The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-05-22
House Cleaning Days.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

Nobody knew exactly what relation
Mr.. Grimgooke was to Classy and Cora.
If any one had set down to examine the
family genealogical tree, he might pos
sibly have studied it out. There GER
tainly existed some tie of consanguini-
ty, for Classy and Cora had always lived
under the shadow of the old gentleman S
roof, mended his stockings, put up with
his freaks of temper, and cooked his
meals just exactly as he liked them.
Their father had been a sea captain,
who vanished out of the world as mys-
teriously as sea captains often do, sail
ing away one golden autumn day and
returning no more; and Cousin Grim
cookies wife had charitably taken the
two orphaned girls to live with her.
And when Mrs. Grimgooke, too, sailed
away into the great ocean of the un-
known, Classy and Cora remained as if
they belonged there, and succeeded to
all her housewifely cares and duties with
willing hearts.
Mr.. Grimgooke was very poor man ;
at least he said he was; and it was real
ly difficult thing to screw money out oil
him for the various household expenses
of the establishment. Classy, being
skilled with the needle, soon learned
the dress-making trade, and clothed
herself with the results of her own work.
And Cora taught in the nearest district
school house, and earned fourteen dol
lars month, half of which she relig
iously paid into the housekeeping Golfer
Save all you can, girls! Save al
you can't said Mr.. Grimgooke, dolor.
ously. I'm poor man myself; ano
when I'm dead and decently buried
there won't be much left for you to live
on
Eyes, Cousin Grimgooke,' said Classy
and Cora meekly.
But you amt so careful as you NIGH
be- persisted Mr.. Glimgooke.
Classy oughtn't to be wearing thai
good gown around the house of morn
ing. And Cora threw very good little
pitcher out of the window yesterday
But, Cousin Grimgooke,' pleaded
Classy, the dress is dyed, and has beer
turned twice!'
'And that pitcher is cracked from
top to bottom said Cora. 1T won
hold water.
sPutty it up, then, putty it up, sale
Mr.. Grimgooke, with earnestness.
do like to see economy in little things
Now there's the carpets on the floor
Last year you wore 'em out-beatine
them with stick. Now don't take ZEN
up this year at all.
sBut what are we to do, Cousin Grim
cooke, at house cleaning timer sale
Cora.
.Why, clean, of course said Mr.
Grimgooke. 'And sweep. And dust
But you needn't thrash everything tt
pieces, need your
But every one takes up their carpet
when they clean house, urged Classy.
That's woman all over!' said Mr.
Grimgooke. Because other womel
make fools of themselves, is it necessar.
that you should do SOP
Neither Classy nor Cora were prepar
ed to answer this question at a moment
notice, so they wisely held their peace
and Mr.. Grimgooke triumphantly tel
to reading the newspapers.
Nevertheless, the two Grimgooke girl
were not exempt from the weaknesse
of the feminine soul, SO, when one da
the old man announced that he was &c
ing to Shreveport, the nearest town, t
be absent for couple of days, Cass
and Cora exchanged glances behind hi
pepper-and- clothed back And on
glance-the soft, shy one of Cora-asl
ed as plain as words could do: 'Sha
we clean house?' While Cassy's elet
trio blue orbs flashed back an unmistal
able, sWe shall clean house.
And no sooner was Mr.. Grimgook
we'll out of sight, than Classy ran to st
up the whitewash pail, and to slack ne
Jumps of lime, while Cora hastenet
with the aid of an old lead spoon and
garden trowel-the scientific carp
litter was far beyond her ambition
take up the faded old carpets, III u
upper rooms.
cousin Grimgooke never need kno
it, said she, as if apologizing to his VI
cant chair. sAnd these bedroom ca
pets are perfectly-AWHl| with
: very big A, indeed.) Ill beat the
myself with little twig from the Bal
of Gilead tree said Classy, 'and tn
can't wear them out
She had not half finished whitewas
ing the kitchen ceiling, however, wht
Cora startled her with a cry OF surprls
"A ghost' cried Classy, skilltul
drawing the wet brush in straight, swee
ing lines across the ceiling. 'Or
mouse, or black beetleP
: Not one of the three, retorted Coz
: making her breathless appearance at t
head Of the stairs. Three five hundr