Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-03-24

happy 1t l was easy about that"
Mr.. Marsh promised.
well, then,' said his wife. coming
back to practical subjects more cheer
fully, tell Burt to harness the horse
this minute, and see if he can get
girl to come and stay a week or two,
till I'm over this. The work can't be
let go, with them herer'
Only those unfOrtunates who have
travelled and retraveled sparsely settled
rural districts in search Of a 'thireds
GIRL can appreciate the miseries Burt
endured that day
Suffice to say that he returned to-
ward night, thoroughly tired out and
ravenously hungry-and alone, having
raped at the doors of a score or so
Of houses which had been supposed to
contain rare treasures in the domestic
line, only to find that they had already.
been secured, or had concluded not to
"work out' this summer.
He put the horse into the barn and
went into the house rather slowly
What would his mother say? And
how would they get along? 1t was
very unfortunate.
A whif of boiling coffee and broil-
ing ham foated out to him as he
neared the kitchen; and vision of
his father laboring over the stove and
spelling the supper, brought a smile
to his face
A moment more, and he stood in the
kitchen doorway. staring in bewilder
ment at the scene before him.
Cora, with her blue lawn replaced
by darker gown. which was half
covered by one of Mrs. Marsh's checked
aprons, was turning the broiler over
the Goals with one hand. while she
lifted Off the potato kettle With the
other. her fair cheeks becoming red
dened by the heat
The table was carefully set: the pile
of dirty dishes which had been waiting
for the hired girl had disappeared; the
floor had been swept, and the stove
had been polished.
Mr.. Marsh sat in a corner, surveying
| the irreproachable kitchen. and the
little person who had transformed it,
! with quiet satisfaction
He chuckled at the sight of his sons
| open-mouthed astonishment
1--WE was a little mistaken that time.
Burt" he observed. approaching and
speaking in an undertone-"your ma
and all Of us. If ever there was two
| more capable, go-ahead girls than
| them
! The inner door opened gently. and
Della tiptoed in. There was an odor
| of camphor and liniment about her
| "She's asleep!' she announced. tri-
umphantly 81 knew could get her to
sleep. rubbing her head, and I did.
| I think she's better''
'Supper's ready said Cora. calmly,
| putting the last potato into the dish.
1t might have been because Burt
| was so hungry, or it might have been
| because Cora was the cook. that he
though the supper by far the best he
had ever eaten.
But as Mr.. Marsh comparing notes
afterward. expressed the same opinion
there must have been some foundation
for it.
A year or more Of experience With
the little gas stove at home had taught
Cora a good many things worth know
ing.
81 never was so beat, I declared"
said Mrs. Marsh. when her husband
came to take Della's place at her bed
side that evening. bradley Harwoo(
bad come over and the quartet were or
the porch.) II never was quite so fal
off from the right track before. Why
that girl is regular born nurse. Yor
never saw nothing like the way she
done for me. And she slicked up the
room in less than five minutes better
than I could have done it myself. Ant
| to think OF that little creetur getting
supper, and all! Well. am beat!"'
Mrs. Marsh concluded not to have
brain fever. after all. She felt 81
sisted on getting up and doing th'
work.
But she was not allowed to do much
The young ladies from New York. hav
ing got their hands in, and thorough!
enjoying the roomy Kitchen. and th
plentiful supply Of milk and eggs, ant
cooking materials of all sorts. con
tinued to +fuss,'' as they termed it
over the stove, and produced grea
many delightful things which Mrs
t | Marsh regarded with awe, and whicl
, Burt and his father grew enthusiast
l over
7 ''What do you think Of 'em. now?
2 they were continually asking her wit
! sly laughs and winks.
"Well, I never was so beat!:' was Al
l Mrs Marsh could say.
: The week flew by very pleasantly
J. and all too fast Della and Cor
b capped the climax by presenting Mrs
Marsh with a new calico dress-'t
+ remember them by" they said-an
e making it themselves with speed an
J. skill that took her breath away. an
: won any small part Of her heart whic
S might have been uncOnquered.
: Bradley Harwood called severs
y times day.
"Strikes me they wouldn't be so ia
d out Of the way for farmers wive
II after all?'' he remarked to Burt
It And Burt laughed, light-heartedly.
pl Their last day was the softest an