Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-07-23
MabePS HUnGred-DOllar
Bill.


still more precious, 'sit's full time
you were getting ready for school,"
For, as if nothing were to be want
ing to convince the speaker that she
was 9. grown-up young lady, and a
housekeeper in good earnest, her own
summer vacation had begun, while
Ruth had still two weeks of school,
Maysville being place which Mabel,
with her city experiences, called still
very much the country, although she
loved it dearly.
eyes, answered little Ruth, twelve,
ssonly, 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
hundred dollars to spend all yourself.
1t isn't all for you, you know, it's for
the whole of us; part of it is mine,
too"
'sCertainly, dear, only 1 am to
spend it for you. 1t is for the bene-
fit 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.
'EWe'll have jolly time, Nab, if you
don't hold too tight rein over u.s."
'sRuth p
"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, 81 had rath-
er have you talk any slang than be-
gin your sentences SAY Now ask
properly what you have to ask
"'Say'- nothing" answered the
little girl.
every we'll, then. l must go at
once and see about having the dinner
sent up. Hurry, and I'll drop you
at your school on my way | shall
take Roger when Dennis brings him
back from the station" And w.
.,s...1Iy sJep mat swept into the /
house.
Ruth stood looking after her at
first with sigh. Then she consoled
herself with the reflection that by-and-
by Nab would forget her new import
ance and be jolly again. 81 sh 0uld
feel big to be a housekeeper," she
said to herself. 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'l keep on growing and
look out for vacations" 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, half hidden in
their masses of leaves, and beyond
these into the brilliant sky that smil-
ed upon her, so that Ruth could not
help smiling back again and ran off
smiling.
Mabel's first care was to put away
her money. She changed its hiding
place three times before she found
one secure enough. How faithful
she was going to be with this money
Yes, of course faithful, but how ju-
dicious She would surprise her moth
er, who had been a little anxious
about giving her this responsibility,
and justify her fathers confidence in
her. She went into the kitchen.
"Mary," she said to the cook, Il
shall send up some beef for roast
for dinner and the vegetables. How
many pounds shall 1 get? You know
I don't want to have any of us starve.
"No, indeed,'' answered Mary, as
she told her, 'and / am shure yell
make the beautifullest housekeeper
that iver was, barrin' yure mother,
and jist as good as herself, and why
not ?''
Mabel saw no reason for disagree
ing with her.
In the stores she walked about ex- :
amining her purchases with judicial 8
air which expressed more knowledge
than Mrs. Brinley ever felt herself to
possess. But she sent home fine {
dinner and did not forget strawber- s
ries for dessert. After this was bot G
she let her eyes range from shelf to {
shelf of the stores to see if there was i
anything that might be wanted which I
Mary had forgotten to mention, for /
she had heard her father tell her e
in speaking of the amount v
of money to be left with Mabel, that t
he was determined to do the thing b
1t struck her that she il
and Ruth would be able to do very 1
little toward disposing of all that she :
had been buying. But, then, there t
were the two girls in the kitchen, and o
Dennis, the out of door man. And b
she had her reputation as a house :