The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-01-19

up in the s1 PASTURE SD "sfs{ Ioes$
n Nonsense !" sal d
" ! Aunt Jean. "With the
~ back bedroom to be
whitewashed, and the churning to be
done. and the quilt 10 be got roady for
the frames? I'm surprised at you,
Catherine"
Kitty looked with longing eyes at
the creeping tides OF sunshine on the
hill, the great shadows that the apple
tree bou8hs made, swaying. on the
grass.
There was cntbird singing in the
NAPLES. Kittie wished that-just for
n while-sho could be that catbird.
and dwell in a glorifled region of green
leaves, where churning, whitewash
pals and quilting-bees were I'M
known.
She knew that even now the scarlet
peoples were nodding along the stone
walls like tiny soldiers, tho wild roses
opening in solitary nooks, the straw
berries ripening in fragrant wood
openings on the hill.
AS these tempting thoughts passed.
across her mind. she heard Aunt jeans
shrill voice ut the back door, taking to
some one.
ga painter, ehP' said she. ooh,
yes, you're welc omo to drink OF
water. You cun draw it, fresh and
cool, for yourself. The wells out
under the big butternut tree. \
painter, did You say? P'raps you can
whitewasl, too?'
Certainly, mn'ami" said deep.
pleasant voice.
Kitty leaned forward to get n peep
at the possessor of that clear, soft
tenor.
He was young man, with sort of
pack strapped on his back, and some.
thing that resembled magnified UNI
brella in his hand.
"Oh," said Kittie, to herself, ga
peddler Aunt Jean is getting hard
or OF hearing every day !"
"Well," said Aunt Jean, "I do
b'lieve Providence has sent you'll Ia
engaged Perkins Polk to whitewash
the back bedroom to day, hut he
hasn't come near me. And here it is
o'clock 1 don't b'lieve he means
to come to-day. Perkins has took TO
drink dreadful OF late poor creetur
Praps, sir, you could whitewash the
back bedroom? ia be wiliin' to give
you your dinner and quarter OF n
dollar for the jobl And / can't say
more LIBERAL than that"
Aunt Jean was awaiting the decision
OF the young man, with one hand back
OF her ear, when Kitty walked in, her
bright eyes sparkling with mirth, her
cheeks rosy, and her lips pursed up
In the desperate attempt not to smile.
you'll please excuse Aunt Jean,
my good man." said she. 1--WE don't
want anything to-day. There was
peddler along on Saturday. and we
bought NIL that we required"
The young man Horton Leigh was
the name stamped in gilt letters on
the inside of his color box looked
from grim Aunt jean to pretty Kitty.
and made up bis mind at once.
pardon me-" he said. "bnt I am
not peddler. And il You will allow
me, 1 shall be very glad to undertake
the job"
"Fho sooner the better, said Aunt
Jean, briskly. az s'pose yon amt cot
your overalls with you. That don't
make no difference. There's a pair up
stairs rs belonged to Hiram Hardness.
who worked for us one spell, and n
Jumper jacket rs Billy Bnriow wore.
who ran away and joined the gipsiee.
six months ago. Kitty, run up stairs
and fetch 'eIn. And the young man
can 90 into the barn and put em on.
Wen, / do call this streak o luck !"
And in less than Ave minutes the
young man" was mounted on n lad
dor, brandIsbIDg n goods sized white
wash bru b. Kitty Ford was churnino
and Aunt jean was tacking the quilt
on tie frames IN the best room.
There's no!hin' like gettin' o good.
carly tart on Monday morning" said
Amt Jean
At II o'clock the back bel room
was whittier and sweeter than any liIv.
the butter had "come," the quilt was
satisfactorily arranged, and the whole
family rat down Co savory meal Of
fred chicken, white bread, milk and
tirawberry shortcake.
'You seem TO be q very respectable
young man. said Aunt Jean, critical.
ly surveying the stranger. "Jf you'd
like TO stay here and do chores for
your hoard YOU might sleep in the
baru chamber, and could recommend
you To 90 whitewashing jobs for the
nciehhors. Deacon Dowd's house
needs new coat o. paint, badly, and
l'm most sure that Widow Elnathan
Truehy would like her barn pointed to
match the new house"
90 sm greatly obliged to You, said
the Young man, toying with particu-
larry large berry, ''but do not exc.
cur, orders in that branch. / am an
aittL'
'A-which27 said Aunt Jean.