The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-11-17
HOW SHE CLEANED HOUSE.

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HOW SHE CLEANED HOUSE.
Gypsy Black was very cross, indeed, as
/ she sat in the vide window-sill, swinging
I her pretty i.tle feet and l,outiug pair
Of exquisitely-curvea scarlet lip>, as she
/ plated and unplaitei the strings OF her
white, lawn sun bonnet.
doa't care said Miss GYPSY. 4
don't love Mr. Meredith And don't
want to niarry him - there, now
And she nibbled At the bonnet strings,
and frowned under her level brown brows
+ ike pretty rebel, .,s she was.
Gypsy, hold your tongue - said Nal
vina. her elder sister.
You don't know what you're talking
about, severely uttered Mrs- Black, who
was mixing up a hatch Of bread at the
kitchen table. Mr.. Meredith has a
house and farm worth twenty thousand
dollars. and its q great compliment for
him 10 speak to your pa about marrying
I YOU
Then | wish he'd keep his compli-
ments to himself said the incorrigible
/ GYPSY. Look here, Malvina why won't
YOU marry him ,"
Nalyina, overcome with Indignation,
dealt her rogueish little sister a box on the
ear. which Gypsy narrowly escaped by a
sudden depression Of her head
No. but II would suit 20 exactly"
said Gypsy. -Malvina is just that sort Of
person"
GYPSY, don't he fool 81 said Mr.
Black. You should thank Providence
that Mr.. Meredith Is pleased to marry
you. and put ali nonsensical ideas about
Harry Waite out Of yor head immedi-
ately."
Boz GYPSY frowned and pouted more
and more. and tried re~olutely TO keep
the big, bright tears from falling on her
hands
@what shah do?- said Gypsy to her
self For ] never. never can marry that
hald-beaded old man who talks through
his nose and carries a yellow silk pocket
handkerchief And I'm sure that Har-
II would shoot himself when he heard
oft -
But GYPSY Blacks tears and lamenta-
tions avsiled nothing, Her father was
practical man Of the world Her mother
understood the full meaning Of money,
and - the match was TO be hurried up,
regardless Of the feelings Of the bride
elect
But Providence interfered-thar kind
" Providence which always has the in
terests Of true lovers ever under Its
care.
Mr.. and Mrs Black had gone to attend
a camp-meeting, twenty miles away, with
Malvina in their train.
Gypsy, being unTegenerate, was left
at home TO mediate over volume Of
sermons.
- Now be sure, Gypsy, you look well al
ter the house. said Mrs Black and see
that Nancy feeds the young calves regu-
larly, and cares for the goslings and the
chickens And lock up the house at ten
O'Clock every night, and besure you dom,
let in any tramps or travelling agents, or
lightning-rod men
I'm be very. very careful said
Gypsy
~We shall be back on Friday" said
Mn. Black. without fail and if YOU
have any leisure time. you can turn the
sheets in the wash-basket. and darn the
thin places in the back parlor Garnet, and
rip up al your fathers old clothes and
cut them into carpet rags"
70 Mrs. Black climbed intothe carryall
where her husband and Malvina were al
ready seated, and drove away. calling out
directions to Gypsy a long as the house
was in sight
The heads Of the family had not been
gone for more than two hours, when
GYPSY came flying ont to the kitchen,
where Nancy was making soft soap.
"ob. Nancy. what shall do ," cried 1
she. Hers Mr.. Meredith at the door"
Why, 60 up and see him, of course"
said Nancy. who was one Of the smart. I
brrsiness-like New England helps who /
are becoming. as a race. extinct
Can't | tell him that father and 4
mother have gone away pleaded 4
Ciipsy
Nonsense - said Nancy, stirring des 4
perately away at her monster kettle. /
e You don't suppose its your father and /
mother that be comes to see. do you? Oh. 1
dear and there isn't scrap Of fresh mest 4
in the house Thought boiled eggs and I
smoked beef would do for our noon
bite
so ii will said Gypsy. If we make /
things too agreeable for him, Nancy, he'll 4
stay too long
Nancy looked around in arnazemeni
And don't you want him to stay o.
said she.
Nor cried Gypsy, with startled look
a. sorne unseen umbrella handle raped 4
smartly on the door beyond. can't
endure him. Nancy IL hate him r
And then she burst into storm of /
iears.
Nancy eonpreheu,ied in an instant
Poor dear said she . 30 that's the !
way the wind blows. Is 1t? II Is
shame Never mind, Gypsy well settle
him~
Settle him - vaguely repeated the
girl.
Hush = said brisk Nancy go and
let him in know the man Ny cous-
in. Mahala Potts, lived housekeeper TO
him for year. He's one of those people
that want everything TO so smooth New
er would let Mahala whitewash ceiling
or scrub of ceiling with sand and soap