The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-11-25

HOuse) had driven the elder son and
daughter to rebel and run away; Net
tie, the fifteen-year-old girl, having
found refuge in the home of her
grandmother and Jakey, seventeen
years old, having disappeared entire
ly-to the genuine distress as well as
inconvenience of their father to whom
Jakey especially had been great
help on the farm. But the other two,
Lizzie and Sammy, were toe young
to escape.
The one soft spot about Aunt Rosy.
apparently, was her devotion to her.
young sister, Susie. Mr.. Schwenck-
toms girl wife, whom she had raised"
from a baby. But although she idol
lied Susie, she completely dominated
her. In all things Susie. followed her
elder sisters advice and judgment
and cbeyed her, when she was with
her, as much now as when, before her
marriage, she had lived in Rosy's
home. Susie was the only person in
the world who did not find Rosy re-
pulsive.
Ten-year-old Lizzie, thin, delicate
looking child, was working frantically
at wash-tub at the far end of the
cluttered, dirty kitchen, crying hys-
terically while she worked, terrified
of the punishment hanging over her.
Nicely, going across the room to
hang her jacket on a rack on the
wall, spoke over her shoulder in reply
to Aunt Rosy's complaints. her pleas
ant tone and manner betraying none
of the loathing she felt towards the
woman. "But since you didn't do the
cleaning, Aunt Rosy (lock at this
kitchen y nor the diapers, and kept
Sammy home from school to wait. on
Susie. what have" you done all day?
And Mr.. Schwenckton won't like it,
you know. that you're having the
diapers washed here in the kitchen
where we have to eat"
1t is to be noted that Meely's accent
and diction were not now so studious-
ly Pennsylvania Dutch as when she
had talked with st. CrOiX Creighton
a half hour ago. The hint of foreign
ness in her speech was not that Of the
Pennsylvania Dutch at all.
heavy step ON the porch at this
instant was followed by the opening
of the kitchen door and the entrance
of the farmer in overalls.
Lizzie's crying was instantly choked
back while she bent to her work
more frantically than ever; and Aunt
Rosy acquired suddenly a great air
of industry about the stove and table.
Mr.. Schwenckton. closing the door
behind him. stood surveying with dis
gust the disorder and dirt of the
kitchen.
A big, red-faced man of mild,
though obstinate, countenance, he
looked so gcod-natured that one might
have wondered why his children were
so afraid of him. But family disci-
pline among the Pennsylvania Dutch
is a religion; "spare the rod and
spoil the child" dogma. Mr..
Schwenckton had ever tried to per-
form his whole duty by the children
God had given him to rear for His
honor and glory In a heavenly home,
the Scriptural prescription for accom-
plishing this being the only means he
knew, disagreeable as he often found
it-for he was withal an affectionate
father; not naturally severe; only
very conscientious; obstinate in the
performance of what he saw to be
his duty. however difficult.
"Yi, vi, VII" he shock his head and
frowned at the dirty kitchen, ''but
you're the dopple of housekeept.
Aunt Rosy! You amt the nice house.
keeper your little sister Susie is. Well,
guess anyhow not! vi, vi, if the
neighbors seen our kitchen so through
other YETI
"Yes, well, but when l tell you
oncet how Lizzie went help along
when I tell her to-" his sister-in-law
complained as she began to dish up
sausage and fried potatoes, while Mr..
Schwenckton went to the sink to wash
his hands, "you'li see for yourself,
Mister, how can't get through all by
myself. Lizzie she run"
''Lizzie!" the farmer broke in. rails
ing his voice above the running water,
''stop that splashin' at the tub and
come now to your supper"
"Ye-yes, sir" the child stammered.
her teeth almost chattering. AS she
dried her hands on her apron and