Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-10-08


''No, marm.
well, if you amt the beatum fol
dallyin, Dry Pease Can't you step
round a little livelier for once?"
A loud rattle of the stove litter and
covers convincingly testified to an at
tempt being made at more energetic &C.
tion.
"Put on the big biler Dry, an fill it
up to the brim. Mis- Holman's wash
this weeks q marster one, an we've got
to work spry to git it out early. Did
Jake draw a-plenty of waterH''
Plenty"
The voice Of the invisible Dry was In
harmony with the clang Of the stove
utensils. In the interval Of silence that
followed the brisk, jerky tones from the
room adjoining announced: "There,
I'm a-comin at last. It's took me longer
than usual this mornin to git my hair
bobbed That plaguy neuralgy takes me
so in the shoulder every once in while,
seems as though l must holler right
out" and middle aged woman, whose
figure was composed of billowy layers
of flesh tied in at the waist line by
broad gingham apron strings, appeared,
and with an inclusive glance inspected
the preparations made.
'Twon't take water long to bile on
top Of such fire as that" she said ap-
provingly "That bilerll hold more
without stopping over. Where's the
dipper?"
Ora thrust it within her mothers
reach, and putting the cover Of the boil
er cn noisily, walked to the kitchen
door and looked vaguely around, There
was look of discomfort ON her small
brown face.
The little house stood alone on the
crest Of pygmy hill, which on the
right sloped gradually to q winding riv-
er, from which it was separated by
thick growth of trees and shrubbery. In
front the hillside was smooth and green.
On the two remaining sides fruit trees
currant bushes, flower beds and vegeta-
BILE patches spread themselves about
with gratifying lack Of disposition to
crowd each other. There was walk
from the seldom used front door to the
gate at the foot of the hill, bordered on
both sides BY whitewashed stones, heaps
of which, piled in pyramidal form, dec
GRATED the smooth plots on either side of
this walk. The freshness and cleanness
OF early morning were everywhere pres
ent. There were exhilaration and inspi.
ration in the view presented of valley,
river and mountain
mice day, amt it?" remarked Mrs.
Pease, cheered by the glimpse of sum.
mer beauty that greeted her as she pass.
ed the open window
'Nothin wonderful about 1t as see, ;"
answered Ora almost savagely. Its fit
as any day to work in, don t see as it
makes any difference what kind of a
day it is when we've got to slave over
Washtubs an suds. I'm sick of it ALL"
Mrs Pease made no answer, but
glanced furtively at her daughters
clouded face whenever the extgencies of
work brought her near the kitchen door,
"It's all her seein Charlotte Frost racin
by arter Steve Judkins last night" she
said to herself 'Twon't do no good
to speak Of it, though, for she'd deny 1t
up an down. That's got to be straight
ened cut. On Ory'll be down sick with
worryin.
Don't stand there any longer. Ory,"
she called peremptorily moment later,
with change of sentiment born of the
demand for action. We've lost o good
quarter of an hour waitin for that pesky
fire
The girl came back into the room,
dragging after her by one end @ heavy
wash bench, on top Of which the two
women placed tub Of wet linen. An
other was already resting on % broad
topped stool, and Ora and her mother
plunged their barred arms into the soapy
masses without further delay. Ora's
mood was inimical to conversation, and
no sound was heard for some time ex.
cept the swish swish of the linen as
piece after piece was dragged through
the suds to take its place on the zinc
ribbed washboards
"Soon's we git 'em rubbed ont once
We'll have breakfast" said Mrs. Pease
at last. painting little from her violent
exertions. 'S'pose you run out, Dry,
an see if there's any fresh eggs in the
nest. I'll finish rubin out. "
I'm most DONE" answered Ora
swapping handkerchief through the
air as she spoke. ''Aint this pretty
one, MARI" She held the embroidered
web up to view. II don't see why I
can t have such things as we'll as Mis-
Holman
"What earthly good would they do
your" asked her mother scornfully.
Them things is just for show. I'd
rather put my money somewheres else.
Ora shrugged her shoulders pettishly.
She was in a mood where sympathy
would have been as irritating to her as
opposition. Her lips opened as though
she We're about to continue the argu-
ment, but closed again as the front gate
squeaked on its hinges and hasty foot.
steps were heard coming up the walk,
Who in natur' can be comm at this
time in the mornin?" inquired Mrs.
pcase synitadlv. "Ynn don't look fit tn
CA9ToRIA.
1as lasnlis ais, N <<cz- !. On