The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-06-16

| Q
The dayP" "Yis, yis, Oh yis, you're
pretty spry."
"What say, spry2 I'm nimble as q
cricket; just now 1 chased the pig out
of the garden, pesky baste."
Patience smiled to herself TO hear
them go on, talking over their bits of
gossip, recalling old stories and times,
and in their deafness making many
amusing mistakes, until they finally
merged into long gone by politics, and
Rachel, little later, deep in the nitric
acies of ironing grandma's cap frill,
was interrupted by Patience.
"Better come, think likely, Miss
Clark" and Rachel hurried again to the
kitchen, to find the two old children in
a heated argument about France and
the Federalists.
"Whyl whyl" said Rachel.
"Well, he talks like link" muttered
Uncle Johnny, sullenly.
'Did you say was drunk?' demand
ed Alexander, wrathfully.
odd you call me skunk" shouted
Uncle Johnny, now thoroughly arous-
ed?
The sight of the bent old figures,
their canes, each fairly shaking with
rage, and glaring at the other, was too
much, and Rachel greatly increased
their ire by laughing, even though her
eyes grew moist at the pathetic picture !;
but being born diplomat, she made
few tactful explanations, and soon
smoothed over the quarrel. "Uncle
Johnny" she said, "It's granther's
breakfast time, and you must sit up
and eat some bread and milk with him."
"Come; you always say you like my
rye and Indian bread; and here is some
nice cheese, and warm pie;' and ar
ranging tray with grandma's break
fast, Rachel left Patience again in
charge.
"Well, Patience, don't get married
yet, chip quavered Uncle Johnny.
"No, Uncle Johnny, can't find any
one to have me-" said homely Patience,
gaily.
"Well, WE'LL" mumbled Alexander,
"get a good man, yell be glad ye
waited till ye got him, but get poor
one and yell be glad we haint so long
to live with him, that's what l tell 'em,
but Abner Smiths here Almost every
l.
He, he, he, hi, hi, hi,' laughed
both jokers, gleefully. "Better tell
him to take the red tassels off his boots,
Patience" chuckled Uncle Johnny.
Now, Abner was sore subject to
Patience; the foppishness of his dress,
and ridcu'ou lisp in his speech gave
him an effeminate air that to common
sense Patience was unbearable, but Alb
ner was too obtuse TO be else than per-
sstent, and evening after evening he
was asked by mischievous Wilkins to
" Give us song, now, Abner."
Then while Abner swung the red
tassels to and fro, with one knee over
the other, he kept time with his foot to
the refrain:
" When you get old, and hungry and cold,
/ thwear, hope you'll freeth, freeth,
thwear, L hope you'll freeth."
This was the awful fate called down
upon the maiden in Abner's song for
daring to refuse the gallant swain who
to allow her to marry him.
Viking would meanwhile look with
eyes of mock solemnity and meaning
at Patience, who had come to hate the
sound of Abner's name.
So, when Rachel now returned to the
Patience was glad to get away,
10 prepare the vegetables, and hang the |
pot over grandmother's fire for the |
boiled dinner; but she found here a
fresh war cloud, as little Catherine had |
ly disputing right of territory with
grandma, to the last limit of endurance.
Catherine was the only great grand
child, and fierce indeed were some of |
the struggles between the childish old |
couple and the spoiled four year-old
baby.
"Away with ye," cried the old lady,
as Catharine for the third time snatched |
the choicest morsel from grandmother's
"now, will ye go?" giving |
her push that sent her backward on |
10 the stone hearth.
"You old jade" said little Catharine
vehemently, springing up and starting
determinedly for the door, her chubby
form alive with fury. "Wait till get |
me stick and I'll give you one good
licking"
Patience locked the door and was
obliged to watch the remainder Of the
forenoon, in the kitchen, to keep the
enemy from approaching at the rear;
but all these things 80 interfered with
the soap boiling that it was late fore
noon before they got the kettle from
the crane, and set it TO cool on the
wide hearth.
NOW, Patience" said Rachel, "we'll
lad!e out the keg full, and the rest will
cool soon, and then it can be emptied
into the soap trough, down cellar; Wen
wait till evening and have Joel and
wilkins help. It's beautiful soap" she
added, as she scraped back into the par
ent mess the sample that had been
turned over and over, with splinter
from the birch broom, until its culver
ing consistency had been pronounced
done.
The morning work finished up, and
dinner over, Rachel fastened away
to her weaving, while Patience drew
out the flax-wheel and began spinning
theoretically; as the thread rounded
upon the spindle, she began singing in