The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-06-06
CLEANING HOUSE.


pouting u pair of eXquisitely-curVed'
scarlet lips, as she plated and unplait-
ed the strings of her white lawn sun
bonnet.
81 don't care!' said Miss Gypsy. 81
don't love Mr.. Meredith! And / don't
want to marry him! othere, now!
And she nibbled at the bonnet
strings, and frowned under her level
brown brows like a pretty rebel, as
she was.
"Gipsy, hold your tongue" said
Malvina, her elder sister.
"You don't know what you are talk
ing about" severely uttered Mrs.
Black, who was mixing up u batch of
bread at the kitchen-table "Mr. Mere
dith has house and farm worth
twenty thousand dollars And it's a
great compliment for him to speak to
your pa about marrying you"
"Then 1 wish he'd keep his compli-
ments to himself" said the incorrigi-
bic Gypsy. "Look here, Malvina, why
won't you marry him?"
Malvina, with Indignation,
dealt her roguish little sister box
on the ear, which Gypsy narrowly es-
capped by sudden depression OF her
head.
"No, but it would suit so exactly
said Gypsy. Malvina is just that sort
of person!
"Gipsy, don't be fool" said Mrs.
Black. "You should thank Provi-
dence that Mr.. Meredith is pleased to
marry you, and put all nonsensical
ideas about Harry Waite out OF your
head at once"
But Gypsy frowned and pouted
more and more, and tried resolutely to
keep the big, bright tears from falling
on her hands.
"What shall 1 do?" said Gypsy, to
herself. "For 1 never, never can
marry that bald-headed old man, who
talks through his nose and carries a
yellow silk pocket-handkerchief! And
Pm sure Harry would shoot himself
when he heard of it,
But all Gypsy Blacks tears and
lamentations awaited nothing. Her
father was a practical man of the
world. Her mother understood the
full meaning of money, and SO the
match was to be hurried up, regard
less of the feelings Of the bride-elect.
But Providence interfered-that
kindly Providence which has the in
terests of true lovers ever under its
care.
Mr.. and Mrs. Black had gone to at
tend camp-meeting, twenty miles
away, with Malvina in their train.
Gypsy, being "unregenerate," was
left at home to mediate over vol
ume of sermons.
"Now be sure, Gypsy, you look well
after the house, said Mrs. Black; "and
see that Nancy feeds the young calves
regularly, and cares for the goslings
and the chickens. And lock up the
house at ten clock every night, and
be sure you don't let in any tramps,
nor travelling agents, nor lightning
rod men,"
'1'll be very careful" said Gypsy.
1--WE shall be back on Friday" said
Mrs. Black, "without fail; and if you
have any leisure time, you can turn
the sheets in the wash-basket, and
darn the thin places in the back-par-
lor carpet, and rip up all your fathers
old clothes and cut them into carpet
yags."
So Mrs Black climbed into the car
ryall, where her husband and Malvina
were already seated, and drove away,
calling out directions to Gypsy as long
as the house was in sight
The heads of the family had not
been gone for more than two hours,
when Gypsy came flying out to the
kitchen, where Nancy was making
soft-soap.
s"Oh, Nancy, what shall do?" cried
She "Here's Mr.. Meredith getting
out of a one-horse chaise at the door"
"Why, go up and see him, of course.
said Nancy, who was one of the smart.
business-like New England "helps,"
who are becoming, as a race, extinct.
"Can't tell him that father and
mother are gone away?' pleaded Clip
W.
"Nonsensep' said Nancy, stirring
desperately away at her monster ket-
tie. "You don't suppose that it's your
father and mother that he comes to
see, do you? Oh, dear! and there isn't
q scrap of fresh meat in the house. ]
thought boiled eggs and smoked beet
would do for our noon-bite."
$50 it will" said Gypsy. "lf we
make things too agreeable for him.
Nancy, he'll stay too long"
Nancy looked around in amaze.
ment.
"And don't you want him to stayT'
said she.
"Nol' cried Gypsy, with a startled
look, as some unseen umbrella-han-
die raped smartly on the door beyond.
ri can't endure him, Nancy. IL
hate himl'
And then she burst into storm OF
tears.
Nancy comprehended in an instant.
"Poor dear!" said she. so that's