The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-09
ABOUT HOUSE. CLEANING.

,ause m Old aEd helpless my comfort
s 6 matter OF no consequence what
.vcr"
Dear Ann, Leah. You mast never
,hiai, that. answered : bright, CHEEKY
voice; aud SIdee Lynn came into the
room with !iltl9 tray, where was ar
ranged on a snowy napkin some tea bis
emit, half 4 dozen pink raoishes, few
taiu cut shaviags Of smoked beef and
little pot o. tea, with a cup aud saucer
OF cd blue china which would have
been Invaluable u a COLLECTOR. You
see i.had you in my mina all the time,
Aunt Leah, she said me1riiy. Il gath
cred the radishes from our own garden.
Don't they look niccs"
Aunt Leah, withered little Old ladv.
in : dress OF worn black silk. and sharp
gray eyes, peering through gold-bonnd
,pactacies, tasted Of the tea aud shook
her head.
rs too weak saii she. 1T isn't
fit to drinkl'
Il pat in all the tea there WAS in the
canister, Aunt Leah said Shdee, with
distressed countenanee.
Aunt Leah pushed away the cup. with
an expression Of disiaste.
at IS rs might have expected" said
she. Ny nieces have too little thought
for my comfort to study NV. pOor and
few necessities. Never mind the tea; |
can drink cold water, dare say!"
Saidce wrung her hands in despair
How could she tell this weak, feeble old
lady, above whose declining wears hung
the threatening Damoeles sword Of heart
disease, OF their narrowing ciroum-
stances, Of the empty eXchequer, the
clamorlng creditors, tho pjtiful straits 70
which they were reduced:
What shall do?n she asks herself.
As she went slowly back to the little
kteh3n Of the ruinous Gothic cottage.
which they had obtained for q ridicu-
lousy low rent because it was ruinous.
I've borrowed Of the rector's wife twice,
and I'm ashamed 10 20 there again, and
Eve sold everything can lay ms hands
o.. But Slancing up at picture which
hung in the hail beyond, there's the
VelaSfaez still. \ Nelas1uez is ALWAYS
worth money. Belle will scold- about
parting with 1t, aud Aunt Leah will
mourn, but VIC can't i've on air and dew
ike the fairies. III takeit down to Mr
Bruner, the artist. this afternoon and
ask him 10 Sc; rs apurchaSer. Poor PEG
pie such as we arc can't afford to retain
old family relics" And so, when Aua;
Leah w;.s INDUCING in her afternoon
nap, and Bella, the beauty of the family
was ironing cut the fiounces of her
white muslin dress FOR the mo-r0w's pic
nic, yasiant Sii.ies climbed on a ch4ir
took tho unfraiheJ picture down 4 it wa.
the head Of some Old Spanish granjee
witha stiff pointed ruf aud an evil leel
in tho eyes), wrapped i up in news
paper and crept across the meadow
with it to The village.
/ Air. Brnacr wasin. hisstuIia.a grille
headed, blunt old gentleman, IA beltes
linen blouse, aud a faded velvet cap
| lie nodded kindly at Saidce. who h.t
once taken feyv lessons from him, bu
when she displayed the canvas he shool
his bead.
How much do you tiir, II j
gorth?" asked Saider, wistfully.
"Nothing.' said Mr. Brnner.
Bnt," cried the girl, 1t is Velas
quez"
That a Velasquezg said Mr.. Bruner
contemptuously MY dear. there ism
4 picture dealer in the country VIII
would give fifty cents for it. It's
mendacious imitation, and n wretchet
one at that!
Saidee tied up the poor picture, an,
weLt home again, shedding a few tear
As she walked under the whisperin;
trees.
Ny last hope gonem she though
J sERst+ III yt.4 tnif E-tH
that it is an imposture. They hay,
always taken such innocent pride IN tn
! VelssqGez."
| As she-came past the old brick hons
at the foot Of Locust lane, load of fun
niture was being carried in, for it wa
/ the second week in NAY. Wicke
chairs, t@ined with blue ribbon. a cot
tage piano, cases of books, engravings
bird cages, plants-ali sorts of pret,,
things.
| Saidee paused and looked at them
not without interest.
Il wonder who our new neigh5ors ar
to be?' she thought.
Just then out trOtted stout, cherry
checked old lady, with her cap all o.
one side aud a worstel shawl tied owe
her shoulders.
oh" said she; "are YOU the youn,
woman who disappointed Us yesierda,
about eleaningT'
temples. '''''
ooh, dear! Oh, dear.' said the Ok
lady; what is to become OF Us? All tht
furniture coming in, and my daughte
lame from falling or a s;ep-ladder, anc
the girl gone, and-but,' with IN cage
look, perhaps yOu can recommend som.
ono to help Us settle"
u am sorry to say that I caunos." an
swered eaidee, ard she vanished bevoDe
the liiac-hedge, rather amased at tn,
mistake which the old lady hsd made
Belle was full Of news that evening.
20 SIidee," she cried, ssucI a mic,
family is moving into the Locus
Houser'
Ye., " said Saidee; II saw the furni
ture cartsa a the door, as I came bach
from the village this afternoon.
"OA, the villager cried Belle tIssinc
her blonde head. ats strange, Saidee
how much tine YOU get to run abou
and enjoy Yourself, while am drudgih:
at home But there's a young gentle
man there-the haads0mest man. Alic,
I Aiken says, that she ever saw-and Mr.
Pyle kncws him, and be i to be at thi
! picnic to-morrow, 10 get acquainted
with the Young people Of the neighbor
hood. Boa't Il be delightfulF'
very said Saiiee, TadiferentlY.
But while Belle was talking she hat
made up her mind what to do the dar
Of the bay picnic.
Early ia the morning. while the hasl
| OF sunrise vas still eTiHnsoning the sky
and blonde Belle lay asleep with be
yeiio-s hair in crimping-pins. Sadie
arose, dressed herself quietly, and slippe
out Of .he back door ike a little rra
shadow. ~ -
At 8 O'Clock Aunt Leah raped wit
her cane on the ceiling Of her roou
which was directly beneath the one 0,
euPled By her nieces. Bella made h,
appearance presently, in faded Gallo
wrapper, rubbing her eyes aftera drov
~ fashion.
Where's breakfastF said Aunt Leal
1 Where's Saideeg' eounter-auestiOne
Belle @Oh. | know, the selfish thing
She has got up early, AID gone dow
into the woods to get some pink azales
Tor her hair before the other girls thin
OF H. She wants to astonish US all q
tbs picnic. Bat think she might hav
told mel
I'm afraid Saidee thinks more Of hel
self than she docs Of Us, saiu Aun
Leah, sourlY.
And Belle, II very III hunor. bevai
10 prepare the breakfast-a task een
orally assumed BY her elder sister.
While Saidce, marrying down the pad
by tbs swamp, took the shortcut aeros
the clover meadow, and was present.,
knocking at-thc door Of the brick hons
where tie load Of fasaiture had stooi
the day before.
The cd lady With the crooked eli
ana The cherry cheeks came TO the doc,
Lave you rot sngaged any one /,
nelp you CT settled = aid saidss. bluah
fnn Vaer fFra44tts