The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-03-04

III bU6 N6uGbluQ
glass jar, and more family illumined
the faces of the elderly man and wo-
man seated at either end, leaving in
deep shadow the maid who moved
round quietly. There was a suggestion
of constraint in the atmosphere, the
outward evidence whereof lay in the
spasmodic attempts at conversation
between the master and mistress in q
slight uplifting of the chin on the part
OF the maid.
81 saw Purcell Jones to-day" said
Mr.. Porter during momentary ab-
sence of the servant.
"Ha," exclaimed his wife with in.
terest, "and 'ow is hep Where was it
you seen him?"
"He says he's back at the old shop,
and" impressively, 81 tell you wot,
Mariar, if ever I saw a man as" here
the return of the maid caused the sub
ect to be abruptly dropped.
"Wot's this? Oh, frycassed chicken,
is itP Now thing likes, Mariar, is
duck. Duck with sage and onion
stuffing. We never as it now."
"Cook says she don't like to cook
onions, Tony. Sheysays as 'ow she
can't get the hoder off l'er 'ands.
"Umph," grunted Mr.. Porter, and
the meal proceeded in silence.
When the fnger-bowl stage was
reached and the door had closed upon
the retreating figure of the servant,
Mrs. Porter looked pathetically across
the dessert dishes at her husband and
heaved plaintive sigh. Mr.. Porter
returned the glance with one of pro-
found sympathy.
"Well," he inquired in carefully
modulated voice, show has it been to.
day? Have you got on any better?"
Care i'll became the plump visages
of the worthy couple. To judge from
the surroundings their circumstances
were affiuent. True, a strictly refined
taste might have taken exception to
the alliance of the purple and gold
brocade curtains with the maroon wall
paper, or have declared both to war
against the crimson satin gown that
graced the lady of the house. A
captious critic would perchance have
pronounced the ornaments of amazing
bulk in proportion to their intrinsic
value, and have rebelled that the few
paintings represented the 'Kiss
NANNY" School of Art alone. But
these accessories admirably became
Mr.. and Mrs. Porter, whose portly
presences would have struck an inhar.
monious note in more aesthetically
bedight dwelling.
"Oh, Tony" Mrs. Porter replied.
'1f you only knew what / suffers with
those persons in the 'ouse!"
"Well, my girl, you know I was
against it. You would ave 'em.
said all could against it. You 'ad to
ave your own way"
"Yes. but, Tony, dear, you know
Mrs. Pennithorne persuaded me. She
said as 'ow it would be a Christian
charity to give 'em trial as domes'
tics; for the pore things couldn't gel
situations as governesses nohow. But
] ave repented doing it, must say. >
""They amt been speakin' disrespec'
full, Mariar, ave they? I'd soon put
q stop to that, ladies or no ladies'"
''Lor, no, Tony, they amt. But
don't like somehow to order 'em
about, and ! always feels as if they
looked down on me. Cause O. course.
Tony, we amt always been wholesale
rs we is now"
"Never you mind that, Mariar.
You're as good lady as anybody
and real stylish in your ways. Now,
I'm plain man, and wot l likes is tC
leave quiet pipe in the dIorin'-room,
and to ear you play the old toons OIL
lhe paynoforte like you used to, But
lhere-You won't play now, because
Tou think they're staggering at you
downstairs !"
'I wouldn't mind that, Tony, i
they did their work we'll; but they
don't. This one can't cook a plair
chop. If 1t wasn't for shame's sake
I'd take the cooking myself. She
goes about with her eyeglasses drop
ping into the saucepans, and a fine
cookery book in her 'and, aud she
can't boil a cabbage. She just 'aJ
twelve lessons in fancy things and
thinks she knows all about it.
Mrs. Porter cracked a walnut anC
shook her head sadly.
San then late dinner every night
and them finger bowls and all that
we'll, Mariar, l don't want to 'urt YOU
feelin's, and do like bit of styl'
when we've company. like the best o
'em, BuC wot say is, give me a gooJ
comfortable supper with a snack o
something tasty. Liver and bacol
now, or Irish stew. All"
| 'sMartha used to make 'eayenl!