Middletown transcript., 1906-06-23

AHuSU 6uOlCtpdbC q S tC1t CtI4l50
in the state of my health, She
said, once I strike the Hills. I've
not had rubbers on in an age a
lightweight walking skirt Isl
something / do not possess.
Stout shoes I always have on
hand, and / certainly own an
umbrella.
Nevertheless, all such things
as the doctor had recommended
were IN her trunk or her hand
when Mrs. Corliss started on her
journey.
| For the first week of her SO
journ. she thought Doctor Wells
had made a great mistake in send
ing her into SO stirring family.
Yet the household consisted only
of Mrs. Lester, her two daughters
and the hired man. They were
anything but noisy, at the same
time that their activities were.
quite astonishing to the quiet lady
who had come among them.
West Hills itself was a country
town of more than ordinary i'm.
portance. Atone end was busy
factory at the other a great saw
mill, while on its northern boun-
dary was the county hospital.
The principal church of the place
was full of enthusiastic workers;
it was a Union church, wherein
members of various denomina-
tions held together in the utmost
, harmony.
ItMas only a languid, uncertain
interest that Mrs. Corliss at first
took in the affairs of this busy
family, where neatness, the most
tempting Of cookery, and cheer
!, fulness in unstinted measure
seemed the three chief rules of
the household.
At the end of two weeks, Mrs.
! Corliss found herself becoming
decidedly entertained by the
varying forms of occupation and
industry that claimed the atten-
ton of the Industrious mother
and her children. How they
managed to turn off the work they
did, and so deftly, was a puzzle
to the inert invalid, who felt her
spirits revive in the breezy at.
mosphere inside and outside of |
the comfortable homestead.
One morning she became aware
that even more work than usual |
was ahead. With all their dill,
gence, the family seldom hurried.
What is it to day? she asked ,as
Myra and Jennie, the two young
daughters, Whisked the dishes
into the closet and called to their
mother that they would be in the
sewing room in jiffy."
Oh, said Myra, there was a bad
fire over at Taffton, the next
township, last night, and several
fremen were badly burned Our
townspeople are often called upon
to help in such cases, and we are
going to prepare yards and yards
Of handages to be sent up to the
hospital by noon.
What must be done to the band
ages2 asked Mrs. Corliss.
We join long strips of cloth to-
gether, Jennie replied then loose
ly overcast them. It isn't usual
to overcast bandages, but in cases
Of burns the nurses say it saves
trouble and sometimes pain to
have the strips free of ravelings.
Let me help you, said the lady;
=
I should like to; | m quite a swift
sewer when I choose to be,
All right, said Jennie, with no
make believe demurring we
should be very glad of assistance
If you feel like giving it.
Mrs. Corliss was amazed at the
rapidity with which the morning
passed But the sewing room
was bright and airy, and the
voices of mother and daughters
full of eheeriness, and before
noon great mass of prepared
strips lay ready to be rolled into
a large coil.
While dinner was preparing, d
prolonged wall arose from merry
Jennie.
What's the matter? called Mrya
while her mother laughed at the
dismal cries.
Oh, mercy, mercy me! walled
Jennie, If that stupid Jimmy
Locke, that drives the hospital
wagon, hasn't gone right by here
and never stopped for our ban
dages.
Won't they send him back for
them when they lind he hasn't
brought them? asked Mrs. Cor
liss, who had fingered in the
sewing room Il