Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-05-22
Ella burst out laughing.

- $1,000 = - 800 = 1872
But what an Insignificant little
trislp'
4Oh, yes, I dare say !" said Mrs.
Smart. The sting of hornet isn't
so very terrible in itself, but when a
whole swarm is let loose upon you,
what then?"
A whole swarm Z" repeated limo
cent Ella.
My DEAR" said Mrs. Smart, low
ering her voice to a confidential
whisper, "upstairs in my bedroom
closet, | have eighteen papers ofjust
such cheap pins-utterly useless tol
anything hut to bend themselves uI
donble when you try to put them
through single thickness of calico
and to deprive you of your temper
when You need 1T most; six cards Of
porcelain buttons, an article which
never use; nine packages of stove
backing; thirteen bottles OF ma
chine oil; five papers of rusty nee
dies; a dozen pair of shoe strings
and eight rolls of tape, which is an
insult to ones common sense! Ii
could reconcile it to my conscience
I'd fling the whole collection into the
fire; but was brought up to econo.
mize. What do you think, Ella,
would it be sin to annihilate all
these pit falls to my equanimity ~
"It's rather hard problem" said
Ella, sOberly.
Sand with all this" said Mrs
Smart. waxing vehement as she went
on, .Ebenezer is unwilling to give
me money to buy decent darning
needles and respectable tape. He
wonders why can't make my dress
es last little longer, and thinks
am extravagant in wanting a new
feather for my old velvet bonnet. He
says that / use too many things.
and asks me why / can't raise poul.
try and have eggs to exchange for
groceries at the village store. And
yet-oh, the inconsistency OF men-
he expects me to give bowl of cot
fee and a sandwich, to say nothing
Of wedges Of apple pie, and
three cornered bits of cake to every
able bodied tramp and stout peddler
woman who happen to come along
Doesn't he make any allowance
for it in the housekeeping money 9''
asked Ella.
Not he! just look here ~ Mrs
Smart opened the drawer of the
kitchen table. "This is where keep
the housekeeping money-which he
gives me every week-and he came
here twice this morning-once to get
quarter for a lame beggar, and
again to get ten pennies for that
outrageous paper of pins !"
And she cast a baleful glance at
the article, which still lay one the
dresser.
This is piracy" said Ella, judi.
cially.
"It's highway robbery !" declared
Mrs. Smart. "And there comes the
butchers cart, and l haven't money
enough left from my weeks allow
ance to buy single steak, and here
it is only Wednesday"
"Can't you buy on creditW
" Never !" said Mrs. Smart, with
spirit. cts a thing 1 never have
done, and 1 never will doW
Elias hazel eyes sparkled, as she
shook her head vehemently at the
butcher, who was just checking his
old horses at the door.
Nothing today" she said.
Mrs. Smart dashed away a tear.
"Give me some Of that shelled
corn, Ella" she said. " 1 suppose
I can catch a chicken for dinner"
"Do nothing of the sort, my dear,p
said Ella.
But what are we to do 2"
F" Why, have picked up dinner"
answered Ella. e You just leave me
to manage it for YOU"
g But I'm afraid the deacon won't
like It," said Mrs. Smart.
Well, and if he doesn't You
don't like the peddler business, do
you?" quickly retorted Ella.
At one o'clock the table was all
spread, with three huge central plat
tiers carefully shielded with the GOV
ers which were ordinarily brought
out only on state occasions, and Mrs,
Smart and Ella we're peeping out OF
the window and wondering what
kept the deacon so late.
"There he comes now p said Mrs.
Smart. "Good gracious me! And
there is Willie Mildmay coming
home with him! We never counted
on his bringing company to dinner,
Ella.
"What signifies company 7" asked
Ella, stoutly maintaining her com
posure. although her pretty face had