Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-10-24
ABOUT HOUSE.CLEANING.

81
oall?" %st %@ .# 55 4. !.
eyes. Amt Leah--I am coming in 81
minute" ~ 81 .S..@1 Al
TN minute, sarcastically repeated
the old lady. It's always Sin a min
ute with you, .Saidee! But suppose,
because I'm old and helpless, my com
fort is matter OF no consequence what
ever" 4..: ...S.s @s...S #.3s...:#
@Dear Aunt Leah, you must never
think that" answered bright CHEEKY
voice; and Saidee Lynn CAME into the
room with a little tray, where were ar
ranged on snowy napkin some tea bis
cult, half dozen pink radishes, "a few
thin. cut shavings Of smoked beef and q
little pot Of tea, with cup and saucer
OF old blue china which would have
been invaluable to a collector. You
see had you in my mind all the time,
Aunt LEAH" she said merrily. II
gathered the radishes from our own
garden. Don't they look nice?" ~. .
Aunt Leah, withered little old lady,
in dross Of worn black silk and gray
eyes peering through gold bound
spectacles, tasted of the tea and shook
her head. .#g +s5,.-.
'It's too weak" said she. "It isn't
iii to drink. 49,. ~.
81 put in all the tea there was in the
canister, Aunt Leah" said Saidee, with
q distressed countenance. "E.,.
Aunt Leah pushed away the cup with
an expression Of distaste. - .
she. "My nieces have too little thought
for my comfort to study my poor and
few necessities. Never mind the tea; /
can drink cold water, T dare say
Saidee wrung her hands in despair.
How could she tell this weak, feeble old
lady, above whose declining years hung
the threatening Damocles sword Of
heart disease, of their, narrowing cir
cumstances, Of the empty exchequer,
the clamoring creditors, the. pitiful
straits to which they were reduced
"What shall do ?"'she asked herself,
as she went slowly back to the kitchen
of the r,linous Gothic cottage, which
they had obtained for a ridiculously
low rent because it was ruinous. GIVE
borrowed of the rector's wife twice,
and I'm ashamed to go to her again, I've
sold everything I can lay my hands
on" But CHANGING up at e picture
which hung in the hall beyond, ''there's
the Velasquez still. . A Velasquez is
always worth money, Bells will scold
about parting with it, and Aunt Leah
will morn, but we can't live on air and
dew like the fairies. I'll take it down to
Mr.. Bruner, the artist, this afternoon
and ask himto get Us q purchaser. Poor
people such as we are can't atfordto re-
tain old family reclic." And so, when
Aunt Leah was ind1llging in her after
noon nap, and Belle, the beauty of the
family, was ironing out the hounces of
her white muslin dress for the NOR;
rows picnic, valiant Saidee climbed on
q chair, took the unframed picture
down lit was the head of some old
. Spanish grandee, with stiff pointed
ruff and an evil leer in his eyes,,
wrapped it up in q newspaper and
creeped across the meadows with it to-
the village. ~ : = A.. IA *% 5S.s' I
Mr.. Bruner was in his studio, 8 griz-
zle-headed blunt old gentleman, in q
belted linen blouse, and a 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. @k .sS
''How much do you think it is
worth 2" asked Saidee, wistfully. y
NJ -
"But, cried the girl, it is Velas-
quest"
t'That velasquez ?" said Mr.. Brun-
or, contemptuously. ''My dear, there
isn't picture-dealer in the country
who would give fifty cents for it. Its q
mendacious imitation, and wretched
one at that /" t.s If (.
sa.aea tied up the poor picture ava
vent azz==z1 $50 sl,eddino few tears
as she' walked; :a9naaeEthe x.ThiaRering
"My last hope gone. stslt Ass az!
"But I'll MT tell Aunt Leah 81 she
that it is an imposture They hare al
ways taken such An Innocent Gf1e in
the Yalasquez."
AS she came past the old brick house
at the foot Of Locust dane, q load of
furniture was being carried In, for it
was the second week IN May. Wicker
chairs, twined with blue ribbon, cot
tage piano, cases Of books, engravings,
bird~cages, plants all sorts OF pretty
things. S. SC .las ~
Saidee paused and looked at them,
not without interest.
81 wonder who our new neighbors
are to be?" she thought. !.
Just then out trotted a stout, cherry
checked old lady, with her cap all Oh
sone side end worsted shawl tied over
her shoulders.
"Oh!' said she, fare you the young
woman who disappointed us yesterday
about cleaning ~
"No,r said Said. ., crimsoning to her
temples.
..sOh, dear oh, a, rp' said the old
lady sswhst is TO heco,. 8 OF us e All the
furniture coming in, and my daughter
lame from falling off sfep-laader,
/. and the girl gore, - but with an eager
look, perhaps you can recommend
some one to help us settle. Z
IL am sorry to say that I cannot, z an
swered Ssiaee, and she vanished be-
You'd The lilac hedge, rather amused at
the mistake which the old lady Ind
made. ss y IS 5ss4
Belle was full of news that evening y
20 Saidee," she cried, such q nice
family is moving into tho Locust Gus
house. r 81 B ISL Il.
Yves, Z said saidee; Is saw the fur. \: