellow batter pud-
ding with its rich sause-to say moth
ing of the light rolls and fresh but
ter.
And when, after dinner, Lysander
stepped into the dining-room for a
pitcher of water, he could not help
observing the contrast between HUI
dah's satin-smooth braids and snowy
neck-ruffle, and Olympia's tawny rib
bon and brownzy hair.
"Olympia,' said Miss Catherine,
a couple of weeks later, as she took
folded paper from the bureau draw
er, "here's present I've got for you
"a new dress It's basket cloth.
And there some blue trimmings and
silk buttons for you. And-and
Olympia, | shan't need you any long
er, for my brother is going to be
married tomorrow to Huldah Rush,
and she's powerful good housekeep-
er, you know"
tJust what I thought, said Mrs.
Jones, when her daughter appeared
with her bundle of clothes. "You
allus was lazy and slovenly, an allus
will be, | reckon
s'I'm sorry / went there now,
grumbled Olympia. ''It's all that
plague old maids fault, / know"
And it was Miss GATHERINGS man
agement that saved her brother from
that snare; but he never suspected
it of course.-Helep W. Clark.
ANECDOTES OF JURIEs.
The humorous side of American
iuriac hoe upyar hnan cot forth aS II