Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-09-03


home my polonaise, and the trimming is
all wrong. Won't you change it to4
night? Imust have it to wear to Miss
Days tomorrow, you know"
Mrs. Clifford dared not trust herself to
face the girl.
you will have time to change it
yourself, Reba. am going to the lec>
ture. and some one must remain at
home"
There was a moment of amazed sit
Ience, then retTeating footsteps. After
ward she heard Reba's surprise, what
do you think will happen next? Moth
er's going to the lecturer
Mr.. Clifford, when he came home, was
no less surprised than his daughters had
been, but there was pleasant look on
his face it did her good to see.
| Her heart almost failed her when she
come to review her scanty wardrobe.
The black silk was still good, though a
little old fashioned. But her bonnet
and gloves and that cloak! No, she
could not mortify her husband by wear
ing them. She must stay at home.
A rustic outside the door, a tap, and
the girls fiuttered in.
"Now, mother, we are just going to
fix you ourselves. Sit right down and
let me arrange your hair, while lizzie
puts that dark plume on her bonnet IN
place of the bright one. Ny cashmere
shawl is exactly what you want, and her
gloves will ft you to a IT. How the
girls will open their eyes when they sse
what handsome mother we've gOti''
And Mis-. Clifford could scarcely keep
tears from falling as she thought 1T
was my own fault. They have been
thoughtless and selfish only because ]
taught them to be-"
Ready at last. The carriage had not
yet come, and they waited for a moment
in the hall-she and her husband. How
the old girlish nlusAes would come as
he stopped and kissed heri Then he
softly whispered:
"You look just like you did twenty
years ago, Mary. I'm so glad to have
my little wife back again"
need not add that the evening was
an enjoyable one.
Next morning there was council OF
three in the back parlor. Mrs. Clifford
stated that she must have more time for
society and mental improvement. She
would hire help. but it would be better
for all concerned for lizzie and Reba to
learn Housekeeping.
lizzie held up her fair hands and asked
how they would look playing the piano.
covered with scars and potato stains.
Reba didn't see how they could possibly
find time, they had So much to do al
ready.
Mrs. Clifford stood firm, and the conn
ell ended in the kitchen with the girls
washing the breakfast dishes.
During the next few weeks there were
some merry times in the kitchen, but
more trying ones. Reba would be elated
beyond measure ever well>browned
loaf of bread, while lizzie was in despair
over a well Drowned shirt bosom. lizzie
displayed with pride the shining silver
her hands had pnlished, while Reba bid
the shining napkin over which she had
upset the gravy boat. Such is the ina
consistency of kitchen perfection.
More than once the mother felt like
abandoning her plans. 1t would be so
much easier to do it all herself. But
she possessed the gift of perseverance,
and after awhile the household machi>
merry moved on as smoothly as ever, and
much more easily. now that there were
six hands instead of two to turn the
wheels. Parlor company no longer wont
dered where the mother was, aid the
daughters grew more delighted every
day with her whose acquaintance they
were just forming.
One day Mrs. Clifford had sick head.
ache. Three months before she could
not have afforded the luxury of sick
day. Now she could dismiss all care. for
a season at least. will not say that she
did not feel some anxiety when she
learned at noon that her husband mad
brought a business friend from the
West" home to dinner. But everything
went on as well as if she had presided.
The girls had been as apt pupils in the
kitchen as at school.
Mr.. Taft, the business friend, was
Young man. He was cultivated and
wealthy, but he had some old-fashioned
notions about young women being unfit
to preside over homes of their own be-
fore learning something of house work.
He enjoyed Izzie's singing and praised all
her paintings, but he afterwsrd declared
that it was her cooking that first attract
ed him. At any rate, his business ebli-
ged him to visit Carlisle very frequently
after that, and that at last he carried L.
zie back to be the queen of his Western
home.
Reba still lives with her parents. She
saws no one can pelsuade her to leave
such a dear father and mother. Rumor
reports that a certain parsonage will
soon receive her. However that may
be, Mrs. Clifford rejoiees that she diseov-
cred her mistake in time to rectify it in
some degree.-Rulia A. Tirrell.
NEBRASKA has passed a law making