The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-05-15
HOUSE-CLEANING DAYS.
Cousin Grimgooke Objected to
Them and the Reason Why.

Nobody knew exactly what relation
Mr.. Grimgooke was to Classy and Cora.
If any one had sat down to examine
the family genealogical tree, he might
possibly have studied it out. There
certainly existed some tie of consan-
guinity, for Classy and Cora had al
ways lived under the shadow of the old
gentleman's roof, mcnded his stock
ings, put up with his freaks of temper,
and cooked his meals just exactly as he
liked them Their father had been
sea captain, who vanished out of the
world as mysteriously as sea captains
often do, sailing away one golden au-
tumn day and returning no more; and
Cousin Grimgooke's wife had charit-
ably taken the two orphaned girls to
live with her. And when Mrs. Grim
cooke, too, sailed away into the great
ocean of the unknown, Classy and Cora
remained as if they belonged there,
and succeeded to all her housewifely
cares and duties with willing hearts.
Mr.. Grimgooke was a very poor
man; at least he said he was; and it
was really difficult thing to screw
money out of him for the various
household expenses of the establish
ment. Classy, being skilled with the
needle, soon learned the dressmaking
trade, and clothed herself with the re-
suits of her own work. And Cora
taught the nearest district school
house, and earned fourteen dollars a
month, half of which she religiously
paid into the housekeeping Golfer.
"Save all you can, girls! Save all
you can't said Mr.. Grimgooke dolor-
Ously. "I'm poor man myself; and
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
might be-" persisted Mr.. Grimgooke.
Classy oughtn't to be wearing that
good gown around the house of a
morning. And Cora threw very
good little pitcher out of the window
yesterday"
"But, Cousin Grimgooke," pleaded
Classy, "the dress is dyed, and has
been turned twicer'
"And that pitcher is cracked from
top to bottom" said Cora. ut won't
hold water"
Putty it up, then, putty it up, said
Mr. Grimgooke, with earnestness. 81
do like to see economy in little things
Now there's the carpets on the floors
Last year you wore 'em out-beatins
them with stick Now don't take EN-
up this year at all. "
"But what are we to do, Cousin
Grimgooke, at house-cleaning timeP'
said Cora.
"Why, clean, of course" said Mr.
Grimgooke. "And sweep. And dust
But you needn't thrash every thing t.
pieces, need youP"
"But every one takes up their car
pets when they clean house," urget
Classy.
That's woman all overt" said Mr.
Grimgooke. Because other womei
make fools of themselves, isit necessar
that you should do so"
Neither Classy nor Cora were pre-
pared to answer this question at a mo
ment's notice, so they wisely nell
their peace, and Mr. Grimgooke tri
umphantly fell to reading the newspa
pers.
Nevertheless, the two Grimgook
girls were not exempt from the weak
nesses of the feminine soul, so, whe
one day the old man announced tina
he was going to Shreveport, the neal
est town, to be absent for couple G
days, Classy and Cora exchange
chances behind his pepper-and-salt
clothed back. And one glance-th
soft, shy one. of Cora-asked as plat
as words could do: "Shall we clea
houseP" While Cassy's electric blu
orbs flashed back an unmistakablC
eve 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 Stake me-
Jumps of lime. while Cora hasteneC