The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-12-15

"A letter from George" exclaimed
sister Kate, coming in from the post
office and holding up for inspection a
large yellow envelope. and address
ed to mother isn't it funny?''
"To me?" exclaimed the mother, in
turn, laying down the blue socks she
was mending, and smoothing her apron
as though she was going to take the
baby. Dear me ~
"Why, how queer - said Hattie,
dropping her book and looking at Kate
wonderingly. George hasn't written
to any of us in an age, and never to
ma. What secrets brewing now, |
wonder?"
maybe he and Milly are coming
home on visit" | said.
mot SO early in the spring as this, :"
returned Hattie, sagely; ''AIilly and
house cleaning can't be separated"
At that moment mother who had
succeeded in tearing of, the envelope
with eager, trembling fingers, and had
commenced reading the letter, sudden
ly twisted her chair around so as to
turn her face from us, cleared her
throat, and wiped her eyes on the cor
mel of her Bingham apron.
"Anything the matter, mother"
questioned Kate, anxiously, while Hat
and l sat in wondering silence.
There was no answer for moment !;
then turning slowly toward us, she held
out the letter, saying: "Read it aloud,
Kate Milly is taken very i'll with ty-
phoid fever, and George has written to
me to come to them. Dear child, /
wish it was SO l could 60
GO "' echoed Kate, decisvely "of
course you must go. and take one of
us girls along to help nurse, too"
But the work, my dear. how will
you manager"
Some way" said Kate. Let's see !;
the express goes at half-past six, and it
is half-past five now-just an hour. Go
and get ready, mother, and Cad'll pack
your valise."
"But your father"
"We1l take care of him, never fear,
and he'll be home before you go. Hat,
you're not fit for much at home except
TO run errands and keep awake at
nights, and you can do that there.
Get ready as quick as possible, and
help mother she's SO excited she'll be
sure to get her dress or hind side be-
fore, and forget to lace up her shoes"
My energetic sister had by this time
gathered together her clothes, and
bringing the valise from the wardrobe,
was packing them into it in manner
which foretold their coming out mass
of wrinkles, l, meantime, looking help
lessly on. By dint of her earnest efforts
they were ready in season, and when
father came home from his work he
found us hailing a street car to take
them to the depot.
'Now, what's to be done first" in
CURED Kate, after she had seen them
off and had re-entered the house with
something of a realizing sense of the
responsibility we had undertaken weigh
ing on our minds. There's supper to
get, Of course, and-Nellie can wash
the dishes. That's all, isn't it,"
Mother said something about bak-
ing Tomorrow" l suggested with a
wage idea that a certain preparation
was made concerning the bread the
evening before its manufacture.
Tomorrow Well, let tomorrow
take care of itself, said Kate, SO prompt
ly that l was silenced. Let's see what's
for supper; light bread, cookies, float
and cold beef. Very good. The clouds
disperse and the sky is most serene and
fair. Set the table, Cad, while | make
the tea"
And, now, while l am doing that, if
the reader will take a little retrospect
tive glance over our lives up to this
point, she will no doubt understand
why we are all SO ignorant of household
affairs. There was large family of us
ten children in all. John, master
workman in one of the machine shops
in the hourishing manufacturing town
of which we were resident Milly, the
married sister and a general favorite
Kate and myself, twins, but totally I'M
like, both in looks and disposition
Hattie, studious girl of 16; Ross, a
boisterous school boy of Il; Nellie, a
delicate, pretty child of II; and three
little boys all in a row, aged respcc-
lively 9, 7 and 4, whom we called Tip,
Earle and Benny. And mother did