The Worthington advance., 1890-07-31

oeeded to ''cleaf upn An examination
OF the buttery showed Bessie that the
bread was allgone: but : howl Of sifted
flower cheek by jowl with q ysast-cake,
proved that treahs baking hid. been
contemplated. One dry doughnut and the
heel Of sheet Of gingerbread told
their own tale. ss.s - = .ss s.Fs
# = wonder ifS Consin Hannah. swill
mind II make her something for sup
per? don't want to medd ], do want
TO help; shall ] cook OF not cook?
will follow mothers rule, which al
ways works we'll; she says: When In
doubt what to do try to do as you would
be done bv.' II had been away from
home all day: nursing = sIcles ohild /
know lswould enjoys nice hot supper;
so will take the liberty Of converting
those three cold, lonesome potatoes and
that little scrap OF corned beef into q
ssvory hash; that, with some hot bis
cults, fresh 9ingerbreads snd CUP Of
tea ought. not to 60 am1ss to tired,
Cousin Hannah n .s.sy.s s.y4, rssE4 @
!, While Bessie was industriously try
ing TO carry ont the sold, old rule, the
two Mrs: Fords were conversing just
outside the little post-oface.
20 Carline!' exclaimed Cousin Han.
nah. II am glad to see you. I'm in
dretful pickle! Here's letter from
Cousin Henry, up to Boston, you know,
thet I'D ought to a. got yis-day; but
that stupid boy into the Office hez only
jest give it to me. It says thet Henry's
Oldest girl is comm to visit with me q
spell, anil be here to-day; AN Cap'n
Snow says he see strange girl in the
stage with Saml Gardner this noon. so
s''pose she's a-waitin' to my house. all
alone Now, Car'line, you know l never
did have NO luck with my butter, an
this churnin' wuz wussn' ever; can't
you sell me some, jest while Henry's
girl is here?" -.
"You know, Hammer, I'm ez willin' to
oblige ez most folks be, but I'm ex-
pectin' niece O. mine to stay with me,
an l hain't goin'' to have no butter to
spare."
'Jest little mite. Car'line-jest 'nuff
fur her! I'll paw you what you ask fur
It, kin eat my own, but she can't"
Fudge! Henry's girls are no better n
you be, if that fine wife o. his has
brought EN- up to be fashionable; your
butter is plenty good 'nuR fur them.
You're always putin yourself out for
folks that don't thank you nor pay you,
more fool you! I don't. do nothin' for
nobody onless I'm goin' to git paid fur't
somehow; nobody does hands turn fur
me fur nothin', know that. Pm sorry
not to be able to oblige you, Hammer"
Mrs Hannah Ford turned away dis
appointed. She knew that Mrs. Caro-
line was not generous-hearted woman,
and that she had always been jealous of
the superior good health, prosperity and
popularity of Williams widow; but she
did think that the magic word ''pay"
would procure for her the much h-desired
butter.
'Humph!" shifted Mrs. Caroline. as
the two women separated and turned to
their respective homes ''It~ Hammer
thinks Pm goin' to help her cosset that
flibby-ty-jib girl O. Henry Meredith's,
she's mistaken. 1 made up my mind
long ago that want goin' to be over
run by none o. my husbands kin, an
when my nieces visit me they've got to
make themselves useful"
| A little later, Bessie Meredith heard
a footstep on the porch. Glancing up,
she saw stranger entering the door
| which led into the dining-loom. She
knew that it was not customary in
Ford's Mills for a neighbor to pause and
knock at another's door, so she was not
surprised at the unannounced entrance
of her visitor.
Good afternoon she said, pleasant.
ly. MRS. Ford has not returned vet
but expect her every minute; come IN
and take this rocking-chair."
Mrs. Ford is"-began the stranger.
"She went to Captain Shows this
morning, l think; his little boy is ill
Do you happen to known how he il
now?" -.
HE is some better, Doctor Adam!
sez. But-but-'
'Do you know what ails the child?'
'He he'd measles, an they didn'
come out till long towards noontime
Don't smell gingerbread?' said tn,
visitor, rising and stepping into tn.
kitchen.
At this moment fine stalwart youne
man entered the dining-room, unnoticet
Iby Bessie, and sat down where he couli
hear without being seen.
"Yes; In some, and some biscuits
thoughtl a@Ford would abe hungr,
and tired, and glad to find suppe
ready" - -. :. "a. - = = &s
"Who be you. anywav?' was the alb
rupt question put to Bessie.
II am Bessie Meredith, from Boston.
'Land sakes alive! An you ben max
in them things?, An hash, too!'' +sait
the visitor, making. herself quite a
home, and peering into the oven as i
she owned it. ''l'm bound to say the,
smell good. Well, am beat!''
"Did you think that no city girl eve,
knew how to cook?" asked Bessie
laughing. And the young man in tn.
next room was laughing, too, laughing
80 that he was almost in convulsions.
II knew Henry was terrible rich
land O. Goshen! An you've washed al
them dishes that left in the. sinkv'
"You! You are not Cousin Hannah? p
''Oh. no; an this hain't Hammer!
house, neither. That loon Saml Gard
ner jest set you down to the wrong
door. I'm Car'line Ford, Wilson,
widder; Hammers place is bout quarter
of mile off,"
'Oh, am so sorry!' exclaimed Bessie
in dismay. II beg your pardon, mos
sincerely. have never been here be
fore, and-oh. do hope you'll excuse
the liberties l have taken with you
kitchen and buttery!" -
"Sho! there bain't nothin' to excuse
I'm sure I'm dretful glad to find a goot
hot supper waitin' fur me, fur I'm abou
tuckered out. But whatever possesse<
you to think O gittin' things ready?'
Bessie explained that she had hesi
tated, fearing she would ''meddle," bu
had decided to do as she would be don,
by.
'Land sakes! Ef that hain't Hanne
all over! You an she'll hitch hose
1 A..-