Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-04-16
II. NJ. +. b.
ny ANNIE II. DoNNnLi..

uf hNNID u. DONNEist.
"'H. NJ. L. H. What In the world
do those letters mean2" unused Annnh,
"That's just what I'd like to know"
Aunt Ursula exclaimed. peering Mt tho
letters through her glnsscs. They were
set down, tiny and clear.cut. opposite
ono OF April's days In tho almanac.
There VIVA cabalistio air nbout them.
1T wrote 'em there 10 put me In mind
OF something. but can't for the life OF
me rccollect whgtl" Aunt Ursula's be-
nign. creased face took on added creases
of perplexity. She rercad the letters
slowly, reflectivcly, "H.-M.-F.-B."
ut might be Her Majcsty's Femnic
Drigndiers, you know, or Fire brigade"
euggcsted Annah ~ feel sure tia her
mnjesty's something.r
ut is.yht be Hurry McTntyr and
Philip bump retorted Aunt Ursula,
calmly. II was home thrust, and An
nah subsided into sudden meelness.
Her fresh checks colorcd.
'"Philip decent begin witch nm Pal
ways" she murmurcsl.
But Aunt Ursula. intent on the d.
mannc. did not heed. ~ wrote TINT lnet
winter when ] was planning my work
ahead" she said. II like to know lust
what to expect on just what days.
April pl--merciful me, tia to-dnyi To-
days the 21st. MS sure Us I'm q breathing
snull Well. nll is, the cleanin8'll have
to walt. did plan to newspaper the
pantry shelves to-day, but I nln't going
TO miss any Of the programme thnt's
put down."
Annnh sprung up brlslsly. herself
ngain. "Oh. yea, Aunt Ursua--of
course! Let's go right of and-H. NJ.
L. u. this minute. I'll help you" Her
eyes danced with fun.
"Mcrciful me- TO be snre! flow can
we. TIL we know what tits 2" cried Aunt
Ursula, In dismay. "Whnt in the name
of common sense isit7 H.-M.-F.-B.
II. NJ" She mlscd over the letters
with knit bqows.
Uncle Miles cpme nto tho room In his
stocking feet, looking for his clippers.
lie padded across the floor and looked
over Aunt .Urhula's shoulder.
"Mpre lhglypherlcs. Ursuly?" he
asked. ."Now whnt2" Ills mild blue
eyes twinl,led.
Uncle Miles. what doca III. NJ. r. D.
stand for? It's something we've got to
do to-day. the 21st of pril. and we don't
know howl"
Feather bcdi" announced Aunt Ur-
Ruln, trinmpbanhly. "Thnt's the IF. H.
part OF It. nnyhowl OF course tits.
Why didn't think In the first place T?
laid ont to do IL to-dsy, being sort of
betwixt bny m grass, before the clean
Ing began IN good earnest. / thought
I'd get IT. ont of the way before hot
weather. i. D.-fcnther bed"
"Iier Mnjesty's Feather Dedi" cried
AnDnh, waving the almanac. "Just
what | suspectcl!"
Uncle Miles nvlgcd Aunt Ursuln's
elbow in nppreciativc enjoyment OF the
girls fun, Aunt Ursula smiled absent
ly, wrestling still with her memory.
Hired mansl" she announced fur
ther. with dsfinhe triumph. awe got
TO make. over the hired mans feather
he'd to-day. dnd guess I'd better bc
nbont 1t. It's all worn out" She
glanced nnxIonsly up Mt the clock.
TITS cons!derable-late to begin TINT
kind OF a Job. but the new ticks nil
ready. that's one thing to be thankful
for. Annahi" Aunt Ursula looked up
over her glasscs. Her tone was en-
phatically deliberate. "Mnrk my wordsl
IL yon want TO make the most OF your
time. you keep things kind of ready
right along feather bed, ticks, md
everything else. And II you've laid ont
to do q tlSng ono certain day q the
month. yci do,itl Now IN go get the
feather bed downstairs"
Aunt, grsnla lived up to her gentle lit
tie lectures. Her worl. was always ar
ranged with careful method and nj
wnys methodcnlly carried out. The
| pile OF almannos filed away on the sec-
oDd left-hnnd shelf In the cupboard
held many mysterious. remindful let
ters and words between their covers.
and to Aunt Drsula's credit be II said
they rarely fnilcd to remind Mt sight.
1So Hired Mans Feather Bed was d
notable exception.
| But fate. In the small. stubby, person
Of 'Doniram Cobb. interfered. with the
nlmanac's decree. 'Doplram IigSed.i He
appeared, bare offoot. of head and OF
ceremony. in the doorway.
Mother thays to come qnickth ever
you can thcoot7-he'th thirker'n the
dlckenth. He'th ath ,stiff'th poker
| ut, I gueth" re,
"Merciful npsy Adonirrm Cobb. what
nrcyou talking about. and who?"
"'rhammy-it'th him. He'th thici,-
er'n the .dickenth. gueth you better
thcamper." 'Donirnm's sun-blenched
head disappeared from the door ana his
cushioned little feet pattered out 81
herring. r'
Aunt Ursula took Off her ehrop and,
rolled down her sleeves. She sighed
once or twice gently.
"Of all days,"'sbe said, sto go and
have fit in! sI'rn~renl sorry for Snn-
my Cobb. poor little crcafpre. bu, I DO