Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-04-16
Barbara's Corner. Cupboard.

"Where be you a-goin', Barbary ?
qnavered Grandma FELTON,, picking
up dropped stitch in her knitting
and CHANGING inquiringly at the trim
little figure that came tripping down
stairs into the great sunshiny kitchen
"Only up to the cottage, grandma,
replied Barbara, cheerfully, pausine
to adjust her dainty shade-hat before
the old brass-framed mirror, and
smiling at the decidedly pretty face
reflected therein. I'll be home in time
to get supper don't you take an extra
STEP" she added, giving a finishing
touch to crimp and curl.
Flows John getting along with
inside ?" pursued grandma, pinning
the knitting.sheath more firmly TO her
side. "Tell you what, Barbary he's
mighty clever-can turn his hand to
anything. You're powerful lucky
girl, nodding her head emphatically,
$50 | am-the very luckiest girl in
the world" responded Barbary, heart.
lily. "John is getting on famously-
the south chamber is all completed.
! am going to nail down the carpet,
this afternoon. He's fnishing.up in
the kitchen, to-day and that reminds
me that | must tell him to alter that
corner cup-board-it dosen't suit me. ,
AS she spoke, she drew on her glove;
with business-air, while tiny frowr
settled between the brown eyes.
Nov, Barbary, be keerful-remon
strated grandma, anxiously, removing
her glasses and polishing them with {
corner of her blue-checked apron
"John's spent heap o time on tina
air cupboard"
ooh, never you fear, grandma,
laughed Barbary. "Why, JohI
wouldn't refuse me anything in the
world" with glad proud ring in her
voice.
"Well, mebbe he wouldn't, mebbt
he wouldn't" replied grandma, eau
tiously, unrolling her ball preparatory
to a new round in her stocking but
I'd speak kinder softly.like. Mel
folks is easy riled, you know" sh'
added. alphabetically; the best OF
'em won't stand much fault fndin'."
w'll be a model of liscre ton,
chirped Barbary, settling the old lady
cap straight and smoothing back
stray lock Of snowy hair. "Now don
you worry, grandma" stepping out oil
the broad stone doorstep and opening
her sun-shade.
Grandma rose slowly from the oil,
rocker and walked feebly to the door
the forgotten ball of yarn rolling after
in and out, round table and chair
making bright scarlet tanglc on thu
spotless floor.
"She's high-sperited little creeter
Barbary is" shading her dim blu'
eyes and pecring after the girl, jus
pausing at the gate to pluck the old
fashioned red roses. "She's Polly's
own darter; I'm afeard I've kinder
spilled the child" with a sigh. as she
disentangled her feet from the yarn
"Well, Johns the soul o patience
and he's mighty fond O. Barbary
Mebbe twill all come right. P'r'ap'
experienced sober her-it does the
most OH u.s." And grandma wiped
her eyes and resumed her knitting.
Twenty years he fore. Grandma
Felton's only remaining daughter had
been the life of the whole neighbor.
hood. The gayest Of the gay, nc
merrymaking was considered complete
without pretty Polly Felton," as she
was familiarly called. At the age OF
eighteen, she married her lifelong
playmate, Charlie Warren, the prime
mover and partner of all her child
hoods mischief and girlhood's pranks
When golden-haired brown-eyed Bar.
barry came, the three children" a,
grandma fondly called them, lived q
happy life, almost unrufiled by a care
The third anniversary of the wedding
drew nigh, and Polly declared, will
the charming insistence nobody could
resist-least of all, CharIie-that il
could be properly celebrated only by
an excursion to Silver Pond, a beau
tiful sheet of water some ten mile.
distant. a merry party Of friends
was readily organized, and, early on
a bright June morning, the great
wagon. with is singing and laughing
freight, drew rein at the old home
stead, and deposited baby Barbara il
grandma's waiting arms Away tho,