Huntsville gazette., 1886-05-15
HOUSE-CLEANING DAYS.
Cousin Grimgooke Objected to
Them and the Reason Why.


Nobody knew exactly what relation
Mr. Grimgooke was to Classy and Cora.
sEtfa If any one had sat down to examine
the fatnily genealogical tree, he might
possibly have studied it out. There
certainly existed some tie Of consan-
se guinity, for Classy and Cora had al
ways lived under the shadow of the Old
- m gentleman's roof, mended his stock
## ings put up with his freaks of temper,
and cooked his meals just exactly as he
EM liked them. Their father had been
~ sea captain. who vanished out of the
world as mysterously sea captains
often do, sailing away one golden
tumn day and returning more; and
Cousin Grimgooke's wife had charit-
ably taken the two orphaned girls to
live with her. And when Mrs. Grim
cooke, too, sailed away into the great
ocean of the unknown, Classy and Cora
remained as if they belonged there,
and succeeded to all her housewfely
cares and duties with willing hearts.
Mr.. Grimgooke a very poor
man; at least he said he was; and it
was really difficult thing to screw
money out of him for the various
-.a. household expenses of the establish
ment. Classy, being skilled with the
needle, learned the dressmaking
trade, and clothed herself with the re-
suits of her own work. And Cora
taught the nearest district school
house, and earned fourteen dollars
month, half of which she religiously
paid into the housekeeping Golfer.
"Save all you can, girls! Save all
you can't said Mr.. Grimgooke dolor-
ously. ''I'm poor man myself; and
when I'm dead and decenty buried,
there won't be much left for you to
live on.''
"Yes, Cousin Grimgooke," said
Classy and Cora, meekly.
s&& 'sBut you aint careful as you
might be- persisted Mr.. Grimgooke.
.Cassy oughtn't to be wearing that
good gown around the house of a
morning. And Cora threw very
good little pitcher out of the window
yesterday
.But, Cousin Grimgooke,'' pleaded
SO Classy, 'the dress is dyed, and has
been turned twice!''
~ ..And that pitcher is cracked from
top to bottom,'' said Cora. sit won't
hold water
Putty it up, then, putty it up" said
Mr.. Grimgooke, with earnestness. Il
do like to see economy in little things!
Ef# Now there's the carpets on the floors
Last year you wore em Out-beating
them with stick Now don't take 'em
up this year at ALL
A"But what are we to do Cousin
g Grimgooke, at house cleaning timer"
said Cora.
..Why, clean, of course" said Mr..
- Grimgooke. "And sweep. And dust
But YOU needn't thrash every thing to
-. pieces, need youP"
..But every one takes up their car
pets when they clean house" urged
Classy.
ua That's woman all over!" said Mr..
Grimgooke. because other women
make fools of themselves isit necessary
that you should do so''
Neither Classy nor Cora were pre-
pared to answer this question at mo-
80 ment's notice. 80 they wisely held
~ NJ Grv DO %r
yus umphantly fell to reading the newspa-
aa pers.
Nevertheless, the two Grimgooke
girls were not exempt from the weak
saa nesses of the feminine soul, so, when
one day the old man announced that
ssAsa ss-1 he was going to Shreveport, the near
nv est town, to be absent for couple of
days, Classy and Cora exchanged
glances behind his pepper -and-salt-
Clothed back. And one glance-the
soft, shy one of Cora-asked plain
.sea Is words could do: ''Shall we clean
house?" While Cassy's electric blue
orbs flashed back unmistakable:
naa 1--WE shall clean house"
.r And no sooner was Mr.. Grimgooke
well out of sight than Classy ran to stir
up the whitewash pail and to slake new
~ Jumps of lime, while Cora fastened,
with the aid of an old lead spoon and a
garden trowel-the scientific 'carpet-
.a4 j litter was far beyond her ambition-to
1 take up the fadedoad carpets in the up
cousin Grimgooke never need
know it, said she. as if apologizng to
asa his vaccnt chair ..And these bed
room carpets are perfectiy-AacfuIr -
with very big A. indeed). "I'll
s-..-A - beat them myself with little twig
-. ., nom tho Balm of Gilead tree said
Classy, sand that can't wear them
out"
Shs had not halt finished whitewash-
IS a Ing the Kitchen calling. however. when
Cora startled her with csy OF sur'
Pass ' =.