The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-01

ing She dropped her lids to hide the
sparks as she said, locking her hands
back of her head, and speaking in
voice mildly 1nterrogaUve; Are you
one or three years younger than Benny
TOWnsend's mother2 Somebody asked
me yesterday-and I couldn't tell
That somebody Was-very imperti-
nentl Mrs. kirkby said, turning GRIM
son, and hurrying on Don't you
want to hear what I've written Bigg2
You see, i m using my very best pa
per-Miss Primly said to use ones
finest manners and everything, when
one had to scOld-"
IN listen a little wilhelm ten
minutes 1 m going out" Seena said
sitting I'D with a keen look.
After Kidding a bit with her many
sheets, Mrs. Kirkby began in a slightly
shaky voice: My Dear Bigg: I am
writing as a kindly and considerate
mistress should, in order to spare your
feelings. Yet you know you can't
deny you are treating me very badly.
one dinner last week was at three
O'clOck-SO you could go to your
church society. The next one was at
hve-with nobody home to eat until it
was stone cold. Two, you did not cook
at all, leaving me to toll in the kitchen,
exhausted as I was with my social
duties And all the excuse you gave
was that you didn't feel like cooking
any more than we ought to have felt
like eating after the gorging we did at
luncheon You said also / might thank
my stars L didn't have to cook every
day. Now don't you admit that was
very ungratefuI-when I pay you
twenty dollars a month and put out the
washing?
But l have more than ingratitude
to complain of. You insist upon hearty
breakfasts, when my delicate appetite
only requires toast coffee eggs or an
omeiet. a cereal, fruit. fried potatoes,
and relish, say a bit of fish or ham.
instead / get buckwheat cakes and
sausage, or tripe and onions, or veal
outlets With all sorts of hot bread to
ruin my complexion You have no
complexion, and besides you like those
things. 1 am thinking seriously of
writing to ask your minister to preach
special sermon on the sin of heshly
appetites and if have to do it,
everybody Will know he means it for
YOU
Mrs. Kirkby lowered the sheet she
was reading, asking anxiOusly;
Don't you think I make things
clear Seena? And isn't that last very
well put2"
MINI Hurry on to-what YOU
really wanted to say!" Seena answered
undutifully.
Mrs. Kirkbv started ''Whvl How
did YOU know" she demanded fiutter-
ing her sheets "Of course I couldn't
put the main thing first-One has to
be so careful with that sort of person.
In these next two pages I tell her
they're little short of downright rob
berry. And then 1 come to-weu. the
most important part Say if [ have
not brought it in beautifully Seena.
This is how l do it: I am far from
being naughty toward a person in
your position. but never again forget,
Bigg. that my young gentlemen Wis
itors are not to be called by their first
names. ] was ready to die with
modification at your saying to Mr..
Townsend: Take a pocketful o. them
tea cakes Benny amt forgot the
greedy little rat you used to be"
Remember, too, to refrain from
asking him if he thinks the old lady
meaning myself-is in the notion of
taking a boy to raise
That was rather nasty of Bigg
thought so at the time Seena broke
in, getting up as she spoke. I'm off"
she called over her shoulder, when her
hand was on the door knob And 1
sha mt come home till night. I know
what will happen when you give Bigg
that missive-we won't get a thing to
eat
Watt You must mail it. You
know I wouldn't for anything, look as
though L wanted to save postage,
Mrs. Kirkby said. fitting the letter into
an envelope. Indeed" she went on,
Il count very much on the stimulus
to Bigg's pride through receiving such