Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-30
AT THE SLOUGH MANSION.
Why Miss Prim Was Thankful AFTER Making
Morning Call.

why Miss Prim Was Thankful After Making
Morning Call.
From the Chicago Times
well, here's Mrs. slouch's; guess I'll call
and sell her ticket, she'll be sure to buy"
unused Miss Prim as she paused before an
artistic Queen Anne cottage and caught her
breath after long climb up the hill.
"Hoopla. ere we GO" shouted . childish
voice from the regions Of the back door. Miss
Prim craned her long neck and was horrifed
when she beheld the three little Slouches hav-
ing a merry ride upon the clothes reel and
kicking up their youthful heels in an abandon
OF delight Little varmints," said Miss Prim,
III they we're mine I'd fix 'em; that clothes
reel Will be broken, and the cxpense-but then
1t none of my business" And with this laud-
able decision she proceeded to mount the steps
and ring the door bell
Rattle te-bang came in hollow tones from
the interior. Miss Prim had broken the bell
with her energetic pull and now found herself
standing with the greater portion In her hand.
Nothing was left TO do but to knock till her
knuckles ached and at last. after repeated eff
forts, her patience was rewarded by the appear
ance OF Sally. the maid.
Good morning. Is your mistress imp asked
Miss Prim.
IN see,s ma'am. Step inter the DRAWN
room" and Sally snickered as she tried not
to look at the broken bell The bell came
Off" began Miss Prim, grimly. ''Lawks,
yes said Polly. with burst of mirth and con-
fidence, that's some of Master Jacks doins.
he broke that 'ero bell this mornin', and he
fixed it all up ag in the next person along
would think they done it. I'll see that his pa
is told"
With this Sally vanished. Miss Prim gazed
about.
The parlor was furnished with great taste
and elegance, but, alas, it looked though
cyclone had swept through it. A pan of
apples stood on the piano with a kitchen
apron thrown down beside them and
pairing knife on the floor. It seems Sally,
who was preparing the apples for pie,
wheze she could see her beau, Tom. the de-
lvery boy, as he drove past. broom lay
In idle luxury on a plush couch, with its
head ON ii gold-embroidered cushion. Before
Miss Prims shocked eyes had time to OBJ
serve more Sally returned and ushered her
up the stairs with: ''Missis will be pleased
to have you step up TO her room" She as
cended, but the way was fraught with danger,
as several Of the stair rods were half of and
seemed Economically bent on tripping her.
The delicately frescoed walls were further en-
HANGED with sketches done with burnt cork.
Mrs. Slouchs room was in fine disorder: the
toilet table was heaped with faded flowers, fans,
gio yes, perfumes and POWDER the combs and
brushes had overlooked and lay with pair of
slippers upon the floor dainty tissue ball
costume lay in the corner. where Mrs. SLOUGH
had stepped out of it the night before, and the
chairs were Uttered with hats, parasols, shoes,
gowns and books in a confused tumble
Mrs. SLOUGH herself hay on lounge among
dozen or more fluffy silk pillows. When Miss
Prlm entered she threw down her novel and
exclaimed: I'm so glad to see you, Miss Prim
I'm half bored to death, nothing to do but read,
read, read; danced so much last night i. gave
me spell with my heart. SO don't dare move
today" I'm sorry, I'm sure" murmured
Miss Prim, shifting, as she sought in vain for q
place to sit down.
Just knock those things onto the floor"
cried Mrs. SLOUGH easily, land stay awhile"
Il mustn't stay long. L only" began Miss
door, and enter Jane, the colored maid.
Please, Miss Leah, Marser Jacks done
gone fail into de swill barrel and / wants Q
clean pinto TO him.
Heavens! Jane, don't bother me, but look
in the closet there. dare say you'll find
plenty"
No sooner had Jane touched the handle Of
the closet than the door rprang open, as il BY
magic, and out rolled medley of apparel. A
tweed ulster, mud-splashed. consorted with .
white cashmere morning gown; a pair Of rub
Der boots fell out with ball dress.
There, Jane, !" said Mrs. SLOUGH, '.just see
how careless you are; look in deeper and you'll
find some" Jane thus melted vanished from
sight. burrowIng like q rabbit and tossing out
article after article as she cleared pathway
through the mass Mrs. Slouch viewed the
proceedings with interest. ''Lal Jane" she
cried, there's my Madras shawl 1 lost two
years ago; let's see what else is in there
Mos ebery ting" came in mufied tones
from Jane. Here's pillow, Miss Leah, and
a SLIDER suga' boz"
Mrs. SLOUGH was convulsed with laughter and
sank down upon the nearest chair, crushing
her new fall bonnet as she did SO. go on,
Jane; Its just like grab bag; what next?''
"Marser Jacks shoes what was los las
spring-an' Ia! if heah an yo' petticoat wifi
de pom lace founce what yous allowed was
stole!''
"Good gracious Jane! You must take a
day and go clear through that closet Did
you ever see the beat, Miss Prim?"
Poor Miss Prim had bean a shocked spectator
to the proceedings, the equal of which she men,
tally declared she had never seen before. She
opened her lips to speak, but that 10 as far a.
she got, for just then another tap came on the
door and Hannah, the cook, entered.
'Lawks, Mis- SLOUGH, if wo ant found the
carpet We lost last housekeeping timeW
did We lose one? I'd forgotten" said Mrs.
SLOUGH, who was more interested in the closet
than the recovery OF lost carpets.
"Why, yessum, and I'll Just bet you can't
guess where it was found" said cook, her
plump sides shaking.
"Where?" asked Mrs. SLOUGH.
SIN the wcll," said cook triumphantly
''That trash Jim must have laid it on to the
we'll curb after it was folded and some of them
children must have pushed it in"
mo wonder the water tasted funny" cried
Mrs. SLOUGH merrily.
YOU'D think so il you'd saw what seen.
The man got up dipper, q lot Ct knives and
forks, dead chicken, a"
Il must 60, Mrs. Slouch," said Miss Prfm
suddenly. She really looked quite pale and
even the inducement offered by Mrs. SLOUGH Of
going through all the closets in the house had
no attraction for her.
As she went down the front steps the chill
dren, who long since had broken the clothes
reel, were washing the front Of the house with
the hose and deluging the parlor, where win
dow happened to be open.
That was one too many for Miss Prim, and
she paused to demonstrate with them, only to
have her words received with bowls of derision
"Mercy me-" unused Miss Prim. 'rm thank
fuller than ever that the Lord Almighty saw
fit to make me q neat woman, but bless me II
l didn't forget to ask her il she wouldn't buy o
ticket for the lecture Monday nightr' No
wonder.
Mistake Of tn Day.
From Life.
Didn't you say the other day that the list