Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-09-30
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George.
81 don't know anything else for
you to do" remarked Lefty, dryly.
"Humph !" observed that Lord and
master. "What's for the breakfast p
"Ham and eggs, 1 suppose"
"Well, I'm up to that part of the
programme, at least" said he cheer
fully.
go! What is the use of keeping
your knives so sharp? I've already
nearly cut my thumb off Where do
you keep the oatmeal? 1 can be at
tending to your old milk-pans while
the breakfast is cooking, suppose.
There is nothing like economy in
work"
But it was q mortal hour before
the milk was strained and the pigs
fed, and by that time the house was
blue with sort of smudgy smoke.
"Hullo," shouted George, coming
in. sWhat's all this-is the house
on fire"
"No," said Lefty calmly, "only
the breakfast has burned up
George uttered a long sigh.
"Who'd have thought the fire was
L Il -
do, now?"
"Cook another, L suppose" said
Lefty.
ssAnd what next?" demanded
George, fiercely.
"Why, set the table, and then
clear it away and wash the dishes.
"With this cut fnger?" complain
ed the husband.
81 was obliged to do it all the
weeks I had felon on my little fin
ger" remarked Lefty. ''The young
geese and turkeys ought to have been
let out and fed long before this: and
the three calves in the barnyard
to be attended to. And then there
are the kitchen and sitting-room to
be swept and busted, and the beds to
be made, and the string beans to be
picked, and the bread to bake, and
the huckle-berry pies to make, and
your white vest to be ironed, and the
potatoes to be peeled, and the pre-
serves to be scalded over, and the
cheese to be turned, and the table to
be cleared and the dishes to be wash
ed
'sHold on - cried George; "you
have said that once"
every likely, but it has to be done
three times a day-and the chickens
to be looked after, and the linen pill
low-cases to be put out to bleaching,
and windows to be washed, and your
trousers to be patched, and the stock
ings to be darned, and the fire to be
made up again, and the tea to be
know you always
want something hot for supper. And
there's the night milk to be brought
in and strained, and the pans scalded.
and the geese to be fed and put into
their coops; and O, dear! l for
got about the churning That will
take an hour at least. But dear
George, am getting hungry, and l
don't see the least sign of breakfast.
George where are you going? l
want my breakfast"
But George had disappeared in the
midst of her exordium.
In twenty minutes or SO he return
ed, and by his side trudged Mary
Ann Putt, the nearest neighbours
twenty-year-old daughter.
81 take it all back" said Mr..
White. 81 lower my colors, Lefty.
Your work is harder than mine. Why,
couldn't take care of the milk and
cream for the wages a girl would
ask. l never realized before how
much a woman had to do"
care you quite sure that you real
ize it now?' asked Lefty mischiev-
ously.
"Well, I've got pretty fair idea
on the subject" nodded George.
:sBut you should be here on wash
ing day." said Lefty, "or on ironing
day, or on the day when we chop
or make soft soap,
Or
"Stop, stop!' shouted George.
''If you say another word I'll go for
Blinks too. Haven't | said
I'll take it all back? What more
would you have?"
"Wal, SQUIRE" said Mary Ann.
who by this time had removed her
hat and shawl, "What'll do first?''
"Do!" echoed Mr.. White. "Do
everything and let me go off to the
bayfield, as fast as / can"
"Jes' as your orders is" said
Mary Ann.
"And L say, Lefty" he added.
eyes George"
"Write to your cousin Dora. Tell
her We'll be glad to board her if she
will assist you about the house,
"But you've hired Mary Ann p
"There's work for 'em both" said
Mr.. White.
And he sat down and took refuge
in his last weeks paper while Mary
Ann wrestled with the charred re-
mains of the breakfast, and cut
fresh slices of home-cured ham.
In this world are bloodless battles
and victories without the clash of