The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-05-09

r rusbtbtNf W tAt t'%~~'S~<s~ e'fsfe~ 49,
hafa and walked susy. vhils BIZ sislei
wen, back 10 the house, hSS lips quiverins
little, and her head less sfsel aud defiant
~ than when she came out
Johsnns Vas the oaly chilA Of The broth
er Elihu. who had d,sd tss yssn before
Her mother had died vLSa sohsnus "a,
bora, and 10 the elevsa gssss that bad
elapsed since that sorrovfai tsy. Johapna
had become very dear 70 Ueclc Gideon and
Aunt ElecsA
Gideon hardly dared Aink what the
house would be like wishcpl johanna and
Miss Elec,s did not fully taliEs bow cruel
sue was in taking the litsls girl away.
She iboaehi more about il the nrs.
uight she and Johsnna spent in their new
hone. She and Gideon he'd been wise
and kind enough not 70 quarrel before
Johanna. and the child ooaid nos under.
stand What had caused ths change IN her
uncle aud sunts sifsirs Il gave Miss
Eec,a something OF 1hsck. whsn Johau
na said ss night came on.
There won't be spybcdy 70 get Uncle
Gideoas pipe for him scsssbt. viii there
Aunt 'Lectys Don't you s'pose be misses
his little Joey dreadful And what's be
going to do without his supperi
He's got ithimself many time when !
have been down with my rheumatic. an l
reckon be won't s,srve nov. replied Miss
Electa.
But always helped him, said Johanna,
You know you said he musssd things up
so II didu't help.
Although it was hers no longer, o Wis
sion OF the probable unused up condi-
tion OF things in the house she had left so
tidy troubled Miss Electa greatly. There
was lump 10 her throat, as she said to
herself while she made her own kitchen
tidy.
Things won't be fit to be seen in the old
house In two days. A mans IS much out
OF place in kitchen as bull 10 candy
store. Therel if didn't come away and
forget to leave any dish rags out. He'll
use a corner OF the table cloth or one Of
the best towe.s like as not. Aud don't
s'pose he'll sweep under the bed once
mouth, aud the milk.pans will get sour,
and his bed II never be aired. and Il wish
that roam colt was in Guinea!
She rocked vigorously to and fro in her
creaking little rocking chair. and dashed
away tear or two as she took down her
scsnty, irou-srsy hair, and began getting
ready for bed.
The little house that Miss Electa now
lived in was on a strip Of meadow land
close to a narrow. shallow river, while
Gideon's house stood on little hill nearly
a mile distant The houses were iu plain
sight OF each other, aud the occupants OF
each looked toward the other many times
every day, and always with more or less
longing for the peaceful days that were
gone. Each, however, was too stubborn
to make an advance toward reconcilia
tion, and the breech between them seemed
growing as the days wore on.
They had not met since the day Miss
Elects bad left the old home; but they
heard often Of each other, for Johanna
had worn path across the meadow, and
by the roadside between the two houses.
She went up to see Uncle Gideon every
day and often twice day. He was "stift-
ing for himself" now, TO Miss Electa's dis
tress and dissatisfaction.
1 reckoned that, Of course, he'd get q
housekeeper right Off, she said to herself.
Things must be 10 purity clutter up
there.
The reports that Johanna brought back
strengthened this conviction.
Oh, aunty. said Johann, one day. Un-
Gle Gideon amt bit nice housekeeper.
Why don't you 80 and clean things up for
bin? Just think be only washes the dish
es bout once week, snd then be washes
them in the big wooden bread bowl.
o o oh myl exclaimed Miss Peak.
And just think. be put crackers on the
table right in the bag, and nolasses 10 the
Jug. and be fried potatoes the other day
10 the big glass preserve dish you kept for
and today he wiped the dishes
on the table cloth, and the table cloth was
one OF your linen sheetsl
Don't tell me any more,, OF shall 60
crazy cried Miss Peak.
Uncle Gideon was also solicitous about
his sisters comfort
How does your Aunt Lecty git along?
ie often asked OF johanna. Who splits
ler xood for her and gels the kindIin'?
Oh, she splits most OF it herself, and
,icks up good deal OF drift wood down
IN the river bank.
Humph! said Uncls Gideon. She'll
,ring on her rheumatic II she goes TO
raipsin' around on thst river bottom.
Does she milk tho old COW herself?
Yes, she does, and it kicked her head
'yer heels four times.
l amt q might s'prised That COW never
vould stand woman foolin' round. Well
Lecsy's gritty. and il any woman kin milk
be COW. reckon she kin.
Gritty though she was. there were ,
ines when Miss Elects felt her weakness
nd dependence as woman. and longed
or the help OF Gideon's good, right arm.
nd the comfort she had once found in his |
ociely. There were times when both OF .
hem heartily wished tbs, the sleek colt.
licking up its heels In the pasture lot, {
eedless Of the misery 1t had wrong ht, hsd d
ever been born.
Tue summer wore away without the