News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-01-28
Mrs. Gibbs Pound Of Cheese.
BY MATTE W. BAKER.

There, mother, the tables all set
for supper, and itwOn't be much work
to put on the victuals, when it is
time. Now I'm going to put on my
new dress and go over to the village
and see some of the girls | don't
care about visiting,with the old ladies,
but III be home in season to help
about the supper"
But the minister's wife is coming,
you know, and the ministerll come
to tea"
Cant help it! I've been shut up
all the week sewing on that dress, and
| must get out to-day; and Eta
tripped upstairs, whistling like a
blackbird
Mrs. Gibbs fiuttered around, brush
ing imaginary dust from the furni-
ture, and searching carefully for tell
! tale cObWebS in the corners, or finger
marks on the immaculate paint, till
Eta came downstairs in spick-and-
span calling costume.
'There's one thing more | wish we
had for tea" remarked Mrs. Gibbs,
''and 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 a
pound as you come back? I'll get
you some change
Etta's brOws puckered into a scowl
Dear Dear me! Every call l want to
make is this side of the grocery, and
some of the girls are sure to be out,
so | shall call again as | come back.
And Ican't carry around cheese, when
I'm making calls. It's as fragrant
as oniOns!"
"Well, then, never mind" said her
mother, soOthingly "9our father
said he'd got to go to the black
smiths this afternoon, and I'll ask
him TO get it, 'Tain't much further "
But Mr. Gibbs, coming in soon af-
ter to put on his coat before starting,
objected, 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 sixteen cents and cheese
fourteen! Mabbe you can afford it,
but | can't"
But just a 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 pOOreri in heart than
in pocket, went off with this parting
shot.
Fortunately, Mrs. Gibbs had a very
little money of her own in her purse
just then Though as a rule it was as
empty as the prOverbial contribution
box, and when, u few minutes later.
Johnny came, sweating, into the
kitchen and began hurriedly to hunt
up his fishing tackle, she planned
another attempt.
''Pve got my stent O. holm done, u
painted Johnny, "but | tell We,
worked like IL mailer to do it! Now
Pm gOin' fishin'!"
"Where are you gOing?"
cover 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
bEy pound of cheese? I'll get you
some money"
Il shall forget it, mother, | know
shall, or lose the money"
ooh! now, do try and remember
it, and you needn't take any money
Tell Mr.. Brown to charge it, and III
pay it right away"
Ionny hastily departed, leaving as
his parting consolation, Il shall for
get it, mother; so don't depend or
me-"
"Three times and out!" thought
Mrs. Gibbs, giving up, with a half
sigh, the thought of cheese for sup
per.
But just then she spied Horace
Hand coming along the road, a MAI
rightly named, for he was the handy
man of the neighborhood, always
soliciting errands, and bringing mai
unasked, for the pure love of doing
favOrs, it seemed. And what did ht
do this very day outcome to the door
and, opening it familiarity, put in his
head and ask
ANY errands lean do for you at The
village to-day, Mis- Gibbs"
{ How providential thought
she. " What time are you coming
back?"
"Ohl long about four or five
O'Clock, say"
''Then, Mr.. Hand, if you will get hit
a pound of cheese at the grocery, II
be ever so much obliged, I'm expect
ing company"
"Sartin, ma am, I'll do it gladly
Need't get me any change now. Nv,
got plenty for that, and you can
tell Jest how much twill be; they II q,
cut little more or less, you know
Jest as well pay me when come back
: and know how much it is" and h,
shambled away.
With a sense of relief, Mrs. Gibbs
FASTENED to her bedroom and chang
ed her print dress for new gingham
dOnned a clean white apron, theI
took her knitting work and sat dow
to wait for her guests. She had no
long to wait, for this was a genuine