Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-01-28


| ing like sugar of lead water. replied
Fanny. I'll wet the bandage every
! now and then with it. Just you re-
main quiet. dearie. and don't bother
yourself about anything. You have no
grip"
No. child" Mrs. Henderson said.
Owe cannot afford to keep one
I'll get uncle his dinner" an
nounced Fanny.
You'lI-get-Georgc his dinneri"
repeated Mrs. Henderson.
Fanny noticed the increduity in her
Zone Iau@hrd prct!ilv and said:
.-Why shouldn't /? If you will allow
ne to skrmish around I'll manage to
find things HoAeyer it isn't near
uIuner-time vet When | went to the
Gilcuen for the basin | saw you had
enrinkled the clothes. Shall l iron
| theinp"
She saw the odd smile that came to
her tired aunt's lips and correctly in
Icrpreted it.
May be you think can't iron?" she
PLEASANTLY said. just you wait and
see."
But the dress you have on, Miss
Was selected for service" COM
pIeted Fanny. OF course. I'll put on
one of your aprons"
When George Henderson returned
from his errand he heard some one
singing chperiIy in the kitchen. He
stepped in and saw his niece ironing
away as deity 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?" a twinkle
Of merriment 10 her brown eyes; then
she went and kissed him, standing on
tiptoe to do so.
I'm glad you've come, Funny" he
said with heartiness. Il suppose Mat
tie explained why | did not meet you
at the station? But why are you iron
ing? Where is Mattie?'
She is lying down. uncle. She fell
and sprained her ankle"
Mr.. Henderson stepped into the
7itting-room, look of concern on his
| lace.
Why. dear how did this happenP"
oh. how does anything happen?"
she replied, little queruIously.
Through my own awkwardness. no
doubt. | almost tainted, the pain was
so great"
Does it pain you now, dear?"
II am glad to say that it doesn't"
IN battle 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-
| 2r<tion."
Oh" calculated Mr.. Henderson,
with Increasing appreciation of his
niece.
And she insists upon ironing. A
nice mess she'll make of iti'
Well. may be not" Mr.. Henderson
said, in a quiet tone. II watched her
Il little while. Matte. you are Il good
ironer but she is your equal"
Oh, nonsense, Georgen,' exclaimed
MS wife. Reared in the city. as she
mas been---n
Didn't necessarily make her lazy.
| silly, noVel-reading imbecile." inter
rupted her husband. Perhaps we
haven't been just to Fanny. think
! sac is a solid, energetic, capable sort
Of girl, and it is lucky that she
! came"
Well, hope it may prove so, :"
doubtingly rejoined his wife. George,
there's the butterr'
tn churn that" he said. Wen
@et along. just you keep your mind
at ease. You viii get about much
! sooner if you do
Fanny Atwood prepared dinner, now
and then slipping into the sitting-room
to wet the bandage and to chat in her
CHEEKY way with her patient.
On the third day Mrs. Henderson
was able to bobble to the kitchen,
where she found everything in most
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 rs ruby -tinted wine.
1t is very nice" Mrs. Henderson
said. How much sugar did you
take?'
Pound for pound" replied Fanny.
Il lsn't eXlravagant, was II"
You were wise" her aunt said. with
smIIe.
SIC opened the door leading into the
cellar.
Fanny, did you whitewash the
stairway" she asked, in surprise
Yes. aunle. 1t needed it. | knew
Won meant to do ii. for | saw you had
siak"d the lime. Isn't it nicely donef'
Very nicely" Mrs. Henderson said.
Bar ii wasn't right for YOU to do it.
Surely your hands"
Look 1t them, Fanny said laugh
in4. They are as soft and white as
any lady's. pat gloves on. and then
J han" = sort # dainty way Of ,"rEi n.r,
can do it we'll without pitching into
it all over. | have knack, as mother
calls it. If it was right for you to
| whitewash the cellarway it was right
for me to whitewash it. came here
to help and to spare you; to ride the
horses, to 20 to the mill with Uncle
| George, and TO make myself useful and
welcome. If you are not going to
let me work or have any fun, why, I'll
20 right back to New ork."
She spoke with voluble earnestness
| her gestures rapid. her dimples dane
ing.
Mrs. Matte Henderson sat down in
chair aud cried.
why. aunt, what is the matter?"
asked Fanny. her brown eyes widen
ing. Il hope | didn't say anything to
| -"
No, dear, you didn't" replied Mrs.
Henderson, ina broken voice. Il am
crying because am ashamed of my
self-because | have been so unkind to
you in my thoughts. l supposed that
you would annoy me and hinder me;
that you would be helpless, selfish.