St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-04-14

DOLLY'S BOWL OF CRUEL.

and Uncle Joshua's shaggy brows
contracted till they met in a grizzled
line across his forehead.
Its burnt said he.
We'll" tartly exclaimed Adelina
81 burnt my hand, too; that is, l
scalded it dreadfully when 1 was
stirring in the meal. 1t spluttered
and dubbed up But as for the
gruel's being burnt, that's only your
notion. 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 it too salty !; l can't
eat it. 1t takes knack to make
good Cruel. 1t seems to me that
woman of your age, Adelina-most
thirty, arn't ye?-Ought to know
how to cook something fit for sick
person toeat!"
An angry red burned on Adelina S
cheeks. She seized the bowl of con-
demned cruel and f1ounced down into
the dining-rOOm where the rest of the
family were assembled.
"I'Il never cook another thing for
him as long as live !" she exclaimed
Il do wish, ma, that when Uncle
Joshua sent word that he was COM
ing to visit us, you had written
to him that we were sick, or some
thing, and that it wasn't con-
venient."
Don't be rash," said Mrs. Dart, a
sharpnosed matron, with calulating,
gray eyes. Folks say he's rich -
81 don't believe it," retorted AIDE
lima
"Nor do l." echoed her sister
Blanche, languid blonde. eff he is
worth anything why does he dress
so stability? I almost die of shame
every time he goes to church with
us"
And think Of his home continued
Adelina. That little red farmhouse
with its rag carpets, feather beds
and windows that won't let down
at the top-it's awful"
why, thought it was a lovely
place, with its sloping moss-covered
roof, and big elms around it," said
Dolly.
We have mentioned Dolly last be-
cause it seemed to be the fashion in
the Dart household. Ever since she
was a 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 very insignificant person.
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 ofspite against
her. Perhaps it was owing to jeal-
ousy 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 mere child yet, too
young to go into society,"" Mis-.
Dart would carelessly remark; l
have Adelina and Blanche to chaper-
one, and when they ire comfortably
settled in life, why, then it will be
time for Dolly to come out 1t isn't
likely that she cares much about it
any way, she's such home body J"
Dolly was a home body, but like
most girls she had a longing for pref
ty 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, the latter a
wise young damsel from Vassar-
when she saw with her own eyes
the cream tinted invita- ton with her
own name, Miss Dorothy Dart, :"
written on it, she wanted to go very
e.
summoned up courage enough to
manifest her desire.
why Dolly, what can you be
thinking Of, exclaimed her step
mother you know 1 cannot af-
ford to get you a new dress"
Il can wear my white muslin !"
stoutly persisted the young girl.
Your old muslin That wouldn't
do at all You'd be real dowdy!"
'She might have my blue silk fixed
over" suggested Blanche, who was
not bad-hearted if folks did not set
her up to it.
Adelina frowned You said you
were going to have your blue silk
colored and made into a Vatican
wrapper" she remarked severely.
Yes, l did intend to-" Blanche re-
piled, subdued by the frown, and
Mrs. Dart ended the converse ion
by saying decidedly:
You see, Dolly, it is quite impossi-
BILE. What with Adeline's new wine
colored satin, and Blanche's silk, l
can't spend a penny more"
Now it had so happened that Uncle
Joshua had never paid much atten-
ton to Dolly. He had either thought
she had too much to do and that he
would not add to her cares, or he
had preferred to have her halfsisters
wait on him. But he took kindly
notice of her now, when after her lit
tie battle, she came upstairs bring
ing him a bowl of cruel, that she