Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-11-19

power of many brushes and cloths. and
Of much water and soap At various
hours when | have made my appearance
near the house | have caught sight OF
her portly form through several win
dows, a iaring handkerchief c~oncealing
her temples and covering the site of her
chignon.
There was an expression Of deep red
ness upon her features that panied me
while | beheld. but which at the same
time led me to remark to myself that it
was not the most favorable time for
making q call. and thus looking and APP
pretending | would turn sadly away
Monday morning we had our break
fast in our comfortable dining room. At
Dol | took my dinner from the lid of
the ice chest. 1t was dreadful cold, and
tasted clammy and disagreeable. In the
evening stood back OF the stove and par
took of a slice of bread tthe butter had
got mislaid) and drank some of last
years tea from the irregular spout of the
milk pitcher. In the morning we ate
breakfast in the sink tthere was no fire
in the stove, as it was to be kept cold for
moving). The victuals had a flavor of
great dampness and tasted as though
they had been tished out of the soap bar
rel.
After astonishing my internal strnc-
ture with the meal, | accepted an invita-
ton from Mrs. Perkins to take down the
stove. In justice to myself it may be
well to remark that | never took down a
stove, 0 was present when that intri-
cate performance was going II. and
this in a measure accounts for the slight
nrsgiving | may have entertained when
brought face TO face with the tremen-
dous range
The conversation that ensued was
something like this
You want to use great care, Mr.. Per-
kins, and not let the whole thing fall on
you and kill yourself"
This appeared reasonable enough, and
| readily promised to use my best en-
deavors to keep the whole thing from
falling upon me.
And. Mr.. Perkins, don't get nervous
with the pipe. because Mary Ann has
just scrubbed the floor. and that stuff
gringes in awfully."
| hadn't the remotest idea of what the
stuff could be that gringes in awfully.
but | didn't like to show ignorance before
Mary Ann and solconfidently responded.
Certainly not
And be very careful about your
clothes. Mr.. Perkins. now. won't your
This appeal was delivered with so much
confidence mingled with doubt that |
hardly knew whether to treat it as a
compliment or suspicion. and concluded
it was best to split the difference and
preserve silence.
"We are all ready now. Mr.. Perkins.
Mary Ann you come here and steady the
pipe while MI. Perkins gets on the chair
and takes it down."
Upon this | mounted a chair and
grasped the pipe, but | must moi neglect
to mention that as | grasped the pipe
Mrs. Perkins grasped my legs.
Goodness gracious. Cyrus Davidson
Perkinsl don't you know better than to
stand on one of the best chairs in the
house and break right through the
canes?"
had to admit that | didn't know any
better. but cheerfully got down and
mounted another chair. This time |
caught the pipe by its neck, and gave it
a gentle pull from the chimney. 1t
didn't move a bit, which encouraged me
to believe | could bring a little more
muscle into play. and under this impress
sion | gave an extra twist. 1t came this
time, and so much more readily than
had reason TO expect that | stepped
down to the floor with it. passing over
the top of the stove and rubbing of an
inch or so Of skin from Mary AIMS nose.
"Oh, Mosesl" screamed that lady.
What have you doneY Oh, what have
You doney" cried Mrs. Perkins.
Singularly enough, l didn't say any
thing, but got upon my feet as quick as
| could and rubbed my head. and looked
all around but where Mrs. Perkins and
her weeping aid were standing.
Its just like a man. You have made
ten times more work than you have
helped Mary Ann, get the floor cloth.
And there's a great spot on that floor we
can get of. I'd like to make a
fool Of myself, l know / should. knew
when you stuck your ungainly carcass
on that chair you would kin somebody.
Does it hurt you. Mary Ann7 | wouldn't