The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-07-04
Mabel's Hundred-DOllar Bill.


Ruth, DEAR" said Mabel Brinley,
aged fifteen, lingering bunch of keys
with one hand in the pocket of her
pretty apron and holding the other
hand tightly closed over something still
more precious, "it's full time you were
getting ready for school," For, as if
nothing were to be wanting to convince
the speaker that she was a grown-up
young lady and housekeeper in good
earnest, her own summer vacation had
begun, while Ruth had still two weeks
of school, Maysvile being a place
where Mabel, with her city experiences,
called still very much the country,
although she loved it dearly.
eyes" answered little Ruth, twelve,
"only, Nab, do wait until the train has
got out of hearing with papa and
mamma before you put on such tre-
mendous airs, even if you have got a
hundred dollars to spend all yourself. 1t
isnt't all for you, you know, it's for the
whole of US; part of it is mine, too"
Certainly, dear, only am to spend
it for you. 1t is for the benefit of the
whole family. But don't talk it so
loud, Ruth, and don't tell anybody-not
until afterward-or somebody might
steal it,"
81 guess my friends don't steal,"
retorted Ruth.
No, child, but then somebody might
overhear, might be hid in the bushes. !"
"Oh," said Ruth, looking with new
interest at the clump of syringas.
"We'll have jolly time, Nab, if you
don't hold too tight rein over u.s."
"Ruth!"
"Well, l won't any more. We shall
miss father and mother awfully, though.
But it'll be only for ten days"
" Perhaps fortnight" corrected
Mabel.
"Say, Nab, are"
But hand laid for an instant over
her mouth checked her.
/" Ruth" cried Mabel, " | had rather
have you talk any slang than begin
your sentences say Nothing can be
more vulgar. Now ask properly what
you have to ask"
"'Say = nothing" answered the
little girl
every well, then. | must 90 at once
and see about having the dinner sent
up. Hurry, and I'll drop you at your
school on my way. l shall take Roger
when Dennis brings him back from the
station.' And with a stately step
Mabel swept into the house.
Ruth stood looking after her at first
with sigh. Then she consoled her.
self with the reflection that by-and-by
Nab would forget her new importance
and be jolly again. 81 should feel big
to be ahousekeeper," she said to her.
self. 81 wonder if | ever shall be.
But there's the old school to be got
through with first. No, Nab hasn't
finished hers. know what I'll do, I'll
keep on growing and look out for vaca-
tons" And Ruth measured her height
against the door-post as she still stood
on the piazza, and then before going
to make ready for school sent her glance
wandering over the lawn, green as
June could make it, and up into the
branches of the elm trees at hand, hall
hidden in their masses of leaves, and
beyond these into the brilliant sky that
smiled upon her, so that Ruth could
not help smiling back again and ran of
smiling.
Mabel's first care was to put away hel
money. She changed its hiding place
twice before she found one secure
enough. How faithful she was going
to be with this money! Yes, of course
faithful, but how judicious She would
surprise her mother, who had been 6
little anxious about giving her this re-
sponsibility, and justify her fathers
confidence in her. She went into the
kitchen.
Mary" she said to the cook, "
shall send up some beef for a roast foi
dinner and the vegetables. How many
pounds shall l get? You know dom
want to have any of us starve."
"No, indeed" answered Mary, a,
she told her, "and / am shure yell
make the beautifullest housekeepel
that liver was, barrin' yure mother, ant
jist as good as herself, and why not?"
Mabel saw no reason for disagreein!
with her.
In the stores she walked about eXamin
ing her purchases with a judicial al
which expressed more knowledge thai
Mrs. Brinley ever felt herself to possess
But she sent home fine dinner ant
did not forget strawberries for dessert
After this was bought she let her eye
range from shelf to shelf of the stores Il
see if there was anything that might b
wanted which Mary had forgotten t.
mention, for she had heard her fathe
tell her mother, in speaking of tn
amount of money to be left with Mabel
that he was determined to do the thin
handsomely. Mabel was also deter
mined to do it handsomely. 1t struc
her that she and Ruth would be able t
do very little toward disposing of al
that she had been buying. But, then
there were the two girls in the kitchen
and Dennis, the out-of-door man. An
she had her reputation as housekeepe
to make. And besides-the I" besides
was that she had invited two friends t
dinner. Mrs. Brinley had advised he