Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-01

az is certainly a great Improvement"
said Horace.
"a great Improvement echoed the other.
echo" is the right word-even their voices
were alike.
Ina contented frame of mind they resumed
their seats, their claret, and their cigarettes.
The great Improvement was this
For some time past these excellent house
keepers had been sorely exercised by the con-
ventional way in which laundresses fold table
cloths. They did not like the appearance of
the three long creases on the snowy eXpanse.
They turned their inventive abilities to ac-
count, and week ago walked down to the
residence, redolent of soap and hot water, of
the woman who did the washing, and startled
the poor creature out of her wits by in
sisting upon their table cloths being folded
in a new and improved fashion. They even
demonstrated their meaning by a practical
experiment, and so impressed the nymph Of
the wash tub and mangle with the importance
they attached to the matter that she had
actually managed to learn her lesson well
enough for the result of their teaching to
give them great satisfaction
Coffee was brought in, and the two gentle
men were about to leave the dining room,
when the Rev. Mr.. Morde was announced
always a welcome guest at Lakewood House.
1t was an unspoken axiom of the Talberts that
the church set the seal of fitness upon her SER
wants, or at least upon her upper servants.
Organ blowers, parish clerks and pew openers
were the lower servants-so, all things being
equal clergyman could always break
through the exclusiveneSs which reigned at
Lakewood House. Mr.. Mordle was clever in
his way, full of talk, and of course knew
every in and out of the parish, in the admin
stration to the wants of which he must have
found the Talberts great assistance All
great men have their weaknesses-perhaps
their friendship for Mr.. Mordle was the Tai
berts' weakness. But then they dearly loved
having finger in the parochial pie, leaving
out of the question the fact that they liked the
curate, and in the Kindness of their hearts
pitied his loneliness. Sc he often dropped in
like this, upinvited and no doubt felt the
privilege to be "A great honor.
On Mr.. Mordles side, he could thoroughly
appreciate humor, the more so when its exist
ence quite unsuspected by the sedate
humorist To him the study of Horace and
Herbert was matter of keen and enduring
delight.
They rose and greeted him. Excuse me-"
said Horace rather nervously, did"
eyes, | did answered the curate briskly
81 rubbed them-I scrubbed them-my feet
feel red hot, | could dance minuet on your
tablecloth without soiling it,
The redundancy of the answer set their
minds at rest. The bugbear of their domestic
lives was persons entering their rooms with
out having first wiped their shoes as every
Christian gentleman should The hall door
was so heavily armed with mats and scrapers
that such an omission seemed an impossibility.
Yet sometimes it did occur and its effects
were terrible-almost tragic.
Horace rang for more claret: Herbert
passed his cigarette case, and the three men
chatted for while on various subjects.
Presently said Horace with sad decision:
"Ann jenkins came to us the day before
yesterday. She told piteous tale We gave
her five shillings."
VERY good of you" said the curate; ''she
has large family-nine, l think"
Eyes, but we are sorry now that we gave
the money. We are sure she is not careful,
thrifty woman"
The curate's eyes twinkled. He knew Ann
Jenkins well-too we'll
Careful and thrifty people wouldn't want
your half-crowns But how did you find out
her true characterf
Mr.. Morde expected to hear mournful ac-
count Of domiciliary visit to Ann jenkins
and dissertation upon the various and almost
original stages of untidiness in which his
friends had found her numerous progeny
But the truth was better than he had bar
gained for.
1--WE walked behind her across the field this
morning." said Horace, with grave regret
'When she got over the stile we saw she had
on two odd stockings black one and gray
one-or blue and gray, | am not certain
which,
blue and gray" said Herbert, 81 noticed
particularly"
Her tastes, like yours" said the curate
'may be cultured enough to avoid Philistini,
uniformity
sob dear, no." said Herbert, seriously
"We argue in tins way. The woman has two
pairs of stockings"
81 doubt it," said the curate. "But nevel
mind-go on" His friends were SURPRISING
themselvesl
'Sbe has two pairs-one gray, the othel
blue or black. She has worn one stocking
into holes. Instead Of sitting down anC
darning it, like a decent body, she simpl,
puts on one of the other pair"
'Why doesn't she put on the other pai
altogether" asked Mr.. Mordle.
"Because," said Horace, triumphantly, ''on
stocling Of that pair is in the same dilapi
dated condition; so her conducts doubly bad
As said, she is not deserving woman"
"Granting your premises" said Mr.. Mordle
''your argument is not illogical. You
reas ming appears sound, your deduction
correct. But"
The curate was preparing for deliciou
battle on this subject, well worn or otherwise
OF Ann Jenkins hose: He meant to lear
why one stocking of either pair should wea
out before its fellow, and many other fancltu
combinations were forming themselves III III
subtle brain, when the interest in the nende
or unmcnded stockings was extingui,hed b.
fine entrance of the Talberts' i'Teproa"hablt