Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-17
Great GRANDMOTHER Mantle.
BY Annie Hamilton Donnell.

tie looking glass.
There goes the scowl." she cried.
We'll. you DO look deal better. ma
am. The idea of scowling because
It's pleasant morning. when it's been
o rainy one every blessed other day
for most a week, ! know what the
trouble is. It's that washing. Nancy
Grove. What would your great
grandmother say"
There was an authentic and valued
entry in the Grove family records TO
the effect that Great Grandmother
Nancy was won't TO rise extremely
early on wash-days. and get her
washing for a household of fourteen
out on the line before breakfast. 1t
was even recorded that she had ac-
complished this extraordinary feat at
seventy years of age. Her achieve
ment was the boast of the Grove fam
lily, and Nancy had heard it over and
over again.
You've got tLree in your family and
you're seventeen" Nancy scoldei
herself aloud. The pity of having
such a great grandchild as that"
Nancy was housekeeper for her
father and Thomas while her mother
was away, nursing a sick sister. 1t
was great fun, too-all but the wash
ings. How Nancy disliked those.
Downstairs there was breakfast to
get and clear away, the chickens 10
feed and Thomas to ''shine-up" for
school. 1t was long after nine O'Clock
hAf he
the washing.
While the water was heating she
ran across the yard to Sc how little
Mrs. Cilley's baby was.
He amt any better. l was up with
him about all night" sighed the young
mother. YEARLY. I'm nearly discour-
aged. / can't work to-day. and don't
know what he's going to do for clean
things"
Il do" Nancy cried. cheerily. I'm
just going TO take his little clothes
home with me and wash 'cm with my
things. They're so little | shall hard
ly know they're there."
She held out her hands Tor the tiny
wailing one. You poor. tired little
woman, you! Give me that baby while
you go and get his things picked up
A few minutes later Nancy went
home with little soft roll under her
arm. She was humming tune as she
went
I'll just put some more water On to
heat. and get these little bits a-soall-
ing" she thought. I'm so thankful
went over there-that poor little
thing looks all tired out. She's so
very young."
Nancy added another gallon of water
to the sizzling. foamy contents of the
boiler on the stove. Then, singing al
the top of her clear voice as she work
ed, she hustled about among her tubs.
The clock struck eleven.
Eleven o'clock. OF all thingsi Well.
I'm glad l haven't got to stop and get
dinner for anybody" she cried. 1t
was lucky for daddy he took to-day to
90 TO town on, And Tom would carry
= his dinner to school-'so f il DID rain.
must run out and put up my lines
there's Mr.. Sophia putting out his now.
oh. my goodness. hope Mrs. Sophia
doesn't see where he's putting emf"
Nancy gazed across the road II the
pottering figure in the bed-ticking
apron The glimpse OF dun-colored
trousers below the apron hem betrayed
the sex of the washerwoman. Poor Mr.
Sophia, How he would blunder. and
how poor Mrs. Sophia would groan.
How the water wouldn't be hot enough
and the starch wouldn't be cold enough
hn lni ho
MY heart goes out to Mr.. Sophia"
laughed the girl across the road. IN
der her breath. II really was n hard
place to put an innocent. well-meaning
man-person. TO have 10 do the wash
ing for Mrs. Sophia.
"oh, hell make mess of il, fast
enough" Nancy said, with positive
ness and pity. 81 know Mr. Sophia
And she'll lie there and groan at him.
know Mrs. Sophia. tee"
II was hard on Mrs. Sophia. too.
Wasn't she known throughout Far
Acres as the most particular house
keeper on the footstooi?" And wasn't
mild Mr.. Scphia's capacity for blund-
ering known to be limitless? 1t was
the Far Acres name for him-'Mr. So
phia."
Il declare, pity that man." ex-
claimed Nancy. suddenly. I'm going
right over there and do it ont loud"
'Sh." Mr.. Sophia held up a warn
ing forefnger as she approached. His
anxious glance wandered toward a
certain window. shes asleep. She's
just dropped of. I'm putin in to see
II / can't make out to get the washin'
done before she wakens up again. Look
here. Nancy | wisht you'd tell me some
things about how to do lido you blue
the clothes before you rinse EN- or after.
An how much do you starch the
sheets? Seems as if I'm all mudGled I'D
in my mind. Sophia's so particular
I'm all of a tremble."
Nancy's laughing face tried to sober
at sight of his genuine dismay. What
a pity il hadn't been Mr.. Sophia that
sprained his back-no. that didn't
sound kind But there was a pity
somewhere,
"She had turrihle night with the
pain in her back whispered the plain
tive voice. I'm glad she can get some
of her sleep made up now. All ask
is 10 get the washing done while she
has her nap"