Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-11-08
A CLEVER RUSE,


Ventured to open the door; snowdrops
and hyacinth blades shrinking hopelessly
back into the black mould, as if con.
vinced that they had made mistake,
and that spring was as far away as ever; ;
mamma with cold in her head and the
twins fretful because they couldn't go to
schools the butcher forgetting to call, and
the, chimney persistent in smoking
could there, by any possibility, be more
disagreeable concentration of circrm-
stances? looked dolorously at Fanny.
Fanny looked dolorously back at me.
:. And letter from Aunt Wealthy, to
say she is coming to make us a visit r.
cried1, as opened the morning mail.
Deliver usl'' cried poor mamma.
"And we in the very midst of house
cleaning The best chamber all damp
with whitewash, aud not q, carpet down
in the house, and that horrid painter
disappointing us in that unprincipled sort
of way! Oh, dear oh, dear! what shall
we DOR
Commit suicide. p dnrkly suggested
Fanny.
'eGive up in despair, said 1, wiring
ing my hands tragically IS sa
But just then in came Tom as cheer
full as if it had been June holiday and
there We're no such horrible incubus as
house cleaning
Don't do either one thing or the
other, I" said Tom, catching up the noisi-
est twin in his arms and tossing it half
way up to the ceiling. Telegraph to
her not to come until next week.
But perhaps the telegram won't
reach her in time, y suggested Fanny.
"Risk it, said Tom.
"And at this rate.'' added mamma,
who was naturally disposed to take an
influenza tinted view of life, with Mrs.
Reirdon's broken arm and that painters
reckless disregard of all moral obliga-
tions, we shall be no better off next week
than we are now" 9E " ae=3
Yes, we SHALL" cheerily assented
Tom. "I'n finish the whitewashing /;
and Il can put up those shelves as well as
any carpenter that ever handled n plane;
and III do the painting myself, . X,
"You" cried Fanny and in chorus.
The idea of our Tom. college tutor, at
home for his Easter holidays, making a
Jack of !all trades of himself in this un-
expected manner rather took MS by sur.
prise.
Yes, l." nodded Tom, cutting up the
quietest twins. breakfast for him and
keeping an eye on little Billy the while
why not?'a ria is s3++ss 2l'5
'' But you don't know how, Tom
g" I'll show You whether do or not, :"
said Tom, Laughing. sdaHe 5Fartt
So when he took the telegram for
Aunt Wealthy Wickes to the village he
brought back a whitewash brush, q pot
Of paint and pair Of overalls
Somehow his merry acceptance of the
situation, his cheery way of making a
joke of everything, frightened me up
like gleam of sunshine, spite of chill,
raw winds, dripping rain and the great
discomforts consequent; on ,house-clean-
ing. Maama's cold grew better; Fanny
laughed in spite of the gushes Of smoke
that came eyer and anon down the east
chimney, and / capght myself singing
even while realized tile fact that Bridget
had left US without an hours notice to
attend the funeral of some forty sixth
cousin who had, un1ucldly, bethought
herself of shuffiing off this mortal coil
just Mt this emergency.
Dear, dear said mamma, "what q
blessing it is to have son like Tom r.
I" Won't he make jewel of husband
to some girl, thought said 1, polishing
away at brass stair rod
"Don't say word,'' added Fanny,
mysteriously but there's the sweetest
photograph up in his room and Laura
Dikes says he's in love with pretty lit
tie New York heiress, who came to the
College Commencement and was intro.
duced to Tom; and she knows Aunt
Wealthy, and -
"Our Tom will never marry an
heiress, . said mamma, mournfully.
Why not?" said 1.
eve never did have any luckl' sss
TON is luck enough for any family. .
said 1. " just listen ~ IT.
And the flute like note of Toms whis.
tie came down to us from the "best
room - upstairs, where Tom was even
then trying his luck as an amateur pa.
per hanger ON the top of taIl stepladder.
i" If the New York heiress could sec
him now, she couldn't help falling in
5oye With him, know
Bat the next day, just as we had got
one-half of the guest-chamber painted,
there came. a tremendous ring at the
door bell siA 97E "
HALO" said Tom, whose aerial post
CHANGED to be near the window.
Who is it, Tom3" said poor mamma,
all in futter.
Fanny was right about the telegram
not arriving in time, !" said Tom. e It's
Aunt Wealthy, bag and baggage; or it's
1 some preposterous old woman or other,
| with her head tied up in hannels and a
fur edged silk cloak wrapped around her
like a funeral pallR J92 +t7aAs'
stWhat shall we dor said Fanny.
q Make her welcome, of course, I" said
Tom s..,...,..
beef and cabbage In the house for din
neriI', sighed mamma, who was, lie
\ Martha Of old, "itfoubled about many
things. rs1s4 s aEs1 - iasaEgAti .
"In go to the village for some oys,
ters, said Tom, and you shall see what
1 astew can get up. =;
nBut how are we an lookingfr cried
Fanny And who is to go to th'
"Iwi1l, said Tom. @
We were all rather curious to zee thlI