The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-04-30
Niscellaurnus.
HOUSE CLEANING DAYS.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

Nobody knew exactly what relation Mr..
| Grimgooke was to Classy and Cora. 1fany
| one had set down to examine the family gen.
| Geological tree, he might possibly have
studied it out. There certainly existed some
tie of consanguinty, 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 mysteriously as sea cap
tains often do, sailing away one golden au-
tumn day and ruturning no more; and Cou-
sin Grimgookes wife had chartably taken the
| two ophaned girls to live with her. And
when Mrs. Grimgooke, too, sailed away into
the great ocean of the unknown, Classy and
Cora remained as ifthey belonged there, and
succeeded to ali her hOusewiey cares and
duties with willing hearts.
Mr. Grimgooke was very poor man ; at
least he said he was; and it was really diff
ticult 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 dress-naking trade, and
clothed herself with the results of her own
work. And Cora taught in the nearest district
school-house, and earned fourteen dollars Il
month"; half of which she religiously paid into
the housekeeping Golfer.
Save all you can, girls Save all you can p
said Mr.. Grimgooke, dolorously. "pm a poor
man myself; and when Pm dead and decent.
ly buried, there won't be much LETT for you
to live on"
YES, Cousin Grimgooke," said Classy and
Cora meekly.
But you amt so careful as you might be-"
persisted Mr.. Grimgooke.
t,,1t h., 81
gown around the house of 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
twice.
And that pitcher is cracked from top to
bottom" said Cora. at won't hold water"
Putty it up, then, putty it up" said Mr..
Grimgooke, with earnestness. / do like to
see economy in little lhings Now there's
the carpets on the floor, Last year you wore
em out-beating them with stick. Now
don't take ZEN. up this year at ALL"
But what are we to do, Cousin Grlmgooke
at housekeeping timer" said Cora.
why, clean, of course" said Mr. Grim
cooke "And sweep. And dust But you
needn't thrash everything to pieces, need
your"
But every one takes up their carpets
when they clean house." urged Classy.
"That's woman all over r said Mr. Grim
cooke. Because other women make fools
OF themselves, is it necessary tnat you should
do SOP"
Neither Classy nor Cora were prepared to
answer this question at moments notice, so
they wisely held their peace, and Mr.. Grim
cooke triumphantly fell to reading the news
papers.
Nevertheless, the two Grimgooke girls
were not exempt from the weaknesses of the
feminine soul, so, when one day the old man
announced that he was going to Shreveport,
the nearest town, to be absent for a couple of
days, Classy and Cora exchanged glances be.
hind his pepper-and salt-clothed back. And
one glance-the soft, shy one of Cora-asked
as plain as words could do: "Shall we clean
house?" While Cassy's electric blue orbs
flashed back an unmistakable, I'VE shall
clean house"
And no sooner was Mr.. Grimgooke well
out Of sight, than Classy ran to stir up the
whitewash pail and to slack new Jumps of
lime, while Cora fastened, with the aid OF an
old lead spoon and a garden trowel-the
scientific carpet litter" was far beyond her
ambition-to take up the faded old carpets, in
the upper rooms
said she, as if apologizing to his vacant chair.
And these bedroom carpets are perfectly
1sctW" with very big A, ndeed.) "Pl
beat them myself with little twig from the
Balm OF Gilead tree" said Classy, land that
can't wear them out"
She had not halftinished whitewashing the
kitchen ceiling, however, when Cora startled
her with cry of surprise.
IA ghost?' cried Classy, skillfully drawing
the wet brush in straight, sweeping lines
across the ceiling. "Or mouse, or black
beetle ?"
mot one of the three" retorted Cora, max.
ing her breathless appearance at the head of
the stairs. "Three five hundred dollar bills,
in an envelope, laid flat under the olcloth in
front of Cousin Grimgooke's washing stand.
Oh, Classy, what shall we do with them l
feel as if had been stealing"
"Do with them ?" repeated Classy, who was
the valiant one of the family. why put
them in your pocket, of course, and replace
them exactly where you found them when the
carpet goes down again"
But how do you suppose they came
thereT
Cousin Grmgooke put them there, of
course. It's one of his magpies nests, and
that was the reason, don't you see, that
he was so unwilling for us TO take up the
carpets"
II wish we hadn't disobeyed him." said
Cora, with quivering lip.
why, what a little goose you are y said
Classy with a superior air. One can't live
always in the dirt, can one?"
And Cora finally came round to her sisters
way and thinking
The two girls made haste with their under
taking, and had the house all thoroughly
cleaned by Saturday night, just about the
time that old Uncle Silas Peabody came by,
selling clans
Don't want any, ell |" said he. oval, I've
had dreadful bad luck to day Haint no
money to buy lodging. S'pose you wouldn't