The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-04-14

than discretion, splashed whitewash over
himself and the floor with laudable i'm
Partially.
"Wal,' said Adonijah, afterward, Il
never did see no cricket work spryer than
that city young lady. BY gracious, she
beats Betsey all hoIler at it. And she's
got such an up-an' down pretty way of
dom things too. | declare, | couldn't
hardly take my eyes off her all the time
| was whitewashn'."
Mrs. Dove, however, was unused to
the severe exertions incident upon house
cleaning time and went to bed with a
sick headache, in the middle of the after
noon.
Never mind, Mrs. Dove said Flora :;
"fll get tea, and FL make some of those
cream waffies and short cake for Mr..
| Dove, and you shall see how nicely | can
fry oysters"
Indeed. indeed, don't know what |
should do without you, Flora ~ said
| Mrs. Dove, fervently.
But, as it happened, Mr.. Daniel Dove
was unexpectedly detained on business
at Whiskill, neighboring town, and
instead of him who should walk debo-
nairly into the little sitting room, fling
down his carpet bag, but Eric Hale him
self, just as the rainy dusk closed in, and
| the delicious oysters and Mocha coffee
filled the house.
Hello said Eric. $50 you are
cleaning house-eh, Betseyo'
Eyes, SIR" a demure voice responded
| from the kitchen.
And where's my annt?'
She has retired with sick head
| ache
"The natural consequences of clean-
| ing house, | suppose, said Eric Hale,
with shrug of the shoulders.
Dear old Della. why shouldn't she
be contented to leave things as they
were? Tell her, Betsey, that Washburne
has concluded not to exchange until next
week, and that, now I'm in the midst of
the melee, I'll lend a hand with this bus
mess tomorrow.
Eyes, SIR
And, Betsey-'
"Siro"
where did you learn to make such
delicious coffee? Bring in cup at once,
I'm ready to drop with WEAKNESS; and
it is like dream of Arabia
And Flora Lee, with the tapping edge
of her un-bennet concealing the amused
dimples around her mouth, brought in
the oysters and coffee, tlanked by pile
of feather light watfles.
~ declare, Betsey," cried the Rever
end Eric. facetiously, Z" if you We're a
tritle younger and prettier, I'd marry
you myself to make sure of coffee and
watfles like this every night
"Would you sir >" said the soidistant
Betsey.
And well make a contract, Betsey,"
merrily went on the young clergyman,
as he helped himself to butter, ''to finish
the house cleaning ourselves tomorrow,
and save Aunt Della the worry and work
of it."
"Yes, sir" said Betsey. But, please.
sir, it S all done, except the lacking down
of the carpets"
"Who did it ~
81 sir, please, and Mrs. Dove, and
| Adonijah. And please, sir, I'm going to
finish it myself all alone on the NOR
row; and please, Sir, . tlinging back her
sun bonnet, and disclosing coronal of
bronze brown braids, pair Of very rosy
cheeks, and eyes full of sparkling hazed
mischief-''pm not Betsey at all, but
| Flora Lee, entirely at your service.''
The Reverend Erie Hale started with
round eyed surprise, not unmingied with
| dismay.
Miss Lee.'' he repeated.
Exactly nodded the young lady.
did you make the coffee -
81 did,"
"And fry these brown jacketed oys-
ters and stir up the waffies? -
No one t lse, Mr.. Hale
land scrub these rooms" glanuing
around
eyes, sir; and busted the cornices,
and wash the window glass, and took
down all the picture frames and put the
| lace curtains in soak, beside other items
too numerous to MENTION 'mischievously
added Flora rather enjoying the discom-
future of the young clergyman.
"Miss Lee" said Eric. 81 beg your
| PARDON
"What for, Mr. Hale ,"
90 For always having regarded you as
the most useless of creatures. l recant
own that you are equal to any emer-
gency.'
Aad when later in the evening, Mrs.
Dove crept out, with her head tied up
in eau de cologne, she found her nephew
and Flora Lee playing chess together by
the fire in the most amicable manner
lmaglnaDle.
Its all right said Mrs. Dove to
herself.
1t was all right. And Mrs. Eric Hale
won her frank, unconventional husband
not through the medium of dress. or
jewels, or waltzes, or flower shoes, but
through the grim realities of cleaning
house.
- wanted genuine helpmeet," said
the Reverend Eric, "and l have got
ono'
A JOKE FOR THE ODD FELLOWS.