St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-03-17
ETHEL's HOUSEKEEPING.
BY CRICKET.

10 say to you, ciiliou ~
,ner TO her daughter who sat IN q cofhet'
very much absorbed in a book.
..Yes,m,,' came from the corner' ana
very soon a tall, pretty girl about tour
teen made her appearance WITH hef II -
,teresting book in hand.
@ "What is it, mamma Z" sald Ethe4 ale
putting down the book and taking her
seat in rocking chair.
..Well,n begun Mrs. Garner, am
going off in few days tosee your anns' 'a.,t
Mrs. Buxley, who lives in Virginia. she
wrote to your father requesting ne anu
u to come and spend couple OF Weeks
with her. and, as a trip would DO me
good on account Of my health, ana your
Fathers business is at present not very
y Yressing. we have concluded TO GO,
leaving you in charge of the house ana 1'
children. Your brother Russell Will re-
turn from school this evening, and WILL
+. of course be here to protect y on.
aoh mamma, am SO glad. Not oe-
cause you are going away, but because
4 can be housekeeper, cook and every
thing. / always have longed to 4. Keep
house, and here's my chance Z crleu
ethel enthusiastically.
aDon't be too delighted" said Mrs
Garner smiling.
e.I expect you will soon get tired OF
4he busines. Then remember, Tom anu
Add;e are only six and eight years old
and yery troublesome. Remember TINS
foo. Be patient with Russell. ne y
inst aixteen, and as full of life and run
as can be and" !,
ssNaver mind, I'll take care OF az
that interrupted Ethel, eagerly. ~
manage things splendidly, see II
DON'T
.All right, am glad to see you 8
well pleased, but am afraid that the res
a,ousibil,ty is heavier than You antici
nate. II Won should need any assist
s s,nce IN the line Of cooking, just call q.
aunt Susan from her cabin in the yard
and she will help you; but I've al
ready told her to come every morning
so, of course
..Now. mamma, what did you do tina
for % exclaimed Ethel reproachfully. "
don,t want anybody to be meddliDg
NV affairs, and aunt Susan is Just 9
ronceited as she can be-
aOh very we'll, you need not accer
her services, if you do not WISH" sal
x,+l,ol.s nnnthefr Laughing.
Well, Just week from the time
Che above conversation, we find MT. az
"a Mrs, Garner, Russell, Ethel, Addie an
Tom all standing on the front portit
S .of their farm house waiting for the ca
rage which is to bear papa and MANN
to the depot in a town three miles di
s tant.M Mr.. Garner is giving direction
concerning the horses and cattle on Il
place, and Mrs. Garner is talking ye
seriously to Ethel about the responsib
office about to slip from the shoulder
another to daughter. But the carrla
has come, which interrupted the GO
conversation, and soon the good by
are said, and parents and children Sc
arate. the former to be borne far aW
on the cars, the latter to enter t
house and eat breakfast, for it is ear
i'm the morning.
We will now leave the little FAM
aud its youthful honsekeeper durll
the first day Of the absence of the "o
heads but will take a peep at thu
the second morning after the deps
81 ture.
We find Ethel in the kitchen vi
her sleeves rolled up, and enyeloped
d huge apron.
ssRussell, hurry up with the WOO
,ahe cried casting a dispairing glar
at the cold stove.
..Here am, man," comes boy
voice as Russell apears with an arm
of wood, which he pitched down on
floor. III. 's
seNow, please make q fire, while !
into the storero0m to get some fiou
And the young cook disappear
through the door with q pan. So
however, she reappears with the fl
which. ia d short time, is made i
biscuits, and put in the stove. s
# <sNow, what next ~ she says to b
self, looking around. "Oh yes!
sneat, sure enough p Cher eyes rest
..ou piece Of fresh beef hanging o.
saail.) 4.