The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-01-24
About House-Clean1ng.

with You, Saideel But | suppose, be
cause I'm old and helpless, my comfort is
matter OF no consequence whatever"
dear Aunt Leah, you must never
think of that" answered a bright, CHEEKY
voice: and Sadee Lynn came into the
room with little tray. where was ar
ranged on a snowy napkin some tea bis
cult, half Il dozen pink rddshes. a few
thin cut Shavings Of smoked beef and a
little pot OF tea, with a cup and saucer of
old blue china which would have been
invaluable tC a collector "lou see
had You in my mind all the time, Aunt
Leah she said merrily Il gathered
the radishes from our own garden. DoA't
rtey look nice ?''
Aunt Leah. withered little Old lady,
in dress of worn black silk. and sharp
gray eyes, peering through gold-bound
spectacles, tasted of the tea and shook
her head
Its too weak, said she ut isn't fit
to drink :"
Il put in all the tea there was in the
canister, Aunt said Saidee, With dis
tressed countenance.
Aunt Leah pushed away the cup, with
an expression Of dlstaste
ut is as might have expected" said
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. dare say :"
Saidee wrung her hands in despair
How could she tell this weak, feeble old
lady, above whose declining years hung
the threatening DamOces sword of heart
disease, Of their narrow circumstances,
of the empty eXcheQuer, the clamoring
creditors, the pitltu straits to which they
We're reduced.
what shall ! DO ?" she asks herself,
as She went slowly back to the little
kitchen of the ruinous gothic cottage,
which they had obtained for a ridiculous-
~ low rent because it was ruinous I've
borrowed from the rectors wife twice,
and I'm ashamed to 60 there again. and
I've sold every thing can lay my hands
on. But, glanclng up at picture which
hung in the hall beyond, "there's the
Nelasquez still. A velasquez is always
worth money. Belle will scold about
parting with it and Aunt Leah will mourn,
but we can't live on air and dew. like the
fairies. III take it down to Mr. Burner,
the artist this afternoon, and ask HIM to
get us a purchaser. Poor people such as
we are can't afford to retain old family
| relics And so, when Aunt Leah was
lndulglng IN herattelnoon nap, and Belle,
the beauty OF The family, was ironing out
the 1iounces OF her white muslin dress for
the m0rroWs picnic. valiant Saidee
climbed on chair, took the unframed
picture down (it was the head Of some
old Spanish grandee with stiff pointed
ruff, and an evil leer in the eyes,, wrap
| ped it up in a newspaper and crept
across the meadows with it to the village.
Mr.. Bruner was in his studio, grizzle-
headed, blunt old gentleman, in a belled
linen blouse, and a faded velvet cap. He
nodded kindly at Saidee, who had once
taken few lessons from him, but when
she displayed the canvas he shook his
| head.
'lIow much do you think it is worth n
asked Saidee, wisttully.
"Nothing.' said Mr.. Burner.
"But," cried the girl, sit is a Nelas-
quez !"
That a Velasquez ~ said Mr. Bruner,
contemptuously "My dear, there isn't a
dealer IN the country who would give 5l
cents torit. It's a mendacious imitation.
and wretched one at that" ~
SO 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 or Belle
that it is an imposture. They have al
ways taken such innocent pride in the
| NelasqucZ.'
AS she came past the old brick house
at the foot Of Locust Lane, load Of fur
nlture was being carried in. for it was the
second week in May. Wicker chairs,
twined with blue ribbon, a cottage piano
cases of books engravings, bird-cages,
plants-all sorts Of pretty things.
Saidee paused and looked at them, not
without interest
~ wonder who our new neghborS are
to be Z" she thought.
Just then ont trotted a stout, CHEEKY
checked Old lady, with her cap all on one
side and worsted shawl tied over bel
shoulders.
"Oh.' said she: care you the young
woman who disappointed us YESTERDAY
about cleaning!"
"No," said Saidee, crimsoning to hel
temples.
"Oh, dear oh, dear. said the ole
lady ; "what is to become of US! All the
furniture coming in and my daughter
lame from falling off a step ladder, anG
the girl gone, and-but" with an eager
look, 'perhaps you can recommend some
one to help US settle"
81 am sorry to say that can not -
answered Saidee, and she vanished be
yond the ilac-hedge, rather amused at
the mistake which the old lady had made
Belle was full of news that evening
80 Saidee," she cried, 'such nice
family is moving into the Locust house =
"les," said Saidee 81 saw the furni-
ture carts at the door as ! came back
from the village this afternoon"
ooh, the village. Y cried Belle, tossing
her head. "lt's strange, Saidee, how
much time you get to run about and en-
joy yourself, while | am drudging al
home. But there's young gentleman
there-the handsomest man, Alice Aiker
says, that she ever saw-and Mr.. Pyle
knows him, and he is to be at the picnic
tomorrow, to get acquainted with the
young people OF the neighborhood
Won't it be delightful? ?"
Every" said Saidee, indifferently
But while Belle was talking she hat
made up her mind what to do on tht
day of the May picnic.
Early in the morning, while the tlusl
of sunrise was still crimsoning the sky
and blonde Belle lay asleep with hel
yellow hair in crimping- pins, Saidet
arose, dressed herself quietly, and slip
ped out of the back door like little gra,
shadow.
At O'Clock Aunt Leah raped witt
her cane on the ceiling of her room
which was directly beneath the one oc
cupied by her nieces. Belle made he
appearance presently, in faded calico
wrapper, rubbing her eyes after drows,
fashion.
"Where's breakfast : said Aunt Leah
"Where's Sadee ?" counter questioned
Belle. "Oh, know, the selfish thing Sh
has got up early, and gone down into tn
woods to get some pink azaleas for he
hair before the other girls think of il
She wants to astonish us all at the pic
mic. But think she might have toIt
me-"