Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-24
CHAPTER XII.
Miss SparroW's DIAGNOSIS,

CHAPTER XII.
Miss sparrow's Diagnosis.
Eureka was on hand bright and
early the next day and Il didn't take
me long 10 see that she was worth her
salt. She took hold like good one
and had breakfast-and a mighty good
breakfast-ready right on time. I
don't know when I've enjoyed a meal
like done that one, sure all the while
that I hadn't got to turn 10 and wash
the dishes afterwards. went out to
my gardening feeling like a sick man
who he'd turned the corner and was en-
the road to getting well again.
And from then on the Natural Life
was easy for all Of us. for quite .
spell Tho now girl was . wonder. so
far as doing work was concerned
Shed 60 through Marcellus' old home
like = hurricane. sweeping and busting
and singing. She was most always
singing-that Is. when she want talk.
ing She had queer program Of
music. teo. running from hymn tunes
to songs she'd heard the boarders use
over at the hotel Ono minute 'twould
be. Land Ahead! Its Fruits Are
Waving" and the next meeting some.
body IN the shade Of tho old apple
tree"
Ono day I come In and she was
piping up about how everybody IN her
house worked but her dad, Or words to
that effect
"Hello!" says I. DID you mako that
up out Of your head"
mo" she says. IT'S a new one
that Lyourgus heard over to the Old
Home house 1t sounded so as II twas
made for our family that 1t kind Of
stuck In Lys' craw and he come home
and told It 10 me.
And he sets round ali day
7 tried 1t On pa last night" she
went on. Thought 1t might jar him
some. but 1t didn't. He said twas
funny Maybe I'd think so, too, II
was him."
How Hartley laughed when he heard
her singing. She tickled the Twins
most TO death. anyway She was a.
sharp as a whip and as honest as o
Quaker parson When her first pny
day come she set her squaredto
boot down and simply would not take
the extry two dollars wages. She said
even a hog knew when 1t had enough
and she want . hog. Martin told
me he was going to make 1t up TO her
some other way. The Hcavenlies was
mighty Interested In her; but not more
SO than she was in them.
She and had some great confabs
when we was alone together. She
asked I don't know how many ques-
tons about Hartley and Van Brunt;
why they was living this way, and
how they used to live and all. told
told me- but not the whole. left out
about the engaged business. because
I hggered It want any Of her affairs,
rightly speaking. Course 'twan't none
Of mine, neither, but somehow I'd GOT
to feel that was . sort OF father to
them two cracked New Workers,
DO you think they're crazy" she
asks. Nate scuddsr says they act as
II they was"
you've got me-" says l. x amt
made up my mind yet"
What makes en- 90 In swimming
every morning." she wanted to know.
why, TO take a bath. ! guess, says
I. Van Brunt told me he always
teok his plunge when he was home"
She Nodded, quick as usual. I'm.
hum" says she. I've read about 1t.
| They DO Il in the marble swimming
pool In the gardens Of tho ducal man
sion. And there's palm trees around
and fountains. and nightineales sing
lag. and music floating en- the balmy,
perfumsd air. And when they've got
all scrubbed up there's vsivst-footed
rnsnials 10 fan 'em and give EN-
hasheesh to smoke."
Want to know" ! says. What's
Aasheesh! Plug cut or cisars7'
"'Taint neither" said she. IT'S
some kind OF stun that makes you
dream about bsautiful women and
things"
We'll. they doat have that here"
says l. They smoke cigars and Gig
arettss. And I've smoked both Of EN-
. and my dreams was mainly about how
nueh work had to DO. Nightinsales
are birds, amt they! We're pretty
shy on nishtiasalss over here to
Horsefcot. but maybe the gulls mako
that up. Gulls don't sing, NO moro
thaA hens, but they screech enough for
ak. Where did you get all this STUFF
from. anyway"
she got It out Of library books and
The Home Comforter. Seems old Miss
Paine, over In the village, lent her the
Comforter every week % fast - she
got through with II herself. Eureka