Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-02-26

tnlS reminded MIN about the dinner
which was yet to be prepared.
Now, Miranda, / guess you've had
long swim enough for today, and II
just wash you up quick and go and get
the dinner ready, 80 that when your ma
comes home she won t have to wait. -
Accordingly he got a large cake of
brown soap and proceeded to give his
daughter such cleaning that she would
probably never need another in all her
life. Silence reigned for few moments,
till he came to wash what used to be
her curls.
"Wby, Miranda, think your hair
must be falling out" he remarked, as
long strands Of fax got tangled in his
fingers. II must tell your ma when she
comes home to get you some hair tonic,
and. my dear, you'll look SO nice and
clean that she won't hardly know you."
Then she was lifted out, and her fond
father commenced to dry her in his
apron. The next minute a startled ex-
preston came over his face.
"Oh, Miranda. you're peeling aw-
full" he cried. "My aprons all pink. I
guess I'd better leave you dry in the sun
while go tend to the others, and then
Ill dress you and p'r'aps your ma won,s
notice. You do look very pale. though, "
he added, as he laid her down on the
chair in the sun and returned to his 9TH
er household cares.
His sleeves felt wet and uncomfort-
able, but soon he forgot everything in
the preparation of the dinner. He
brought out the tea set, and all went
smoothly till he went to make the lem
onade. He looked around for something
to cut the lemon. Mammals scissors
were nowhere in sight; all the little tin
knives were broken on 1t with no avail.
Then he tried his teeth, but the bitter
acid of the skin got down his throat and
into his eyes, and he was forced to aban-
don that method too. At last he be-
thought him of the rusty old kitchen
knife which he carried in his Indian
wars. After long struggle and much
loss of juice the feat was at last accom-
plished, but the lemon looked SO jagged
and red and uninviting that it was
doubtful if the operation could be con-
sidered successful.
81 guess that is some of the Indians
blood" said the cook, not at all disturb
ed. Then one of the apples was cut by
the same means unto little, tiny pieces,
and a lump of sugar ground very fine by
the aid of the hero's heels and sprinkled
on top of the other ingredients.
''There, now; that is very nice pud-
ding, and it's about time Mrs. Doogan
was home,' remarked Mrs. Doogan's s
other half, testing the cakes and raisins.
"I'll take these children out of bed
first and Their II go and see if she is all
right. The Indians were all ready to
fight this morning, and they might have
been disappointed about me not coming
and killed her.
The thought did not seem to disturb
Mr.. Doogan in the least. He went on
eating raisins and dressing the dolls
quite upside down in very leisurely
manner.
81 don't see how your mother man.
ages these strings and buttons, - was the
next uttered reflection as the last means
of fastening the third infants dress flew
off with snap. s'Pins are much ham
dier.''
The next minute he would have prob
ably retracted that last statement if his
vocal organs had not been in active
service, for after administering a suffi-
cient quantity of pins to insure it's
clothes sticking on, when he went to lay
the doll down, one of the "handy" arti-
cles made deep red mark the whole
length of his palm.
Several minutes elapsed in which he
was in too great pain to think Of any
thing else, but when his eyes happened
to rest Oh the dinner, he thought he'd
better eat his share then and keep some
thing for his wife, if she were still in
the land Of the living, for there was no
telling how much longer it would be be-
fore she got home. The ham tasted very
good and SO did the red lemonade and
cakes and sugar. He was afraid to eat
any more raisins, for there were only
about five left cut Of whole handful
When he came to the pudding, however,
he stopped without hesitation.
"I think I'd better leave the pudding
for Mrs. Doogan; she's fond Of pudding,
and I'd just as soon eat plain apples, T"
which he accordingly did. During the
process of cleaning up" several plates
were broken, besides two cups, and last
of all the teapot. which had held the
small amount Of lemonade reserved for
Mrs. d.
After that things became monotonous.
He thought of washing out some clothes,
but then he did not exactly like to open
the laundry door and face Miranda. Not
that he had any certain knowledge she
was hurt, only there are those Strange
forebodings of ill unseen and that can
not be compassed.' -
And to these he had probably fallen a
victim. He looked out CT the window
10 see if there were any signs of Mrs.
Doogan. But ne had somehow or other
ceased to be anxious for her return. 1t
was rather a relief than otherwise when
she failed to appear on the scene.
Meanwhile Mrs. Doogan had had as
MANY experiences as could we'll befalI q
person of such limited age in such o
limited time.
After leaving her spouse, she had
gone to the far end Of the yard where
the coal bin stood, and with many Wig.
orous efforts, at the cost OF several
splinters and bruises, she at last succeed
ed in mounting.
Then she began her speech, but as
there was no one in hearing distance
except the old cat asleep on the fence 1t
was little tiresome. At last she grew
impatient and determined to make a
convert at any rate. She raised her voice
to it's highest pitch and began again:
"Ladies and gemplemens, l am a
woman's wrights lady, and has come
here to tell you about woman's suHer,
ing. Woman's suffering is one KIND OF
woman's wrights, and another KIND is
where they has meetings and preaches
and votes. I have tried the suffering
kind. and it amt nice, and it is when
peoples babies is killed and they can I
90 to parties, and when people gets
whipped and has to go to sleep III the
dark and like that.
ff1r IT,; 4r1,;no tho other kind