Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-07-15
HIRAM TEN SMITH.

that about every other family ne came to
we're Smiths and / don't think ne
stretched the facts great deal
Hlram's name was just plain Hiram
Smith, but he declared that there were
nine other Hirams in the township, and
so, as he was the tenth. he wrote his
name Hiram Ten, so that people would
know which one he was prosperous
farmer was Hiram Ten, as most Of the
other Smiths were, though none of them
made money quite as fast as he did.
It was a well-known fact that he could
get more work out of his hired men than
any other farmer in the neighborhood; but
although he worked them hard, they
usually stayed by him, for he never
asked them to do more than he would do
himself
Some people said It was on account of
Mrs. Smith that the men stayed 1t was
no wonder they did like her, for Mandy
Smith was one of those help-everybody
kind of women.
The Smiths had one child. little boy,
not quite two years old They kept no
help except hired hand on the farm,
and so on her busy days Mrs. Smith had
more homework to attend to than one
woman could well do but no matter how
the work crowded her she never COM
planned
What does this mean. Mandy?
Where's the dinner? Here it's IL o'clock
and no dinner on the tablet" said Mr..
Smith one day at noon, as he came hurry
ing to the house.
Yes, / know, Hiram, and I'll have 1t
ready in a few minutes"
1T seems to me- Mandy, you ought
to have your meals on time. Been out
visiting? You ought to remember this
is haying, and Joe an 1 have no time to
walt for our meals"
Hiram. II YOU think I'VE been idle
just look out in the yard at the line
full OF clothes. You seem to forget that
this is Monday"
81 know Joe and 1 have a big after
Moons work with hauling in the hay
that's down, and moving a lot more
This is splendid hay weather, and we
can't AFFORD to waste any time"
Dinners ready now" said Mrs. Smith,
as she rang a hand bell for Joe, the
hired man.
Mr. Smith did not mean TO be cross
to mis- wife, and she usually tried to
| overlook his outbreaks but this time he
had said a little too much for her
! patience. She put the baby In his
chair and placed MIN at the table. but
| did not sit down herself. The two men
ate their dinner hurredly, and when
they had finished Mr.. Smith told Joe
| to 20 and mitch up the team at once
| "Now, Mandy" he said, turning at
| the door, Il hope you'll have supper
promptly al o'clock. We've lost time
Hiram. You used to cook, didn't
/ your" she asked.
/ Yes. and 1 can get a meal yet quick
| or than most women. / used to do all
| the cooking when we boys went out
/ camping and hunting. But why do you
! ask?"
well, used to help on fathers farm
! and can now. and load hay. So tomorrow
l want to exchange work with you. You
stay here and do the housekeeping and
I'll do full days work in your place out
| in the field"
AN right. that's a bargain. I've got
some tinkering work I'd like to do. and
that way I'll have time TO do IT. 1t
| won't take long to get the meals. Ill
! have them on time. too"
Hiram Ten chuckled as he went out
| through the yard. He told Joe of the
arrangement with his wife. and said that
he guessed 'Mandy'd have the spunk
| taken out of her by dinner time.
The next morning they rose at 5
o'clock. as usual, and Mandy got the
breakfast. At G o'clock Joe had hitched
| up the horses, and was waiting for her
to go with MIN for a load OF hay, while
she gave Hiram some instructions about
the work in the house
The cream in the churn Is ready and
when the butter comes you must take II
! the buttermilk." she said. You must
| listen for baby, too. When he wakes up
he always calls. and II you don't hurry
up to him he may fall out OF bed. His
clothes are all here on the high chair
ready to put on; and you mustn't forget
to give him his breakfast"
"Wer, Mandy, don't know that much
Baby and I'll get along all right"
THE ham for the dinner is in the
smoke house. and you know where 90
find the potatoes and apples"
Yes, yes, go on, and don't keep Joe
waiting"
Il must tell you about the bread first.
II will soon be ready to work into loaves.
1t will make four loaves and a pan OF
light rolls for dinner Be sure and keep
the front door locked If you leave the
house"
Just YOU go on and load that hay
Keep your eye on baby, for he gets
into lots OF mischief. Goodby Hiram.
she called back as she climbed on the
hay wagon.
Joe laughed for he thought this a
splendid joke and Mrs. Smith was as gay
as a girl.
When they started to the barn with
the first load, Joe said she could load
hay every bit well as Hiram himself.
But how about our spry new house
keeper? Did things move along like clock
work with him? At first he laughed
when he thought of his wife's load of hay
topping over, and he hoped she would
not get hurt in the fall. But he soon
forgot his wife and the nay, for he had
other things to occupy his mind.
Now, what most women lack is sys-
tenn" he said. They do too much trot-
ting around without accomplishing any
thing. The first thing In this case is to
wash up these dishes"
The dishes were soon gathered up, but
then he discovered there was no hot
water.
well, while the water is heating II
do the churning," he said to himself
Mrs Smith had not told him that he
must leave the churn in the cellar where
II was cool; so ne brought II up to the
kitchen and began to operate the dash
vigorously. But he had not churned long
when he thought of the bread.
Yes, 1t has raised to the top OF the
Guess I'd better do that at once. Let me
rolls, but what was 1t she said about
the bread? Here are three pans; wonder
If I'm to use all of them Gracious, but
I do hate to put my hands into that
dough- Rather curry horse any day
How that stun does stick! I hope no,
body'll come till I get this job off my
| hands"
He turned and looked over hi:
shoulder, half expecting some one to APP
pear in the door. Suddenly, in the midst
of his kneading, he heard a noise.
whats that, wonder?" he exclaimed
'Oh, the baby He has fallen out o.
bed"
Hiram Ten had no time to clean tn,
dough off mis- hands, for he was afraid