St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-03-05

carpet and the poor upholstery gave
her courage.
IL see you heat with stoves" she
observed. Now Mr.. Witan, he said
he was going to put steam into our
house if we only stayed there for the
summer. He said we couldn't keep
comfortable without it in this eli
mate. Don't you find it rather hard
to get along in winter? And how do
you run your bathroom )"
"Some people never bathed till they
had what they call modern con
veniences, said Madam Forrestheld.
1--WE do not belong to that class.
One OF our bathtubs is OF porcelain,
and formerly belonged 10 an East
Indian rajah. My grandfather, Col.
Ichabod Steptiptoe, Of Salem
brought it over to this country in
1902.
"Sakes alive "gasped Mrs. Witan.
Here Miss Rachel interposed. She
could see by the hectic flush on her
mothers face, and the way in which
she grasped the heavy staff, once the
prop of the Rev. Eldad Henbane,
which always lay by her side, that
the old lady was getting worked
into a state Of nervous irritabllity.
1t was never safe to have company
about at those times.
"Won't you let me give you glass
Of blackberry wine, Mrs. Witan?"
Mrs. Witan did not care for the
wine, but she welcomed the diver
sion.
Speaking of things to drink"
"she said, addressing herself to
both ladies, that brings me to the
business that brought me here.
This town is the most God-forsaken
place to keep house in that | ever
struck. No meat market, and the
butchers cart only runs twice
week, so they tell me. There amt
nilkman in the region, so far as |
can discover. Now what l want to
know is this. We are going to keep
four horses, but we didn't think any.
thing about cow. | don't barely
believe we want to be bothered with
one. At least we will wait till Mr..
Witan comes and then we'll see,-and
that won't be for two or three weeks
yet. Meanwhile we've got to have
at least gallon of milk day.
see you keep COW, and thought
maybe you would have some to
spare. We give ten cents quart in
Aluminium, but I'd just as lives pay
more if you think it is worth it,"
Miss Rachel groaned inwardly.
Her mother Strengthened herself and
said in shril voice, "Our milk and
vegetables, Mrs. Witan, and what
other goods we have are at the SER
vice OF our friends and those in need,
but we do not peddle the products OF
our estate" She ended almost in a
shrek, paroxysm of pain passed
over her face, and she fell back in
her chair. Mrs. Witan rose in alarm,
and Rachel got her out of the room
as well as she could.
ut is best to leave mother alone
She has these bad turns. She will be
all right in few minutes"
"She seemed rather upset by what
| said" said the visitor doubtfully.
II hope you won't take no offence.
| am sure | didn't mean no harm.
Your mothers kind o. childish, amt
she? About the milk; il you could let
me have few quarts till | can get
regular supply, it will be an awful
accommodation, and I'll pay you
anything in reason"
Don't mention the money" said
Miss Rachel nervously. "We shall be
glad to accommodate you, if you
will send for it,"
"lll let Emmy come" said Mrs.
Witan. The child is just hankering
for something to do,-and know
neither of the girls would stir a step.
They'd say 'twan't their business.
Servants expect every convenience
now. But | shall insist upon paying
you"
When the bonnet with the nodding
plumes and the diamond bedecked
bodice were safely out of the house,
Rachel went back to her mother.
Madam Forrest6eld was sitting I'D
as stitfly as il she were a case of
Steptiptoe, Saltpepper and Peasel.
tree spinal columns.
THE effrontery of that person!"
snorted the old lady, grasping the
staff OF the Rev. Eldad Henbane as if
it had been a truucheon. To talk of