Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-10-18
The Chimney Cupboard.

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tiently throwing down her magazine
''it's always the boys who do things"
s'I'm sure" said her grandmother,
"that in the story you have been read
ing, Lucy washed the dishes, swept
the kitchen floor, and took care of
the baby, while her mother was away
ssBut Horace killed the bear!' in
terrupted the young girl, still so i'm
patiently, that her grandfather laid
down his newspaper, took off bis steel
bowed glasses, and looking across
the room at still pretty, plump old la
dy, who was slowly rocking and
swiftly knitting, he said:
ssWashed the dishes, swept the
floor, and took care of the baby, did
she? That is just what your Aunt |
Hannah was left to do the day she
was ten years old, when father and
mother went to Hartford, and hunch-
back Pingree came along. If that sto-
ry could be printed there would be
girl in 1t that did something, for |
was the boy, and was the baby,a ,and
did nothing but scream. Tell us
about it. Hannah"
"Oh, yes, Aunt Hannah," cried
Margaret, "do tell us y
And although the plump old lady
shook her head at her brother, TO be-
gin with, she relented, presently, and
said:
''Do you see that cupboard there
by the freplace?'
ssTo be sure," said Margaret's
mother. who with her daughter, was
making her first visit at the quaint
old cottage. 1T quite distresses
me, it looks so old-fashioned with it's
two doors. l should have it taken
out if the house was mine."
s.No doubt said Aunt Hannah
"but that has been serviceable part
of the house in its day. 1t was franz
ed in and finished up when the Chin
ney was built, with little secret draw
ers that pull out from between the
stones of the great chimney.
My father was quite business
man for those times he was town
clerk and treasurer for years, and
settled all the estates of all the peO-
pie who died, far and near, so there
were always packages of papers and
rolls of money belonging to a great
many different individuals. in that
little cupboard"
"When Captain Pingree died, re-
member we'll that father was very
much opposed to having anything to
do with settling the estate.
They are an ill-tempered family,
l heard him say to my mother, 'and
that bunch back is like an evil spirit
to deal with. His father has advanc-
ed him good deal of money, and
holds his notes for the same, yet now
he intends to share like the other
heirs. They will not submit to such
injustice, and consequently there will
be trouble, that some one else must
settle besides me. / can have moth
ing to do with it,
a My father was honest in that deci-
sion, yet that very night papers came
e to him from the Judge of Probate,
e authorizing him to act as administra.
: tor, and before bed time one of the
Pingree brothers came in secretly by
the back way, fetching a little tir
trunk full of his fathers papers.
|. | was in the trundle bed, and sup
g posed to be asleep, but | heard hin
say as father locked the trunk into
y the cupboard:
i The notes that father held against
: my brother are in there, and he is sc
determined to get hold of them tha
a we dare not keep them in the house
t, another night. He is like baby
u sir, his mind being as dwarfed as hi
e body; but because he is man il
years, he insists that he is so in in
: tellect, and resents any interference
i. by legally appointed guardian
,r Since mother died he has never beer
under the least restraint. He ha
Id had his own will and his own way il
everything, and that makes it a hare
3 matter to deal with him. He recog
nizes no law of obedience or submis
u sion, as his will was never broken O
" even subdued.'
Il know it., replied my father
ii Some one is TO have trial with him.
ft The next morning he repeated thes
words TO my mother, and added:
Il think 1 will drive into Hartford
II and ask Esquire Ellsworth what hi
opinion is in regard to the course tha
~ ought to be pursued with the poor fel
ne low. guess you had better 60 wit
1t me. You and Hannah will he want
- - ing something new
h But Hannah will have to sta
y! alone with baby, if co. hesitate
is my mother.
THAT she can do. Is she not te
er years old this very day? No possibl
~ harm can come to her, and she ca
- - care for baby as well as his mothe
1T herself, pleasantly said my father.
d. Il have often staid alone part c
ne a day. l said. "A whole day is
% little longer, but shall not mind il
| shall be busy washing the dishes
e. sweeping the floor, and rocking th
lly cradle.