The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-12-25

Whiteaway. who supported him. he

they say hereabouts.
| am not going to occupy you with
a description of I'll those who left the
train. Suffice it that | took every
one of them into the school. i
lighted the fire in the stove in the
large room, and also that in the class
room for the infants.
My own house adjoined, and I
placed it unreservedly at the disposal
of the passengers. Mr. Parnacott
gave some trouble. He was dissatis-
fed, turned up his nose as he entered,
and said, 81 wonder " by it is that
school always smells Of an uncared-for
poultry-house, even after the children
have left?"
[ found that my guests we're hum
CRY. I therefore produced everything
my larder held-a. half eaten ham, a
loaf, some cold potatoes. That was
all. I had two small bottles of stout,
half-pints. The tipsy man at once
seized and consumed their contents.
Then | ran to the parsonage and
asked the rector to assist me to feed
the swarm of guests He was eager
to be Of use, but did not know how to
help until he had consulted the cook
and Westlake. Ultimately he sent
up two pounds of clotted cream. but
no bread. | asked for wine and BRAN
dy, but he was unprovided with alco-'
holic drinks, being a Blue Ribbon Ar
my man; however, he offered to let us
have as much water out Of his we'll as
we liked to fetch. He was out of
bread, and did not bake till next day.
There were one and half cold rissoles
in the larder but they would be as
nothing to all those [ had to feed; so
he reserved them for his own supper.
He was much put out. he said, that
the accident had happened at the time
when all his children were home for
the holidays, so that he could not take
any Of the passengers into his rectory.
If the accident had occurred in term
time, it would have been different. |
do the rector only justice when | say
that he was not unwilling to do his
utmost, but he was widower, and
completely under the dominion of his
servants. The cook would not find
food for the passengers, and the house
maid would not find beds for them,
and Westlake was indisposed to clean
their boots In the matter Of the clot-
ted cream, the rector was decided. He
saw it in the pans, and he put his foot
down, and insisted on having them
SKINNED and the cream sent to the
school-house. 1t would have been
highly appreciated if there had been
bread to eat with it.
The dear good rector came up to the
school to see the colony there estab-
lished. He fused about among the
people, insisted on their being accom-
modated with beds in separate rooms
and promised to send mattresses and
blankets from the parsonage. But
the promised bedding did not come.
Westlake pointed out to the parson
that the pony could not. travel in such
deep snow; and that without the cart
the bedding could not be transported
to the school-house.
Fortunately there were couple of
farm-houses near, and some cottages,
and from them what was really neces-
sary was procured. Some fowls were
killed and cooked, and bread obtained; !;
and sufficient bedding for the emer-
gency secured. | had to see to every
thing-to run from one farm to the
other, and tax to the uttermost the
resources Of my own small establish
ment. | surrendered my own room
and bed to the Harwoods; and my old
housekeeper very good-naturedly re-
signed hers to Mr.. Parnacott.
There was not much sleep for me
that night. The passengers would be
hungry in the morning; so occupied
myself, together with my old woman.
in kneading and baking bread. out of
flour I had begged at the farms and
some of my own. | had to go the rec
tory for milk, and had great difficulty
in conveying it home unspilled
through the snow.
When morning dawned I was so ex-
hausted with my labors-chief of
which was the wading in snow from
place to place, carrying blankets,
fowls. ham, cups, milk, bread-that
l could scarcely keep my feet. I had
got very wet in running from place
to place, and very hot from kneading
dough and baking it. Ny time had
been too much taken up for me to
think of changing my clothes.
I had difficulty, moreover, in the
morning in providing washing conve-
niences for my crew. There were but
two basins and pie-dish in my house;
moreover, the pump was frozen. That
my people might wash, [ was con-
strained to dissolve snow, which is
slow process, and the result is-a lit
tie not very clean water.
Whilst the people were waiting, inn
patient and uncomfortable, for their
washing water, Mr.. Parnacott seated
himself at wretched six-guinea Alex
andre harmonium in the school-room,
and played on it Bach's fugues from
memory. This irritated the hungry,
unwashed passengers. and high words
passed. | had difficulty in appeas-
ing the quarrel which broke out over
the harmonium.
A more difficult thing than the pro-
viding of water was the furnishing OF
combs and brushes. OF course Mrs.
Harwood used mine, but Mr.. Parma
colt positively and Indignantly reject
ed those of my housekeeper. There
was a good deal Of alteration over the
combs and brushes; but | was unable
to attend and allay it, as [ had to get
breakfast ready.
Tro pE coNT1NIrED I