South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-02-22

NV 6t'S oP haS ~ >AN
kitchen below.
A score Of times q day she would
call Janet from her work TO know
what she was at, and what che in
tende doing next. Countless orders
issued from her chamber.
These idiosy ncrasies added greatly
TO Janets fatigue, as she toilsd
through the day, aud she actually
sobbed with WEAKNESS Que night,
as she commenced to bring in the
wood.
She was standing in the wood
shed. Suddenly she heard step on
the gravel of the pa.h in the yard.
was Mr.. Dent. He had not gone.
He came swinging along in his
shirt sleeves, his linen duster over
his arm.
How rich. and prosperous, and
happy he was!
Janet did not desire to dispossess
Mr.. Dent of his good fortune, but
she thought it hard that little OF
the brightness OF life could not be
hers. But when Mr.. Dent came OPP
posite the shed door, the happy light
died out OF his pleasant gray eyes.
Well 1t might. Janet did not
dream what pitiful sight her poor
little tearsstained face was.
Mr.. Dent spoke cheerily.
All work and no play makes Jill a
dull girl. doesn't it p he said, taking
the basket from her hand and in mo-
ment carrying it. loaded, into the
Kitchen. You have too much TO do |;
the spirit is willing. but the flesh is
weak
When Mr.. Dent had filed the big
wood boxes so the covers would hard
ly shut down. he said:
My arms are strong, and they shall
be at your servi % while 1 stay here,
though il will be only a day or two
longer. l shall be quite AT leisure
tomorrow or next day, and you eau
call on mo whenever you like.
Much as Janet was pleased, she
never would have dreamed of taking
the gentleman ct his word; but the
next morning proved rainy one, so
that Mr.. Dents chamber, being cold
and no fire lighted i'll the sitting
room, he came into the kitchen with
his book and ensconced himself in
tho great rocking chair beside the
stove.
That was the pleasantest day OF
Janel's life. Mr.. Dent told her such
funny stories, aud read so beautifully
from his great book and then, he
filled the water.pails, and kept the
fire burning, and jumped up TO lift
the heavy tubs for her, and sat down
again TO keep the bread from burn
ing, while she carried MIS-. THUS
dinner up.
And while he was ding all this
Mr.. Dent vas thinking what dear
little patient thing she was, and how
PRETTY the Dut-brown hair curled
over her head.
at night he flied the boxes wi b
wood, strained the milk, wound the
high clock and turned the cats out ;
and al day he had had q jest for eve
rything, and a genial glance and O
kind tone, that turned darkness into
light for Janet.
She sighed with happiness as she
went to sleep, though Mrs. Titus
good night wcrd had been that 'she
was lazy, good for.nothing thing J.
and that she should be down stairs
to- morrow to see what Janet was
up to-
The northeast storm continued, and
Mr.. Deaf was sitting by the fire a
gain, when Mrs. Titus limped into the
kitchen with cane.
Now, Mr. Dent had just been chop.
ping mincs. meat, with Mrs. Titus
gingham apron and ruffled cap on,
and had barely cast them aside, VII en-
the lady opened the door and caught
Janet laughing.
She might we'll have looked amazed
for she never had seen Janet laugh
ing before. Now, why she probably
could not have told, but Mrs. Titus
was very much offended.
She waited until dinner was served.
and Janet had gone into the we'll
room TO cool the pudding; then she
began bitter TRADE:
Pretty business this is, giggling
and fooling your time away and eve-
ry thing TO dol Mr.. Dents been
reading poetry 10 you. has he ? How
much more churning can you do
when you listen TO poetry Have
you baked that truit-cake? Well, |
know it's made wrong bid you shut
that settin' hen off the nest / don't
believe IL. What's Mr.. Dent ia the
Kitchen for, any way p
For tho Gre, ma'am. TIE cham
bers are so chilly. And ! bad 80
much TO do. and lie was kind, and
his arms were strong faIlercd poor
little Janet.
'Umpl Been complaining TO SIR.
Dent, have you, that you work so
hard P Whining, good-for- nothing
creature wish I'd left you in the
asylum. / never thought OF your
turning out like tbis-luring men in
TO my Kitchen when I'm sick In bed
stop, Mrs. Titusp interposed Mr
Dents heavy voice. Better not 20
TOO far. Janet has told you all there
is 10 tell. I did think she worked
too hard / felt kindly toward Der.
| hare a pair Of strong arms which
have helped her little. And they
st.n a