The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23

''No, child" Mrs. Henderson said.
1--WE cannot afford to keep one."
'IlI get uncle his dinner" an
nounced Fanny.
get-George his dinner"
repeated Mrs. Henderson.
Fanny noticed the incredulity in her
tone, laughed prettily and said:
why shouldn't L? If you will allow
me to skirmish around I'll manage to
find things. However, it isn't near
dinner-time yet. When / went to the
kitchen for the basin 1 saw you had
sprinkled the clothes Shall 1 iron
themP"
her tired aunt's lips and correctly in
terpreted it.
May be you think can't iron?" she
pleasantly said. Just you wait and
see."
But the dress you have on, Miss
Atwood? It"
WAS selected for service" COM
pleted Fanny. ''Of course, I'll put on
one of your aprons,
When George Henderson returned
from his errand he heard some one
singing cheerily in the kitchen. He
stepped in and saw his niece ironing
away as deftly as if she had spent the
best part of her life at it. She made
such a pretty picture that he stood still
and looked at her.
How do you do, uncle?" twinkle
of merriment in her brown eyes; then
she went and kissed him, standing on
tiptoe to do so.
''I'm glad you've come, Fanny" he
said with heartiness. II suppose Mat
tie explained why / did not meet you
at the station? But why are you IRON
ingP Where is Mattie?'
''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?"
"Oh, how does anything happen?"
she replied. little querulously.
Through my own awkwardness. no
doubt. almost tainted, the pain was
so great"
''Does it pain you now, dearP"
Il am glad to say that it doesn't
''I'll bathe it in little sugar of lead
water" he said. There is nothing
better"
Fanny has already done that" re-
| piled the wife. ut was her own sug-
| gestion."
"Oh." calculated Mr.. Henderson.
with increasing appreciation of his
niece.
'.And she insists upon ironing. A
[ nice mess she'll make of it,"
well, may be not" Mr.. Henderson
said, in quiet tone. Il watched her
a little while. Matte. you are good
ironer. but she is your equal"
"Oh, nonsense. George!" exclaimed
his wife. Reared in the city, as she
has been-''
Didn't necessarily make her lazy.
silly. novel-reading imbeeile. inter-
rupted her husband. Perhaps we
haven't been just to Fanny. think
she is solid, energetic. capable sori
of girl, and it is lucky that she
came"
well, I hope it may prove so, y
doubtingly rejoined his wife. George.
there's the butterp'
s'Pll churn that" he said. "We'I
get along. just you keep your mind
at ease. You will get about mucE
sooner if you do"
Fanny Atwood prepared dinner. now
and then slipping into the sitting-room
to wet the bandage and to chat in hel
CHEEKY way with her patient.
''On the third day Mrs. Henderson
was able to hobble to the kitchen
where she found everything in mos
excellent order.
Look at my currant jelly" Fanny
proudly said, as she held up one of the
glass jars to the light. 1t was translu
cent and bright as ruby-tinted wine.
1T is very nice" Mrs. Henderson
said. How much sugar did yor
take?"
Pound for pound" replied Fanny
Il wasn't extravagant, was l ?"
You were wise," her aunt said, witt
smile.
She opened the door leading into the
cellar.
Fanny, did you whitewash the
Stairway" she asked. in surprise.
Yes, auntie. 1t needed it. / knew
you meant to do it. for saw you haC
slaked the lime. Isn't it nicely done?'
Very nicely" Mrs. Henderson said
But it wasn't right for you to do it
Surely your hands"
Look at them," Fanny said laugh
|
any lady's. put gloves on. and ther
have sort of dainty way of working
can do it well without pitching intC
it all over. l have knack. as mother
calls it. If it was right for you tt
whitewash the cellarway it was righ
for me to whitewash it. l came herr
to help and to spare you; to ride th'
horses, to 90 to the mill with Uncl'
George. and to make myself useful ant
welcome. If you are not going t
let me work or have any fun. why, III
90 right back to New York"
She spoke with voluble earnestness
her gestures rapid, her dimples dane
ing.
Mrs. Matte Henderson sat down il
a chair and cried.
s'Why, aunt, what is the matter?
asked Fanny, her brown eyes widen
ing II hope didn't say anything t
mo. dear, you didn't" replied Mrs
Henderson, in broken voice. Il al
crying because am ashamed of my
self-because l have been so unkind t
you in my thoughts. 1 supposed tbs
you would annoy me and hinder mt
3 that you would be helpless. selfsl
: fault-hnding; that you
But you think more kindly of N
: now, do you not?'; interrupted Fam!
her hands moving caressingly over he
aunt's hair.
Most certainly 1 do" replied Mr.
| Henderson. explosively. That is wh
l confess my injustice-why 1 want
: make amends, why i"
Don't mind it, auntie." said tt
sweet, forgiving. sympathetic voic
! 81 don't censure you. and it's all rig
l now. There may be-and. in fac
there are-listless, frivolous, helple
girls in New York city-and in 9th,
: cities-but am not one of them. If
were I am afraid I should despise m
e self"
II am glad you have come. Fam
: and l will be sorry when you go
u Mrs. Henderson said, and she mea
it. My prejudices misled me and
le have been taught lesson. Hereaft
rll not be so hasty in estimating pc
s. pie. especially before l have met them
u Detroit Free Press.
81 A Colorado Tunnel.