The Dickinson press., 1884-10-25
ABOUT H0USE.CLEANING.

"Saiaee! Saidee! Where ore YOU
Why ..7n't you answer me when
call?"
eyes, Aunt Leah-I am coming in 9
minute"
"ln a minute" sarcastioally repeated
the old lady. Its always in q min.
ute with you, Saidee! But Isuppose,
because Tn old and helpless, my com
fort is a matter Of no consequence what
ever"
Dear Aunt Leah, you must never
think that" answered q bright CHEEKY
voice; and Saidee Lynn came into the
room with a little tray, where We're ar
ranged on Il snowy napkin some tea bis
cult, half dozen pink radishes, q few
thin cut shavings Of smoked beef and q
little pot of tea, with q cup and saucer
OF old blue china which would have
been invaluable to q collector: "You
See 1 had you in my mind all the time,
Aunt Leah" she said merrily. ~
gathered the radishes from our own
garden. Don't they look nice?"
Aunt Leah, a withered little old lady,
in a dress of worn black silk and gray
eyes peering through gold-bound
spectacles, tasted of the tea and shook
her head.
"It's too weak" said she. cit isn't
fit to drink.
II put in all tho tea there was In tho
canister, Aunt Ieah," said Saidee, with
a distressed countenanco,
Aunt Leah pushed away the cup with
an expression of distaste.
cit is rs | might have expected" said
she. "AIy nieces have too little thought
for my comfort to study my poor and
few necessities. Never mind the tea;
can drink cold water, I dare say!!"
Saidee wrung her hands in despair.
How coul she tell this weak, feeble old
lady, al oTe whose declining years hung
the threatening Damocles sword Of
heart disease, of their narrowing cir.
c~umstances, of the empty excheguer
the clamoring creditors, the pitiful
straits to which they were reduced.
"What shall Ido?" she asked herself
as she won't slowly back to the kitchen
OF the %ruinous Gothic cottage, which
they had obtained for q ridiculously
low rent because it was ruinous. "Tve
borrowed Of the r%ector's wife twice,
ind I'm ashamed to go to her again, I've
sold everything I can lay my hands
on" But glancing up ct q picture
which lung in the hall beyond, "there's
to ,e,,asluez still. A Velasquez is
always worth money, Belle will scold
about parting with it, and Aunt Leal
will morn, but we can't live on air and
dew like the fairies. I'll take it down te
Mr.. Eruner, the artist, this afternoon
and ask himto get us a purchaser. Poor
people such as we are can't affordto re-
tain old family reclic." And so, when
Aunt Leah was indulging in her after
noon nap, and Belle, the beauty of the
family, was ironing out the founces Of
her white muslin dress for the NOR.
rows picnic, valiant Saidee climbed on
a chair, took tho unframed picture
down Gt was the head of some old
Spanish grandee, with a stiff pointed
ruff and IN evil leer in his eyes),
wrapped it up in a newspaper and
creepcd aoross the meadows with it to
the village.
Mr.. Bruner was in his studio, q griz-
~zle-headed blunt old gentleman, in a
belted linen blouse, and o velvet cap.
He nodded kindly at Saidee, who had
once taken q few lessons from him, but
when she displayed the canvas he shook
his head.
"How much do you think it is
worth?" asked Saidee, wistfully.
"Notlling!" said Mr.. Bruner.
But" cried the girl, SIT is o Velas-
ques!"
"That a Velasquez?" said Mr.. Brun-
er, contemptuously. "My dear, there
isn't a pictnre-dealer in the country
who would give fifty cents for it. Its a
mendacious imitation, and q wretched
n at that!"
Saidee tied up the poor picture and
went home again, shedding a few tears
as she walked under the Whispering
trees.
"My last hope gone," she thought,
"But I'll not tell Aunt Leah OF Belle
that it is an imposture. They have al
ways taken such an innocent pride il
the V~alasquez."
AS she came past the old brick house
at the foot of Locust lane, q load O
furniture was being carried in, for i
was the second week in May. Woke,
chairs, twined with blue ribbon, q cot
tage piano, cases of books, engravings
bird-cages, plants-all sorts of prett,
things.
Saidee paused and looked at them
not without interest.
II wonder who our new neighbour
are to be?" she thought.
Just then OUT trotted a stout, cherry
checked old lady, with her cap all O,
one side and a worsted shawl tied owe
her shoulders.
cob" said she, care you the youn!
woman who disappointed us yesterda,
about cleaning?"
No." said Saidee, crimsoning to he
temples.
cob, dear! oh, dear!" said the oil,
lady: whist is to become of us? All tn,
furniture coming in, and my daughte
lame from falling off a step-ladder
and the girl gone,'-but with an cage
look, perhaps you can recommend
some IL to help Is settle"
II am sorry to say that l cannot" an
swered Saidee, and she vanished be
yond the lilac hedge, rather amused a
the mistake which the old lady ha'
made,
Belle was full of news that evening.
80 Si!ee," she cried, ''such a mic
family is moving into the Locus