Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-08-08
HETTY'S MISTAKE.

"lle's dreadful hard to get along
with,' said Mrs. Jennings, in com
planning voice. "As full of kinks and
freaks as an egg is of meat. But fol-
all that, think that Mary would have
suited him if it hadn't been for Bela
Barlow"
Girls is so queer" said Miss Hetty
Boone, screwing up one eye toward a
drapery of cobwebs that swung to and
fro in the northeast corner of the
room. "Ah-h-h-so inconsiderate, too
but it's an i'll wind that blows No
good to nobody" added Mrs. Jennings,
with Borean sigh. "Pr'aps you can
manage him, Mehitable, and in that
case it will be good home for you"
Hetty Boone bridled,
"As for that" said she, 81 don't deny
that I'd like to keep house for cousin
Jacob, well enough. Apenny saved is
a penny earned, you know"
But what is to become of us?"
whined Mrs. Jennings, shaking out
the folds of a calico-bordered pocket
handkerchief.
"That's your own lookout" said
Hetty Boone, indifferently, as she took
off her berege veil and folded it
automatically up inside of her hat.
Mr.. Jacob Hopper lived in one of
those old peaked-roof farm houses
which still stand among the green
Connecticut meadows, like relics of a
past generation, with a well-scoop on
one side and a huge butternut tree
shaded its south exposure. Not a
vestige of paint remained on the sid,
ing, the shingles were patched and re,
patched, the fence tied up with string
and wire, the cow-shed propped with
posts of every size and dimension, and
YET there was a rumor in the neighbor.
hood that old Jake Hopper was as rich
as Crpsus
He had only one extravaganza, that
was his flower garden. Roses of the
rarest variety bloomed at the back OF
the house, where early frosts could moi
corrupt, nor stray boys break through
and steal. Expensive bulbs, imported
direct from Holland. painted the Dor
ders with gold and scarlet in the early
spring. Choice shrubs occupied the
position of eXterminated gooseberry
and currant bushes, and everybody be
lieved that Bella Barlow would have
gained the old mans good will in that
matter of pretty Mary Jennings love
if he had not declared that he woulC
rather have bunch of good old-fash
icned "pinies and tiger-lillies" than al
cousin Jacobs Japanese hydrangeas
and blotched coleus plants.
"Oh, Bella, how could you tell hin
that?" said Mary, in despair.
"Wal, it was the TRUTH said Bella
bluntly.
And as Miss Hetty Boone chancet
to be visiting there just at that time
Mr.. Hopper invited her to take charge
of his household in the place of his
widowed cousin and her daughter.
"But it never would have happened
mother" said Mary, with spirit, "it
Hetty Boone had not filled his mind
with doubts and ill-feelings toward us. ,
"Oh, Mary, don't be so uncharitable,
said the meek widow.
81 don't intend to be, mother" sale
Mary, "but I'm quite sure / heard hel
telling cousin Jacob that l used toe
much sugar in the spice-cookies, ant
that your way of baking hannel-cake:
was foolishly extravagant. She's {
sly, contriving old pussy-cat, mother
and that's the long and short Of it.
And Mrs. Jennings sighed, and made
no answer
"Don't worry, mother, DEAR" SAID
Mary, caressingly. you'll see that
we shall get along splendidly. Bels
has hired the blacksmith's shop, with
the little yellow house in the rear, and
I'll raise poultry and spring lambs, and
you shall sit in the parlor, like lady
with your best cap on, every day
Cousin Jacob shall see that we can get