Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-04-15
DOLLY's BOWL OF CRUEL

DOLLY's BOWL OF CRUEL.
The spoon was suddenly laid down and
Uncle Joshua's shaggy brows contracted
till they met in . g1izzied line across his
forehead.
cts burnt . said he.
"Weil, tartIy exclaimed Adelina, u
burnt roy hand, too; that is, | scalded it
dreadfully when / was stirring in the
meal. It spluftered and dubbed up!
But as for the gruel's being burnt, that =
only your notion! I'm sure didn't cook
it long
mo, Uncle Joshua calmy rejoined,
''you didn't cook it long enough IL tastes
raw. But the milk was burnt. And
you've got it too salty! | can t eat it. 1t
takes a knack to make good cruel. 1t
seems to me that woman of your age,
Adeliny-most 30, arn't ye?-ought to
know how to cook something fit for a sick
person to eatl
An angry red burned on AdeIina' s
checks She seized the bowl Of condemned
Cruel and flounced down into the dining
room, where the rest Of the family were
assembled.
an never cook another thing for him
as long as | IiVe!' she exclaimed 81 do
wish, ma, that when Uncle joshua sent
had written to him that we were sick, or
something, and that 1t wasn't cOaven-
ient!''
Don't be rash," said Mrs. Dart, a
sharp-loned matrOn, with calculating grey
eyes. Folks say he's rich.'
II don { believe 1t! retOrted AdeIina.
''NOr 30 II" echoed her sister Blanche,
a languid blonde eff ne is worth any
thing why does he dress SO shabby? |
almost die of shame every time he goes to
church With us'
''And think of his home!" continued
Adelina. That little red farmhouse,
with It's rag carpet, feather-be0s and win
COWS that won't let down at the top-its
awful"
why, thought it was lovely place,
with It's sloplng, moss-CoveIed roof and
the big elms around it : said Dolly.
We have mentioned Dolly last because
1t seemed to be the fashion in the Dart
household. Ever since she was tiny
lass her father had toolishly welded the
Widow Wood and brought her and her
two daughters to his home, Dolly had
been very ireignif cant person.
Papa Dart did not long survive his
folly, and after his death Dolly was treated
worse than ever She did most of the
work and had least of the pleasure.
Adena and Blanche seemed to have a
sort OF spite againsl her. Perhaps it was
owing to jealousy of her beauty, for Dolly
was very pretty.
Few of the fashionable set in the town
of Conoyer knew anything about Dolly.
She is such mere child yet too young
to go into society" Mrs. Dart would care
lessly remark. Il have Adelina and
Blanche to chaperone, and when they are
comfortably settled in life, why then it'll
be time for Dolly TO come out 1t isn't
likely tnat she cares much about it, any
way, she's such home body
Polly was a home body, but, like most
young girls, she had longing for pretty
clothesEand gay festivities. And when she
heard about the Christmas bail that was to
be given down at Squire Delano's, the ma
bob OF the town, IN honor of the return of
his son and daughter, the former from a
German university and the latter a wise
young damsel from Vassar-when she saw
with her own eyes the dainty, cream-tiated
invitation with her own name, Miss Do
rothy Dart, written on it, she wanted to
go very much indeed, and, for wonder,
summoned up enough boldness to manifest
her desire.
Why Dolly what can you be think
ing of! exclaimed her stepmother. gu
dress!"
Il can wear my white muslin" stoutly
persisted the young girl.
Your Old muslin? That wouldn't 10 at
all. Y GU d be a real dawdy!'
''She might have my blue silk fixed
over" suggested Blanche, who was not
bad-hearted if folks didn't set her up
to it.
~ Adelina frowned. You said you we're
going to have your blue silk coIored and
made into a Vatican wrapper" she re-
marked severely.
Yes, | did intend to-" Blanche re-
piled, subdued by the frown, and Mrs. Dart
ended the conversation by saying decid-
eddy:
You sec, Dolly, it's quite impossible!
What with Adelina'S new wine-colored
satin and BIanche's silk, can't afford to
spend penny more"
Now 1t so happened that Uncle Joshua
had never paid much attention to Dolly.
He had either thought that she had too
much to do and that he would not add to
her cares, or he had preferred to have
her halt-slster wait on him. But he took
kindly notice or her now, when, after her
little battle, she came upstairs, bringing
hlm bowl OF cruel that she had made
with her own hands, for, wise little woman
that she was, she knew that the best way
to cure her own unhappiness was to do a
kind act for somebody else.
You made it you say?" tasting il.
That's first rate! Neither too thick nor
too thin. Muk isn't burnt aud meal ism 7
raw! Sailed all right, too Humphl
Guess you'll do if you are a mere chit
But what makes your eyes so red, child d?
Been standing 100 long over hot stove
cooking for an old ogre like me? No! III
bet my best white Cheshire pig that
you've been crying sss,T
Dolly began to give half hysterical de-
niaI, but the old gentleman was SO kind
and sympathetic that before she hardly
knew it the whole story of her desire and
her disappointment came out
Hump! hump! hump! Too bad
child, was all that Uncle Joshua said
while be slipped his Cruel in big spoonfuls
And when the bowl was empty he said
81 wish you d write a note to Miss Aman.
da Barlow and ask her if she won't come