Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-18

fresh meat to cook for dinner. P'raps
you'd fancy steak or chop. Salt
meats gettin' sort o monotonous."
But Maria declined to notice this
remark at all, and poor Daniel crept
away, believing himself heartless
poltroon, and his wife prosecuted
angel.
Il don't see how on earth I'm goin'
to get along this way" said he. "Them
clothes is friz as stiff as boards, and
ought to be took in and dried round
the stove; and the chickens amt been
fed, and the soft soaps spilin', and the
apples need to be picked over, and the
potatoes is all sproutin' down cellar,
and my stockings is full O. holes, cob.
BILE 'em as | will, and Maria won't hear
to no hired help. And my neuralgy
was pretty bad last night. I'm most
afeared I'm goin' to break down. I've
half a mind to go over and talk to
Getcheys folks about it."
1t was Just a week afterward that
the younger Mrs. Getchey made her
appearance in the bedroom of the
melancholy Mrs. Dorking.
"IIow are you feelin' to-day?" she
asked, in the carefully modulated
accents of sympathy.
Mrs. Dorking shook her head back
ward and forward among the pillows
with closed eyes.
"I'm mis'able, thankee," she said.
at must be a comfort to you havin'
Abby Jane here" said Mrs. Getchey,
seating herself in the splint bottomed
arm chair beside the bed.
"Havin' who?' said Mrs Dorking,
opening her eyes widely.
"Nhy, Abby Jane-the young
woman your husbands got down
stairs to help with the housework, you
know" explained Mrs. Getchey.
Mrs. Dorking sat up in bed.
"a young woman" she repeated
"to help with the housework?'
Mrs. Getchey nodded
"Dan'l wasn't goin' to say nothin'
about it to you" said she. "He cal
culated it would only fret and worry
you. But he found he couldn't get
along and do everything himself And
Abby James right smart. l jest wish
you could see how white the clothes is
out on the lines. And how nice she's
secured up the kitchen tins and
bleached the old curtains and polished
the brass candlesticks She's a one to
turn off work, now l tell your
"Well" calculated Mrs. Dorking.
"She's bakin' pies now," said Mrs.
Getchey; "dried apple, with plenty of
fennel seeds; and pumpkin, and a
cranberry tart for Elder Swift. Elder
Swift is to be here to tea, and he's
dreadful partial to cranberry tarts and
short cake"
Mrs. Dorking turned very red in
the face.
"Invitin' company, be they?' said
she; "and cookin' a lot o things in my
own house, and never consultin' me
Him and his hired gal, indeed !"
"Danl calculated you was too feeble
to be bothered" said Mrs. Getchey
consolngly.
81 amt 50 feeble as he'd like to make
out that | bel" muttered Mrs. Dork-
ing 81 was a thinkin' spell age
about settin' up a little while. jest
hand me my stockings, will you, Auril'
la AnnT"
II wouldn't try to set up sale
Aurilla Ann; "you amt able"
Eyes, l be !" snapped the hypochon
driac. "Who's the best judge of m!
feelings, you or me? What sort of
lookin' gal is this that's bossin' my
kitchen while I'm in bed?"
GAS pretty as a pink" said Mrs
Getchey; "cheeks as red as peonies
hair as black as coal; and she step
off as light as q thistledown."
"IIumph !! said Mrs. Dorking
"Give me my double gownd, Aurill
Ann. | mean to see arter this bust
ness myself; and if Daniel Dorkin!
thinks I'm goin to put up with sucl
J treatment as this"
"Better take my arm," suggeste,
Mrs. Getchey.
But the late invalid impatientl
rejected her offered assistance.
"Lemme alone !" said she; 81 ca
walk as well as ever l could. VIII
shouldn't II"
And Mrs. Dorking went down stair
nto the sitting room, where her spous
sat very close to "a pretty youn
woman, both engaged in examinin
the pages of "Universal Atlas"
Mr.. Daniels hand rested familiarl
on the pretty girls shoulder. and tn
pretty girls braids of black hair wer
close to Daniels own iron gray locks.
"Daniel |" almost shrieked Mr.
Dorking, "Tm astonished at you, tha
| beH
Daniel Dorliing started up, with a
exclamation of SURPRISE; the alta
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