Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-06-01


idea where to get one than anything,
an l don't knows l want one, If
did"
And. Mrs. Gray sat back in her chair
and rocked violently to and fro, cycling
her hostess with the evident con-
sciousness of having presented
poser. That resOureeful woman how
ever, was far from being nonplussed
she heamed upon her visitor with
joyful smile.
Just the thing, my dear Mrs. Gray
You know | am to 60 south with May
for the winter. The house will be
closed and the doctor at the hotel. l
had just been wondering what to do
with Nancy, for l want her again in
the spring. Now, you can have her
until then, and by that time you will
know how you like the idea of keep
Ing girl. She is a perfect treasure,
capable of carrying the entire work
of the household, only"-and Mrs.
Steele paused long enough to look
doubtfully at her friend-"she is a
little Independent, and won't stand
much interference"
Fifteen minutes later Mrs. Gray de-
parted, well pleased, though withal a
little frightened. She spent the rest
Of the afternoon in trying to decide
between a black alpaca ard a green
cashmere dress.
That night Reuben brought home a
! large bag of peanuts and put them
down in triumph on the kitchen table.
There" he announced in high glee,
I'm gcin' to has a bang-up good
| time!"
"Why, Reuben" demonstrated his
wife gently, "you can't eat them
things-you hain't got no teeth to
chew 'em WITH"
The mans lower jaw dropped
''Well, I'm a-gotn to try it, anyhow"
he insisted And try it he did; but
the way his poor old stomach rebelled
against the half-m0sticated things eff
fectually prevented a repetition of the
feast
Early on Monday morning Nancy
appeared Mrs. Gray assumed brave
aspect. but she quaked in her shoes
as she showed the big Strapping girl
to her room. Five minutes later
Nancy came into the kitchen to find
Mrs. Gray bending over an obstinate
coal fire in the .range-with neither
coal nor range was the little woman in
the least familiar.
There, now" said Nancy briskly,
I'll fix that. You just tell me what
you want for dinner, and | can find
the things myself" And she attacked
the stove with such a clatter and din
that Mrs. Gray retreated in terror,
murmuring, Ham and eggs, if you
please as she fled through the door.
Once in the parlOr, she seated herself
in the middle of the room and thought
how nice it was not to get dinner; but
she jumped nervously at every sound
from the kitchen.
On Tuesday she had mastered her
fear sufficiently to go into the kitchen
and make cottage cheese She did
not notice the unfavOrable glanCes
of her maid-of- all-wOrk. Wednesday
morning she spent happily puttering
over "doing up" some handkerchiefs
and she wondered why Nancy kept
banging the oven door 50 often
Thursday she made a special kind of
pie that Reuben liked, and remarked
pOintedly to Nancy that she herself
never washed dishes without wearing
an extra apron; furthermore, she al
ways placed the pans the other way
in the sink. Friday she rearrange(
the tins on the pantry shelves, thai
Nancy had so unaCCOuntahly musseC
up. On Saturday the inevitable eX
plosiOn came:
IF you please, mum, I'm willin' tt
do your work, but seems to me it dom
make no difference to you whether
wear one apron or six, or whether
hang my dish-tOwels on a string or OF
the bars, or whether | wash gOblet'
or kittles first; and faint in the habi
of havin' folks spyin' round on me. 1
you want me to go, I'll go; but If
stay, | want to be let alone"
Poor little Mrs. Gray fled to he
, seat in the parlOr, and for the rest o
that winter she did not dare to cal
her soul her own; but her table wa
beautifully set and served, and he
house was as neat as wax.
The weeks passed and Reuben be
gan to be restless. One day he cam
in from the post Office fairly bubblini
over with excitement.
Say, Emily, when folks have none
they travel. Let's 90 somewherew
"Why, Reuben-where" quavere,
r his wife, dropping into the neares
; chair.
"Oh, | dunno" with cheerful vague
; ness; then suddenly animated, Let
e go to Boston and see the sights'
But Reuben, we don't know no on
y there ventured his wife doubtfullI
v "Pooh !! What if we don't? Hahn
2, we got money? Can't we stay at
g hotel? Well, ] guess we cam"
I Nancy was tremblingly requested {
take two weeks vacation, and grca
f was the rejoicing when she graciousl