Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-07-31
GaIts AMI Sketftes.


where are you? Why don't YOU answer
mee What do I wants' I want You to
hurry down stairs and to go to the spring
for pail Of water for the teakettle! Here
il il nigh on to supper time-fve hungry
men coming in from the harvest; my fire
almost gone out, no wood and no water in
the house, and this blessed, cross little
baby screaming hard enough to drive me
crazy. while nv head Is aching as if it
would BURST Here. Tommy, take the
basket and run 10 the lot, like a good boy,
and get some chips to make mother fire;
be quick, now"
Hetty. . pretty, rosy-looking girl OF
fourteen, came hurriedly at the imperative
summons down stairs, caught up the pail
and threw on her sun-bonnet; saying as
she passed through the room, I'm really
sorry, mother, forgot the water. l was
reading a story in the magazine Mary
Green lent me, and it was just splendid.
Oh, mother, do wish that father would
let rs take something to read. We don't
have anything like other folks" and she
went out. giving the door a spiteful little
bang after her.
Tommy, brown-faced, bare-footed lit
tie urchin of seven summers, took the bas-
ket, mounted stick, and trotted of TO the
lot. while tired Mrs. Gregory drew the
cradle to the side of the table and rocked
it with one foot while she pared the pOta-
toes and made biscuit for the men, who
would soon be in from the wheat field,
tired and hungry.
Hetty soon returned from the spring.
flushed and breathless from the exertion
OF carrying heavy pail 90 far Tommy.
with the aid Of bis wooden horse. brought
the basket of chips safely to the door. and
supper was steaming on the table ny the
time the men washed the Precipitation
and dust from their faces and hands, and
made themselves ready tor the meal.
well, well. I declare, mother" said
Mr., Gregory with a wry face. as he broke
open one of the biscuits, ''what in the world
is the matter with your oven? There is
something wrong; this biscuit is rot
done"
1.-THE wood gave out entirely, and had
to send to the lot for chips. and they new
er heat the oven we'll. do wish Giles.
that we could have plenty of wood near
the house; its hard on the children to
have to carry so much wood and water"
Nonsense; it won't hurt 'em mite!
it's about all they can do towards earning
their grub. Sister Sarah and me had to
do IL when father lived on the old place
we carried water year in and year out
from that spring. calculated to get up
q good pile of wood when the tall work
is through with, but don't for mercy's sake
take harvest time to grumble over your
little inconveniencies,''
Mrs. Gregory thought great many
things, but said nothing. knowing well.
by past experience. that words availed
nothing in any difference of opinion be-
tween herself and her very excellent. but
rather obstinate spouse silently she took
the baby in her arms and seated herself to
pour the tea for the weary workmen.
Little Hetty, however. was not so pru-
dent, and with bright visions ofthe pretty
book, and its interesting stories in her
mind, she tried her father on another
point.
oh. father. won't you please let me take
the magazine that Mrs. Green takes for
Mary? 1t is so nice and has such splendid
stories in it, and the LOWEST pictures. too
I'll work Just rs hard as anything if you
will. Mary Green said the agent told her
mother"
mo, no, won't you needn't trouble
yourself to tell me what the agent said to
Mary Green's mother. I'm poor enough
now goodness knows without throwing
away any more money in patterning after
Mrs Green's extravagant fooleries. They
are just running them children"
WELL" piped up Tommy, "it's real
nice over to their house. anyway ever
so much better than it is here. They've
got u splendid swing in the barn for
George and Katie, and they've got well
av,1 x,.,enr I'D I,aI ,,-,tI l~t. -
wood in It and you Just ought to see the
pile Of funny books and papers,"
"Yes." snarled Mr. Gregory. land
piles and piles of reapers and mowers
cultivators and corn shellers-patent
churns and washing machines. and a dish
washer. too. for all Know-and mr. gen.
tleman Green just walks about as sup
pose. with his hands in his pockets and
takes his ease while machinery works for
him. I'll warrant you he is spending
every dollar he gets hold of in some new
kind or other. instead of laying il up for
his old age! His new-fangled notions
will land him in the poorhouse yet. see if
they don'tr'
at dosen't look much like it yet. father"
said John, the eldest son. youth OF l6,
The seems to be making money all the
time. Mary Is going to the Milldale SEM
mary this fall. and he is going to send
Dick away east somewhere to learn to be
civil engineer. Why don't you try some
of his labor-saving ideas. too, father?
You wouldn't have to work near SO hard,
and Il must pay"
"You needn't try to argue with me.
Gentleman Greene can make'a be-fzzled,
be-dounced seminary girl of his daughter.
and civil engineer OF his son, ii it suits
him; don't set myself up to be any bet
ter than my old father was; his ways are
good enough for me. He worked on this
old place nigh on to 20 years. and was
satisfied to earn his bread by the sweat Of
his brow I'm willing to do the same. ii
have 10 work like dog for it."
YES" muttered John, as he rose from
the table and walked hastily out to the
porch "yes, and you are willing to keep
poor mother and all the rest OF us at it,too.
Kill her and let us children grow up
ounces! I'd light out pretty quick If it
wasn't for mother and dear little Hetty.
It's too bad to keep her out Of school to
make drudge out of her. she learns SO
fast and is so bright and pretty" And
catching up the milk pail he hurried to
the barnyard with surly, dissatisfied look
ON his boyish face.