Prudy Keeping House

day on which she always staid at home, that

ors that afternoon. But one of them, a queenly-lo

?" demanded she. "Thos

eply to make; so he invited the lady

ifico were in the drawing-r

" said the doctor. "I heard auntie t

d the insect, humbly. "I cou

excused;' those are the pr

e's a good gnat, and sting 'em lik

as ever, though nothing but a strong se

ther Hubbard entered the parlor, drag

entirely over her forehead; and she was saying, in a loud tone, "I can't take any p

, shaking her lace cap in a blaze of wrath; "the

s like them to be dressed in such ridiculous costume. The effect upon the lady visitor

Miss Prudy Parlin. I have s

on the green spectacles! Prudy quivered like a frightened mouse, but could not g

You may not have heard of me, but I know al

he peep of a chicken; at the same time darting forward and tearing a p

stealing a timid glance at the lady's ermine muff. "She lo

a warm admirer of yours, and my dear friend, your auntie, has promised me a visit from you. I came on

fully at the steel-colored

rs.-Mrs. Pradigoff, but Fl

s greatly

guilty eyes, as she remembered the orange man; "I solomon

ou," laughed the Polish lady. "Why

now it she's lost. That's the reason I pinned her to m

bind her fast with a silken chain. Really, children, my heart is set on your coming. My house is full

vited a little party to meet them. She w

ome, Miss Prudy? Tel

ly. She was dancing for jo

e lighting up her face even to the floury tip of her nose. "

tty were both plea

ly; "but she talks our language beautiful

"is taking Toddlekins; but I may

ch with her, and thence home to a Christmas dinner. She laughed, as she rolled away in her

that will be breakfast," thought Mother Hubbard,

own to din

e, resuming his critical manners; "'twould take the tea some time to fr

d pretended

r ears, papa; you

asked the landlady, pouring hot water till it

the white tea gets in my ch

Moonshine; "why, Mother Hubbard, the tea-l

ook off the cove

e! I'll jump right up, doctor,

for me. We'll swallow the will for t

ifico, in an undertone; "we've had to sw

" She was surprised at the ease

aid the doctor, bowing to Mother Hubbard. "Our landlady is wh

nervously. "I mixed 'em too tight, and I think the flour

e mixture of flour and water

upboard. I thought you'

don't split," said Lady Magnifico, in tr

our," cried the youngest, determined to scowl a

small boarder corrected the sourness of her whi

thing." said the doctor. "I hope h

children," said Lady Magnifico, crooking her little f

what, m

ociety that had it dreadfully. She called in twenty-five docto

pe it won't come here (or the doctors

it's apt to catch fine ladie

e go out," drawled Lady Mag

sed the cake. "White Mountain;

ma'am, 'twasn't a fast color; faded to a rusty black. And as to it's

e girl dusted my soda over the cat, a

am; but did t

d now I'll tell you something more. I got the butter ready,

as he could make his joke. "It is pretty tough cake,

a little relieved; "it's sweet in the middle, and

the doctor, waving the butter-knife. "In this way, Mothe

served Fly, "and '

When? Where? I'll warran

ail me now. I

of the cake, the happy family moved away from

ang Horace, in a plaintive voice;

w-spirited as the

-morrow. I declare, we are real cruel not to feel w

the doctor. "I'd rather be some sick than have a landlady that's purblind and p