The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-30
DOLLY'S BOWL OF CRUEL


Uncle Joshua's shaggy brows contracted
till they met in a grizzled line across his
forehead.
sits burnt" said he.
"Well," tartiy exclaimed Adelina, 81
burnt my hand, too; that is, scalded 1T
drendfully when ! was stirring in the
meal. 1t spluttered and bubbled upi But
as for the gruel's being burnt, that's only
your notioni I'm sure ] didn't cook it
long"
"No," Uncle Joshua calmly rejoined,
"You didn't cook it long enough. 1t
tastes raw. But the milk was burnt.
And you've got il too salty! can't eat it.
1t takes knack TO make good Cruel. 1t
seems 10 me that a woman OF your age.
Adelina-most thirty, arn't ye? ought TO
know how TO cook something fit for sick
person to eatl"
An angry red burned on Adelina's
cheeks. She seized the bowl OF con-
demned Cruel and iounced down into the
dining-room, where the rest OF the family
were assembled.
"I'll never cook another thing for him
as long as live!" she exclaimed. 81 do
wish, ma, that when Uncle Joshua sent
word that he was coming to visit US, you
had written to him that we were sick, OF
sonnctuinS, hHu tudt ~ wash SohNSh-
ienti"
"Don't be rash," said Mrs. Dart, a
sharp nosed matron, with calculating,
gray eyes. "Folks say he's richf"
"I don't believe it'll" retorted Adelina.
"Nor do II" echoed her sister Blanche,
q ianguid blonde. " IL he is worth any
thing why does he dress so shabbily? /
almost die Of shame every time he goes to
church with u.s."
"And think of his homel" continued
Adelina. "That little red farm house,
with it's rag carpets, feather beds and
windows that won't let down at the top
it's awfuli"
Why, thought II was lovely place,
with its sloping, moss covered roof and
big elms around it," said Dolly.
We have mentioned Dolly last, because
il seemed to be the fashion in the Dart
household. Ever since she was tiny lass
and her father had foolishly welded the
Widow Wood, and brought her and her
two grown-up daughters to his home,
Dolly had been q very insignificant per-
son.
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.
Adelina and Blanche seemed to have a
sort of spite against her. Perhaps it was
owing to jealousy of her beauty, for
Dolly was very pretty.
Few OF the fashionable set in the town
Of Conover knew anything about Dolly.
"She is such q mere child yet--too
young to 60 into society" Mrs. Dart
would carelessly remark: 81 have Ade-
lima and Blanche to chaperone, and when
they are comfortably settled in life, why
then it'll be time for Dolly to come out.
IL isn't likely that she cares much about
il, anyway, she's such home bodyl"
Dolly was a home body, but, like most
young girls, she had a longing for pretty
clothes and gay festivities. And when
she heard about the Christmas ball that
was to be given down at Squire Delano's,
the nabob 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 che saw with her own eyes the
dainty, cream tinted invitation with her
own name, "Miss Dorothy Dart" written
on IL, she wanted 10 90 very much, in
deed, and, for wonder, summoned eup
enough bol6ness TO manifest her desire.
"Why, Dolly, what can you be think
ing of" exclaimed her step-mother.
"You know i cannot afford to get you a
new dress"
al can wear my white muslinl" stoutly
persisted the young girl.
You old muslin? That wouldn't do
at alll You'd bc real dowdy!"
/ "She might have my blue silk fixed
over" suggested Blanche, who was not
bad d-hearted il folks didn't set herup TO it,.
AdeIina frowned. "You said you were
l. A
made into Vatican wrapper" she re-
marked severely.
ayes, / did intend to-" Blanche replied,
subdued by the frown, and Mrs. Dart
ended the conversation by saying de-
cidodly:
"You see, Dolly, it's quite impossible
What with Adelina's new wine-colored
satin and Blanche's silk, can't afford to
spend penny more"
Now it so happened that Uncle Joshua
had never paid much attention to Dolly.
He had either thought she had too much
10 do and that he would not add to her
cares, or he had preferred to have her
lf-sisters wait on him. But he took
kindly notice of her now, when, after her
little battle, she came upstairs, bringing
him a bowl OF Cruel that she had made
with her own hands, for, wise little woman
|. that she was, she knew that the best way
70 cure her own unhappiness, was TO do o
kind act for somebody else.
"Ysu made IL, you sayS" tasting IL.
uThat's frst ratei Neither too thick nor
too thin. MIX isn't burnt and meal isn't
rawl Saltcd all right, tool Humph!
Guess you'll do II you are mere chiti
But what makes your eyes 80 red, childj
Been standing too long over the hot stove
cooking for an old ogre like me? No! I'll
bet my best white Cheshire pig that you've
been crying"
Dolly began 10 give little, half -hyster-
icsl denial, but the old gentleman was so