Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-06-20
DUST.
BY MARY R. P. HATCH.


and order, and the clothes that Mrs.
Daley was ironing were miracles OF
smooth whiteness; yet the lady her.
self was attired in an old calico wrap
per and her hair was twisted into an
unlovely knot at the back of her
head, the many stray locks atfesting
to the fact that no brush had touch
ed it since the day before. She
Strengthened up YEARLY and said:
sob dearl Shall / ever get done?
What is it?" fretfully, Of the young
girl, similarly attired, who appeared
at the door of the pantry
"Why can't we get along without
pies to day, we have SO much to dor"
"Because we can't" returned her
mother, shortly.
"Then let US leave the sweeping
until tomorrow"
"Alice Daley! did you ever know
me to let Wednesday go by without
a regular sweeping?"
The young girl disappeared and
Mrs. Daley went on with her work.
"Ah, here you areP' and the mer
ry voice ushered a sprightly little
lady into the room.
Mrs. Daley welcomed her caller
and Alice came from the pantry to
lay aside her hat and to draw the
rocker to cool window.
"Oh, dearl" said she, sinking into
it, Show can you iron when it is go
hot?"
GLOW can you iron when it isn't
hot?" asked Mrs. Daley, little sar-
castically, for somehow the crisp,
cool figure of her neighbor so neatly
attired and apparently at leisure
served as an irritant TO her over tax
ed nerves.
"That is question, but l thought
| solved it this morning when / be-
gan to iron Immediately after break
fast. / put the dishes into the sink
and washed them after the fire went
down. / had kettle full of water
that / heated while | was ironing
My sweeping l did afterwards and l
made my beds Also
"How about your cooking?" in
quired Mrs. Daley, interested in spite
of herself.
"Oh, l made, while had my fire,
a pudding which We shall eat cold
for dinner, and | baked my bread,
too. | have berries for supper and
a cake that | baked yesterday morn
ing, and for dinner I have sliced
chicken and we shall have pitcher
of milk. But don't think | always
do this way. 1t is only on excep-
tionally warm days and then Albert
prefers cold dinner"
II don't see how you could get
your ironing done so soon any way.
have scarcely begun mine,' and
Mrs. Daley sighed as she looked at
the heaped up basket. ''It will take
me nearly all the afternoon to finish
it,"
ooh, but l don't iron your way"
said her visitor.
"Wby, is there more than one
way n asked Mrs. Daley.
Yes, there are two ways, and 1
use both. l iron my best clothes,
handkerchiefs, fine shirts, collars,
napery and SO forth just as you are
ironing that dish-wiper--as perfect
ly as possible, and I can iron well.
But my sheets and coarses clothes
slight, at least one-half The result
is fully as satisfactory, for they look
just as we'll on the clothes bars, in
the drawers, on the beds, and nearly
as well in every sense
"But l can't slight" said Mrs.
Daley, with some pride, sand / be-
lieve if ! could not do but one, I
should have my corners clean wheth-
er the middle OF the room was or
not"
"But it isn't a matter of cleanli-
ness at all, Mrs. Daley. agree with
you that the spirit of dirt should be
exercised. / want my clothes as
clean as soap and water can make
them; but ironing is a different mat
ter. OF course if I had time / should
do your way. No, I don't believe |
should after all, for / am trying to
get an extra hour to read in the af-
ternoon."
Gan extra hour'' repeated Mrs.
Daley. why, / haven't read word
| for weeks. ] did not learn OF Gar
fields assassination until week at
forwards. Joseph said that he sup
posed he had told me, but he did
not. And since that time matters
have grown worse with me rather
| than better"
"And yet you were fine scholar
Alicia, remember that wellp Mrs
Bright unconsciously spoke in thu
| familiar style Of their girlhood