The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-12-05
Fanny noticed the incredulity in her

her tired aunt's lips and correctly inter-
preted it,
"Maybe you think I can't iron9" she
pleasantly said. "Just you wait and
see"
"But the dress you have on, Miss At
, woodl It"
/ "Was selected for service, completed
Fanny. ''Of course I'll put ON one of
your aprons"
When George Henderson returned
from his Grand, he heard some one sing
ing cheerily in the kitchen. He stepped
in and saw his niece ironing away as
deity as if she had spent the best part of
her life at it. She made such pretty
picture that he stood still and looked at
| her.
Show do you do, uncle2" a twinkle of
merriment in her brown eyes; then she
went and kissed him, standing on tip-toe
to do so.
SIN glad you've come, Fanny" he
said with heartiness. 81 suppose Matte
explained why did not meet you at the
stations But, why are you ironings
Where is Mattie9"
"She is lying down, uncle. She fell
and sprained her ankle"
Mr., Henderson stepped into the sitting
room, look of concern on his face.
"Why, dear, how did this happen?"
he kindly asked.
sob, how does anything happen3" she
replied, little querulously. Through
my own awkwardness, no doubt. l al
most tainted, the pain was so great"
'Does it pain you now, dear?"
81 am glad to say that it doesn't"
III battle it with sugar of lead water"
he said. "There isn't anything better"
''Fanny has already done that" re-
piled the wife. ''It was her own sugges-
ton"
"Ohw CALCULATED Mr.. Henderson, with
increasing appreciation of his niece.
"And she insists upon ironing. A
pretty mess she'll make of it!'
"Well, maybe not" Mr.. Henderson
said in quiet tone. 81 watched her
little while. Matte, you are a good ironer,
but she is your equal"
"Oh, nonsense, George" exclaimed
his wife. ''Rearod in the city, as she
has been"
Didn't necessarily make her lazy,
silly, novel reading imbecile," interrup.
ted her husband. perhaps we haven't
been just to Fanny. l think she is
solid, energetic, capable sort of girl,
and it is lucky that she came"
"Well, l hope it may prove so, doubt
ingly reioined the wife. George, there's
the butter."
"Tll churn that" he said. oven get
along Just keep your mind at ease.
You will get about much sooner if you
do
Fanny Atwood prepared dinner, now
and then slipping into the sitting room to
wet the bandage, and to chat in her
CHEEKY way with her patient.
On the third day Mrs. Henderson was
able to hobble to the kitchen, where she
found everything in most excellent
order
"Look at my currant jelly" Fanny
proudly said, as she held up one of the
glass jars to the light. 1t was translucent
and bright as ruby tinted wine.
at is very NICE" Mrs. Henderson said.
GLOW much sugar did you take?"
Pound for pound" replied Fanny.
~ wasn't extravagant, was II"
"You were wise," her aunt said with
smile.
She opened the door leading into the
cellar.
Fanny, did you whitewash the stair
way?" she asked in surprise.
eyes, auntie. 1t needed it. I knew
you meant to do it, for saw you had
Stacked the lime. Isn't it nicely done?"
every nicely" Mrs. Henderson said.
''But it wasn't right for you to do it..
Surely your hands"
'Look at Them" Fanny SAID, laugh
ing. "They are as white and soft as
any lady's. l put gloves on-and then
l have a sort of dainty way of working.
| can do it well without pitching into it
all over. If it was right for you to
whitewash the cellar way, it was right
for me to whitewash it. / came here to
help you and to spare you; to ride the
horses, to go to the mill with Uncle
George, and to make myself useful and
welcome. If you are not going to let
me work, or have any fun, why, I'll go
right back to New York"
She spoke with voluble earnestness,
her gestures rapid, her dimples dancing.
Mrs. Matte Henderson sat down in a
chair and cried
"Why, aunt, what is the matter9"
asked Fanny, her brown eyes widening.
81 hope didn't say anything -"
"No, dear, you didn't" replied Mrs.
Henderson in broken voice. 81 am
crying because am ashamed of myself
because have been so unkind to you in
my thoughts. l supposed that you would
annoy me, and hinder me; that you
would be helpless, selfish, fault-fnding;
"But you think more kindly of me
now, do you not9" interrupted Fanny,
her hands moving caressingly over her
aunts hair.
''Most certainly l do replied Mrs.
Henderson, explosively. "That is why
confess my injustice-why | want to
make amends why l."
Don't mind it, aunty," said the sweet,
forgiving, sympathetic voice. ~ don't
censure you, and it's all right now.
There may be-and, in fact, there are
listless frivolous, helpless girls in New
York city-and in other cities-but am
not one of them If was, am afraid
| | would despise myself y
II am glad you have come, Fanny, and
| will be sorry when you CO." Mrs.
Henderson said, and she meant it. s'My
prejudices misled me, and have been
taught lesson. Hereafter I'll not be so
hasty in estimating people, especially be
fore l have met them. "-Detroit Free
| Press.