Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-01-17
nuu why are you ironings Where i Mattieg'

buJ why are you ironing! Where Il Matties"
''She is lying down, uncle. She fell and
sprained her ankle"
Mr.. Henderson stepped into the sitting
room, a look of concern on his face.
"Why, dear, how did this happen2"
"Oh, how does anything happena" she re-
piled, little ENORMOUSLY. Through my
own awkwardness, no doubt. almost faint
ed, the pain was SO great"
"Does it pain you now, dearg'
81 am glad to say that it doesn't"
''Ill battle it in sugar of lead water, !" he
said. ''There isn't anything better"
''Fanny has already done that" replied
the wife. sit was her own SUGGESTION
"Oh," CALCULATED Mr.. Henderson, with in
creasing appreciation of his niece.
''And she insists upon ironing. A pretty
mess she'll make of It'll"
swell, maybe not" Mr.. Henderson said in
a quiet tone. 81 watched her little while
Matte, you are a good ironer, but she is your
equal"
sob, nonsense, George!" exclaimed his
wife. ''Reared in the city, as she has been"-
Didn't necessarily make her lazy, silly,
novel reading imbecile," interrupted her
husband. perhaps we haven't been just to
Fanny. I think she is solid, energetic, ca
pable sort of girl, and it is lucky that she
came''
swell, hope it may prove SO" doubtingiy
reioined the wife. ''George, there's the but
terI'
cpl churn that" he said. "Wen get
along. just you keep your mind at ease. You
will get about much sooner if you do.'
Fanny Atwood prepared dinner, now and
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 proud
ly said, as she held up one of the glass jars
to the light. 1t was translucent and bright
as ruby tinted wine.
sit is very NICE" Mrs. Henderson said.
''How much sugar did you takea"
"Pound for pound" replied Fanny, IT
wasn't extravaganza, was II"
"You were WISE" her aunt said with q
smile.
She opened the door leading into the cellar.
"Fanny, did you whitewash the stairwaya"
she asked in surprise.
eyes, auntie. 1t needed it. I knew you
meant to do it, for saw you had slaked the
lime. Isn't it nicely donea"
Every nicely" Mrs. Henderson said "But
it wasn't right for you to do it. Surely your
hands,
'Look at them," Fanny said, laughing.
"They are as white and soft as any lady's.
put gloves on, and then have sort of dainty
way of working. I can do it well without
pitching into it all over have knack, as
mother calls it. If it was right for you to
whitewash the cellar way, 1t was right for me
to whitewash it, 1 came here to help you
and to spare you; to ride the horses, to go to
the mill with Uncle George, and to make my
self useful and-welcome. If you are not 60
ing 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 chair
and cried.
"Why, aunt, what is the matterg' asked
Fanny, her brown eyes widening. II hope
didn't say anything toll
''No, dear, you didn't" replied Mrs Hen
derson in broken voice. II am crying be-
cause I am ashamed of myself-because
have been SO unkind to you in my thoughts.
I supposed that you would annoy me, and
hinder me; that you would be helpless, selfish,
fault finding; that you"-
''But you think more kindly of me now, do
you not7" interrupted Fanny, her hands NOV
ing caressingly over her aunt's hair.
''Most certainly do" replied Mrs Hem
derson, explosively. "That is why confess
my injustice-why want to make amends
why p
''Don't mind it, aunty," said the sweet, for
giving, sympathetic voice. 81 don't censure
you, and it's all right now. There may be-
and in fact, there are-listless, frivolous, help
less girls in New York city-and in other
cities-but am not one of them. If was,
am afraid would despise myself"
81 am glad you have come, Fanny, and
will be sorry when you CO." Mrs. Henderson
said, and she meant it. my prejudices mis-
led me, and have been taught lesson.
Hereafter I'll not be SO hasty in estimating
people, especially before 1 have met them.n-
Frank 81. Stauffer in Detroit Free Press.