St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-01-14
Selected Story.
MRS. GIBBS POUND OF CHEESE
For Mrs. Gibbs Party.


my new dress and go over to the vii
lage and see some of the girls. |
don't care about visiting with the
old ladies, but I'll be home in season
to help about the supper.
But the ministers wife is coming,
YOU know, and the minister'll come
to tea"
Cant help it! I've been shut up
all the week sewing on that dress,
and must get out today" and Eta
tripped upstairs, whistling like
black bird.
Mrs. Gibbs fluttered around, brush
fng imaginary dust from the turni-
ture, and searching carefully for tell
tale cobwebs in the corners, or finger
marks on the immaculate paint, till
Eta came downstairs in spick-and-
span calling costume.
There's one thing more | wish we
had for tea" remarked Mrs. Gibbs,
land that's some cheese. Grandma
Ellis is dreadful fond of cheese, and
you call at the grocery and buy a
pound as you come back I'll get
you some change"
Etta's pretty brows puckered into
a scowl of dismay.
Dear me. Every call l want to
make is this side of the grocery, and
some of the girls are sure to be out,
SO 1 shall call again as l come back.
And l can't carry around cheese,
when I'm making calls. It's as fra
grant as onionsi"
well then, never mind" said her
mother, soothingly. Your father
said he'd got to go to the black
smiths this afternoon, and I'll ask
him to get it. 'Talnt much further.
But Mr.. Gibbs, coming in soon
after to put on his coat before start
ing, objected, on economical grounds,
to doing the errand.
Its money throwed away. buying
cheese at the present prices. One
pound of butter buys two of cheese
was always the rule, but now look at
it, Butter sixteen cents and cheese
fourteen! Maybe you can afford it,
but can't"
But just a pound for tonight, be-
cause | have company" urged his
wife
Don't invite company if you can't
feed EN- on what we can afford"
and Mr. Gibbs, really poorer in heart
than in pocket, went off with this
parting shot.
Fortunately, Mrs, Gibbs had a
very little money of her own in her
purse just then Though as rule it
was as empty as the proverbial con-
tribution box, and when a few min
utes later, Johnny came, sweating,
into the kitchen and began hurriedly
to hunt up his fishing tackle, she
planned another attempt.
I've got my stent o holm done"
painted Johnny, but 1 tell We, l
worked like a mailer to do it Now
I'm goin' fshin' y
Where are you going?"
"Over to the cove. I've got to
hurry, for father said l must be back
at six O'Clock to get the cows
Then, Johnny, won't you call at
the grocery as you come back and
buy a pound of cheese? I'll get you
some money"
II shall forget it, mother, l know
shall, or lose the money"
"Ohl now, do try and remember
Tell Mr.. Brown to charge it, and I'll
pay it right away"
Johnny hastily departed, leaving
as his parting consolation, Il shall
forget it, mother; so don't depend on
me-
Three times and Quit" thought
Mrs. Gibbs, giving up, with a half
sigh, the thought of cheese for sup
per.
But just then she spied Horace
Hand coming along the road, man
rightly named, for he was the handy
man of the neighborhood, always
soliciting errands, and bringing mail
unasked, for the pure love of doing
favors, it seemed. And what did he
do this very day but come to the
door and, opening it Familiarity, put
in his head and ask:
ANY errands can do for you at
the village today, Mis- Gibbs p
How providential! !" she thought.
What time are you coming back ~
"Oh! long about four or five
O'Clock, say"
Then, Mr. Hand, if you will get
me pound of cheese at the grocery,
III be ever so much obliged. I'm ex-
pecting company.
"Sartin, ma am, III do it gladly.
Needn't get me any change now.
I've got plenty for that, and you
can't tell jest how much twill be;
they may cut leetle more or leetle
less, you know. Jest as well pay me
when l come back; and know how
much it is" and he shambled away.
With sense of relief, Mrs. Gibbs
FASTENED to her bedroom and chang
ed her print dress for new Bingham,
donned a clean white apron, then
took her knitting work and sat down
to wait for her guests. She had not
long to wait, for this was a genuine,
old-fashioned country afternoon Wis
It, when three O'Clock was plenty
late enough to come, and four O'Clock