Year: 1869




few minutes the mother asked where it
was, but l pretended not to hear her. She
then went To the door and called to the
children to come and play with the baby.
Two were In the cherry trees, and the 9TH
ers deep among the blackberry bushes, and
Judged they had found plenty of fruit. 1
sighed again as | thought of the jam l had
intended TO make of the berries, and savage
" wished the 'dears" were under my con
trol for about fifteen minutes.


went into the kitchen to light the hrein
the stove, and having got the dinner on the
way, went into the room for something, and
there the children were building house Of
stove wood which they had carried in from
the shed; but II was rather more than |
could bear when | saw tha; Charley had NY
cloak wrapped around him and over his head
as he sat on the floor playing peep" with
the taby-it pulling at the tassel / forgot
everything there, and / know took il from
him much quicker than he put it on l
was not aware at the time that gripped
his arm so tightly as TO Warrant agell, but
he indulged in one at any rate. put the
cloak away and retreated TO the kitchen,
eaying nay mother TO entertain them as best
she could


As soon as Mrs. Wood heard the rattle of
dishes she brought her work out into the
kitchen TO watch Us. | did not do thing
but she saw it, and l only hope she will
know all about the way | work by the next
time she comes While I went TO the eel
lar the children amused themselves By tast-
ing what was on the table. 50 their mother
informed me when Icame back, as though it
was something very smart


At last dinner was ready, and amid all the
noise and confusion We soon became seated
scarcely 50, however. until three Of the
little dears' were helping themselves to
whatever they could reach Then they
begun


Mother. want some peas, Mother,
give me piece Of meat. as though they
had not eaten anything for week Mrs
Wood looked worried and excited, for my
part felt perfectly disguised, and no doubt
looked the same | could scarcely refrain
from uttering few words Of h. artfelt thank
fuiness when they left the table.


When l again Joined our company, Mrs
Wood had her cloak fitted together and re-
quested me TO act as form, while she
fitted IL | was al obedience. but could
scarcely suppress a smile, for it had no
more fl about it than if it had been made
without single seam. She insinuafed that
she wished | would sit down and take the
scissors and alter It for her; but | had 10
such idea, tod her the best | knew
what TO DO, and went to my own work
Just then one of the children came 10 with
some blocks, with which the baby eommenc-
ID pounding chair, leaving a scar at every
blow. Another OF initiated a drummer
boy by beating on new tin I.sn which be
had taken down in the kitchen. and Charlie
amused himself 10y scattering the pins over
the floor out Of the cushion Mrs Wood
looked al them and laughed to see them en-
joying themselves


Ny head ached badly, and every thump
and scream from the children went through
aud through it. | gathered up ny work
and went up stairs, thinking I'd have q
quiet time. for little while, al least Here
| found The other child overhauling things
generally After having satisfied himself
as to the contents Of drawers and closets,
he had riddled couple Of 'Waverleys' -
This was about as much as human nature
could bear, and could have spanked him
With right good VIII, but eontented myself
by sending him down stairs much quicker
than he came up.


l laid down TO rest my throbbing head
few minutes, and the next knew awoke
from long sleep. Ny head was better, and
went down stairs. The children were all
out playing, and their mother reading The
cloak was folded up and put away. Then
supper had 10 be gone through with-at-
tended with even worse noise than at dinner.
The children all drank tea from the Oldest
to the youngest; and one had too much
sugar IN his, another not enough, third said
the tea was not good, and wanted coffee,
(which he did not get) If Mrs Wood
corrected any Of them, they generally an
ssered, Il won't do it, or do il yourself.
Then she raised her voice above all others,
and entertained Us by telling about her cock
cry. | thought if al was true, she must
cook very differently for company and for
her family. for had ii from reliable sources
shat she could never set decent table:
and / thought, TOO, no wonder her children
acted starved abroad


never saw much worse looking house
than when we left the table everything
scattered everywhere. l may as well avow
| am little bit ''old maidish, and it real
" hurts my feelings to see things SO much
but Of order scarcely knew where to be-
gin; but, finally, in the course of an hour,
succeeded in cleaning out most Of the rub
bish.


Just At sunset Mrs. Wood gathered up
her work and babies and started home, amid
many pressing invitations for Us all TO call
and see her.