The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-05-05
THE DOG IN
THE MANGER.
BY MRS. E. V. WILSON.
Copyright 1885, by S. S. McCl
irnifad

Copyright 1885, by S. S. Mcclure.
Linited)
Mrs. Miller was pairing early apples for
sauce. Mr. Miller, with a newspaper
spread on the carpet at his feet, was
scraping with piece of glass an axe
handle, to desired smoothness, while
Bessie, the 5-year-old daughter of the
house, stood with a kitten in her arms
watching her father at his work.
The sitting room, with its brightly
striped rag carpet, its splint bottomed
chairs and the new white curtains at
us windows, was a cheerful looking
place, and its three occupants were as
comfortable appearing persons as one
could wish to see
Suddenly Mrs. Miller, with half
pared APPLE in one hand, and holding a
knife threateningly in the other ex-
claimed, IF there is anything in the
world l despise, it's a dog in the manger,
SO it isl
Mr.. Miller looked up inquiringly.
why. Marthy." he said, what do you
mean%
Just what I said" she answered.
sharply; "a dog in a manager; I'd like
70 know what else you'd call a Teller
that hangs around a girl, keepin every
other young man away, and hasn't cour-
age enough to speak out and"-Here she
door near her. which led to tho kitchen,
while a clear sweet voice asked if the
apples were ready.
Just about" said Mrs Miller deity
finishing the last one, and handing the
pan containing them to the owner of the
voice. This was Mrs. Miller's young
sister, and a pretty picture she made
with her sleeves ROLLED above her ell
bows, showing her plump dimpled arms,
her curling brown hair pushed back from
her white forehead. and her face rosy
with the heat. Little drops of perspira-
ton stood round her lips, and as she
wiped them away with her blue checked
apron, she said: Il guess I'll make a
pie as we'll as the sauce; the men al
ways like pie She looked at her sis
ter interrogatively.
''Of course, if you want to-" said Mrs.
Miller, but it is so warm to bake, and
there's cold bread and lots of cookies
Il don't mind the heat" the girl said.
laushingly. as she closed the door and
went singing merrily back to the kitchen
L can't see." said Mr. Miller, why
you are so anxious to have Lucinda
marry. She's mighty nice to have
around"
I'm not anxious" retorted his wife,
who was like an older edition of her
pretty sister. but I do say no man has
right to go with a girl and keep every
body else away, unless he means to
marry her; and I do say it's acting like
"a dog IN the manger,' for here's Lu-
cinda nearly 29 and might have had lots
of chances if it hadn't been for him.
Mr.. Miller evidently thought silence
the better part, for he made no answer,
but scraped away diligently at his axe
handle. Presently he ran his hand up
and down the surface of the wood, say
ing. 4 reckon that's about right now"
Let me feel it, pap" said the little
daughter. and she initiated his move
ments so earnestly, that her father
laughed II dess it's all right, pap" she
said. its perfectly Slick
Come on then. Bessie" he said, ris-
ing from his chair, land we will try to
finish the job before supper
They left the room together, while
Mrs. Miller cleaned up the scrapings
of hickory and placed the chairs against
the wall as yindictively as if the mysteri-
Gus dog in the manger" was being han
died in the process.