The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-02-05

Now I'm going to put on my new dress
and 20 over to the village 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 minister's wife is coming,
you know. and the minister i'll come to
tea"
Cant help it'll I've been shut up all
the week sewing on that dress, and
must get out to-day" and Eta tripped
upstairs, whistling like IA blackbird.
Mrs. Gibbs tluttered around, brushing
imaginary dust frem the furniture, and
searching carefully for tell-tale cobwebs
in the corners, or finger marks on the
immaculate paint, till Eta came down
stairs in spick-and-span calling cos
tune.
There's one thing more 1 wish we
had for tea," remarked Mrs. Gibbs,
land that's some cheese. Grandma
Ellis is dreadful fond of cheese, and so
is the minister, believe. Can't you call
at the grocery and buy 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 want to make
is this side of the grocery, and some of
the girls are sure to be out, so l shall
call again as l come back. And l can't
carry around cheese, when I'm making
calls. It's as fragrant as oniOns!"
"Well then, never mind" said her
mother, soothingly. "YOur father said
he'd got to go to the blacksmith's this
afternoon, and III ask him to get it.
'Taint much further"
But Mr.. Gibbs, coming in soon after
to put on his coat before starting, OBJ
jected, on economical grounds, to doing
the errand.
''It's 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 six
teen cents and cheese fourteen! Maybe
you can afford it, but can't"
''But just pound for tonight, be-
cause have company" urged his wife.
Don't invite company if you can't
feed 'em 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 very
little money of her own in herpurse just
n ul, 10 ~
as the proverbial contribution box), and
when few minutes later, Johnny came,
sweating, into the kitchen and began
hurriedly to hunt up his fishing tackle,
she planned another attempt.
give got my stent O. holm done,"
painted Johnny, "but tell We, worked
like mailer to do it! Now I'm goin' a
fshin'I'
Where are you going?"
'Over to the cove. I've got to hurry,
for father said | 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 1t, mother know
shall, OF lose the money"
con! now, do try and remember it,
and you needn't take any money. Tell
Mr.. Brown to charge 1t, and I'll pay it
right away"
Johnny hastily departed, leaving as
his parting consolation, ~ shall forget
it, mother; so don't depend ON me-"
"Three times and out!' thought Mrs.
Gibbs, giving up, with half sigh, the
thought of cheese for supper.
But just then she spied Horace Hand
coming along the road, man rightly
named, for he was the handy man OF the
neighbUrhood, always soliciting errands,
and bringing mail unasked, for the pure
love OF doing iavors, 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 to-day, Mis- Gibbs ?'
chow providential!' she thought. !
'What time are you coming back ?'
son! long about four or five o'clock
say"
Then, Mr. Hand, if you will get m
pound of cheese at the grocery, III be
ever 50 much obliged. I'm expecting
company"
''oartin, ma'am, I'll 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 a
leetle more or a leetle less, you know.
Jest as well pay me when | come back;
and know how much it is" and he
shambled away.
With sense of relief, Mrs. Gibbs
fastened to her bedroom and changed
her print dIess for a new gingham, don
ned 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 genuine, old-fashioned
country afternoon visit, when three
O'Clock was plenty late enough to come,
and four o'clock unpardonably late, look
ing as if one came ION purpose for sup
per-"
They came in rapidly now, till the lit