Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-09-29
aunt WRALTHY'S VISIT.


bushes tapping sepulchrally against the
window shutters; gusts of spitetul sleet
driving into your face every time you
ventured to open the door; snowdrops
and hyacinth blades shrink hopelessly
back into the black mould, as if con-
vinced that they had made a mistake,
and that spring was as far away as ever;
mamma with a cold IN her head and the
twins tretful because they couldn't go
to school ; the butcher forgetting to Call
and the chimney persistent In smoking
could there, by any possibility, be Il
more disagreeable concatenation Of cir
cumstances I looked dolorously at
Fanny. Fanny looked dolorously back
at me.
And letter from Aunt Wealthy, to
say she is coming to make visit / cried
I, as opened the morning mail.
Deliver us!' cried poor mamma.
And We in the midst of house cleaning!
The best chamber all damp with white.
wash, and not carpet down in the
house, and that horrid painter disap
pointing us IN this unprlncipled sort Of
way! Oh, dear! oh, dear! what shall
we do?'
Commit suicide darkly suggested
Fanny.
Give up in despair said I, wringing
my hands :ragically.
But just then in came Tom as cheerful
as if it had been a June holiday and
there were no such horrible incubus as
house cleaning in the world.
Don't do either one thing or the 9th
err SAID Tom, catching up the noisiest
twin in his arms and tossing it up to
the ceiling. Telegraph to her not to
come until next week.
But perhaps the telegram won t
reach her in time suggested Fanny.
Risk it, said Tom.
AT this rate, added mamma. who
was naturally disposed to take an influ.
enza.tinted view of life, with Mrs
Rlerdon's broken arm and that paint.
ers reckless disregard of moral obliga-
tions, we shall be no better off next
week than we are now.
Yes we shall, chcerlly asser ted Tom.
III finish the whitewasling and can
put up those shelves as we'll as any car.
penter that ever handled IL plane; and
III do the painting myself.
You 4! cried Fanny aud I in chorus.
The idea of our Tom. a college tutor,
at home for his Easter holidays, max
ing IL Jack. f-a|l-trades of himself III
this unexpected manner rather took US
by surprise.
Yes said Tom. cutting up the quiet.
est TWINS breakfast for HIM and keep
ing an eye on little Billy the while.
Why not?'
But you don't know how.
I'LL show you whether l do or not,
said Tom, laughing.
So when he took the telegram for
Aunt Wealthy Wckes to the village he
brought back a whitewash brush, 6 pot
of paint and a pair Of overalls.
Somehow his merry acceptance of the
situation, his CHEEKY way Of making a
joke out of everything, frightened us
up like Il CLEAN Of sunshine, spite of
chill, raw winds, dripping rain and the
great discomforts consequent on house.
cleaning. Mammals cold grew better ;
Fanny laughed in spite Of the gushes Of
wind that came ever and anon down the
east chimney, and caught myself sing.
ing even while I realized the fact that
Bridget had left us without an hours
notice attend the funeral of some 10th
COUSIN, who had, unlucklly, bethought
herself of shuttling off this mortal coil
Just at this emergency.
Dear, dear said mamma what a
blessing it is to have son like Tom
'Won't,he make a jewel Of husband
to some girl. though ? said |, polishing
away at brass stair rod.
Don't say word,' added Fanny
mysteriousIy; but there's the sweetest
little photograph up in his room; and
Laura Dixie says he's in love with a
pretty little New York beiress, who
came to the college commencement and
was introduced to Tom and she knows
Aunt Wealthy. and
Our. Tom wall never marry an heir.
ess, said mamma, mournfully.
why not ? said I.
I'VE meyer did haye any luck!'
Tom is luck enough for any family,
said I. Just listen
And the flute like note of Tom 8
whistle came down to lis from the best
room 'apstairs, where Tom was even
then trying his luck as an amateur