Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-07-15
fire. and in a short time the stove was

fire, and in a short time the stove was
red hot.
I'm nave my bread in good time for
dinner, and the butter is churned," he
said to himself, presently. Now 1 have
two hours to get my dinner, and while
it's cooking l can wash up the breakfast
dishes. Wonder l didn't think of that at
first But before l do anything else,
guess ia better take that doughty night
dress of the baby and put on his clothes
Hows this. baby?" he asked, taking the
child on his knee. DO you wear all
these clothes at once? 1t seems to me
here's enough for two little chaps like
you. Wonder which goes on first
Here's this thing without sleeves-guess
Wen try that first And what's this?
Can't tell which is top or bottom. Guess
| II we put your arm in the sleeves it'll
come out all right Here's one with
| straps; they surely must go over the
shoulders; Wen put this on last Now,
sweetheart" ne said, surveying the
youngster, you're dressed-but, some
! how, you don't look just right. Here's
a cookie for baby to eat while l go out
and get the meat for dinner" Hiram
| added, placing the child on the floor.
With knife and meat saw in hand
Hiram started for the smoke house, while
the baby made straight for the churn
| He-the baby-had examined the outside
but just now wondered what was inside
| All of sudden Hiram heard a resound-
| ing noise and cries from the baby. A
moment later he was in the kitchen
| where he found baby and the churn
rolling on the floor. Luckily the baby
was not hurt, but he had found out what
was In the churn.
What will Mandy say?" Hiram
! thought, ruefully, after he had spent
half an hour trying to mop up the butter
| milk Here it's after IL O'Clock, and
| dinner not yet begun. 1t seems to me
there's queer smell in here-as If some
| thing was burning"
Then he picked up the baby, dripping
! with buttermilk, and set him in the
| high chair, saying: You NAV sit there
awhile, so you'll be out of mischief"
Turning around he shifted the air un-
easily.
| There surely is something burning, for
the house is full OF smoke" he said, "and
It seems to come from the stove. Maybe
I'd better look at that bread. MANDY
| said 1t would be done for dinner, and
III take it right out, so it'll have. time
| to cool on"
What ails our cook now? When he
| opened the oven door, ne stood staring as
If he saw ghost. There was no bread,
but the bottom Of the oven was covered
with layer Of dough burned as black
as coal. AS he stood glaring at the oven,
Mrs. Smith and Joe walked into the
kitchen.
why, Hiram, what is it? What do
YOU see! MIS- smith cried. You look
| frightened, And here's my sweet baby
| perched in his high chair like a little
| prisoner she added, turning her back
toward her husband so that he would not
see she was laughing.
What's that dog got?" asked Joe, as
the big Newfoundland came upon the
/ porch dragging something. 1t looks like
a nam BY George, it is, a ham! And he
| got 1t out of tine smoke house, tool
somebody's gone an left the door open. -
That was too much for Hiram Ten
smith. He rushed at the dog and grab
ped the ham. Then he came back into
| the mouse with very determined look
Mandy" he began-but just then he
slipped on a piece of the soft butter
which he had failed to wipe up, and would
nave landed on the floor had not Joe
| caught him.
Il say, Mandy" he continued, when
he had regained his balance, you may
| get the dinner"
| Saying this, ne hurried from the house
to the barn, and in a few minutes, to
! their surprise, they saw him driving
| down the road at a brisk trot In less
than an hour he came back with a woman
| by mis- side in the buggy.
| Here, Mandy" he called, on reaching
the gate, here is Title White. I've hired
her for year. She's to help you with
the housework, and Joe and I'll look
! after the farm."-IBy Leander s. Keyser.