Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-04-22

up the events of the day. 1t makes
woman feel wofully rusty to have s
many bright young minds growing u
around her and asking questions whicl
she cannot answer, from sheer lack o
time to inform herself.
1t was quite scene when 1 came Il
start the next morning. l never lef
my family for a week before that, an'
tie idea of my being gone a month
even if lcaSn't going out of the town
;eemed as startling to them as if l wer
going to Europe. Truth to tell, /
seemed almost the same to me, as
said to Aunt Drusilla:
"You must send for me If any o.
the children are sick, you know"
Aunt Drusilla is born nurse, ant
knows more than half the doctors
She only laughed and said:
"Not much! You're goin' away t.
rest, not to have the care and worri
ment of your family on your mind
! But one thing remember,-if l dt
send for you, git home as quick as yor
can, for you may be sure 1 consider
'em pretty awful sick!"
The Smith family received me with
as much Difference as if / had been {
lady from Boston whom they had
never seen before, and drifted quite
naturally into my new life. For the
first week, slept about half the time
1t was SO quiet in the mornings uI
there, my room being too far away tc
hear the family noise, and if l woke il
was so restful to think that l need
not get up till 1 pleased, that I would
just lie and dose and dream till l wa
thoroughly rested. When went down
to breakfast, my daily paper alway,
lay by my plate (Horace went to the
post-office early and got it for me), SC
l read that as / slipped my coffee and
ate my breakfast, with Mary Ann
waiting on me, handy and quiet.
ate my dinner and supper with the
family, but everything was served with
such nicely that it was appetizing: an6
only the woman who has had the care
of all her meals for fifteen years know;
what relish it imparts to food not to
know in the least what you are to have
till you sit down at the table.
After breakfast l used to lie in the
hammock and read awhile, and when
the dew was off, l would sometime:
stroll away in the fields or woods gath.
ering flowers and sauntering as slowly
and idly as l pleased. The open all
proved a very good tonic for me, and
L would have a fine appetite for din.
ner. After dinner / took a long nap
on my bed. 1t used to seem at first as
if could never sleep enough, but to.
wards the last of my stay l felt SO
rested and well that L gave up my day.
time maps. After the heat of the day
had passed, Horace or Mary Ann
would take the team and carry me to
ride off through the spicy woods, or on
to some breezy hilltop where the view
was grand and inspiring. l never
rode near the village, and never went
in sight of home, nor did any of the
family come 10 see me. But the
knowledge that 1 could go home al
any time in half an hour kept me easy
and contented.
gathered fir-balsam for pillows,
and made thistle balls and bouquets OF
white everlasting. 1 skeletonized
leaves, pressed flowers and ferns,
gathered cones, ichens, evergreens,
and gray moss, and did a great many
happy, idle things.
In the evening 1 read till / was
sleepy, then L went to bed early, and
after the first few nights, slept soundly
until morning. So day after day
passed, and l found myself feeling
better, and all without a particle of
medicine.
The last week of my stay 1 began to
think of the fancy-work in the bottom
of my trunk. 1 unearthed it, and
found it really looked good to me, SO
/ passed many pleasant hours that
week sitting on the porch, putting
stitches into my crazy-quilt, and cro-
cheting doilies. At my request, Mrs.
Smith sat with me when she was at
liberty, and we had many pleasant
visits together. 1 found time and
strength that week to write many let
ters to long absent friends whom 1 had
perforce neglected, and to play croquet
with the young people; and made up
my mind l would play with the child
ren when got home. would never
so bury myself in work again.
Home never looked SO good to me as
it did when came back to it, rested
and refreshed. felt equal to do any
thing.
81 never saw the beat of it," said
Aunt Drusilla. "You look like new
woman. jest to think what q little
way twelve dollars would go towards
riggin' up an invalid for journey, OF
cariyin' 'em along, or how few doc.
tors bills it would pay, and then see
what it has dore for you by spendin' i;
sensibly? L s'pose some folks would
call you mortal queer for doin' it, but
VIII It that? Dear bought and far.
fetched isn't always the best in the
long rum"
And endorse Aunt Drusilla.
Housewife.