Half-A-Dozen Housekeepers

housekeepers were up at an alarmingly early hour, so that the sun, accustomed

dles. As for the clock, it held up its hands with astonishment, and struck five shrill exclamation points of surp

ns for the pantomime. The costumes of the hoys were gorgeous to behold, and were fashioned entirely by the girls’ clever fingers. They consisted of scarl

ding country to see the frolic. There were people from North Edgewood, South Edgewood, East Edge-wood, and West Edgewood; fr

ying to make herself look seventy; and, though she had not succeeded, she had transformed herself into a very presentable Scottish dame, with her short satin gown and apron, lace kerchief and spectacles. Edith was giving

1

It was of some shining white material, and came below the ankle, just showing a pair of jaunty high-heeled slippers; the skirt was ‘broidered and flounced to the belt, the waist simple and full, with short puffed sleeves; while a bridal veil and dainty crown of flowers made her as winsome and bonn

tumbled in at

asked he. “It is half-past s

gerously ill!” gasped Bell, faintly, fanning herself with a box-cover. “I don’t believe I can e

,’ and trust to my horseman

the wide Bo

the

idea?”—pointing to a wild and cross-eyed

em of “Young Lochinvar,” and many a tim

chinvar is c

e

the wide Bor

the

is good bro

ns ha

unarmed, and

on

n love, and s

a

was knight l

hin

stopped not for stones, but all in vain; for ere he alighted at Netherby Gate, the

d in love an

a

the fair El

hin

ridemaids and kinsmen, thereby raising so general a commotion that the bride

in peace here

iv

at our brida

hin

es, weeps and smiles, alternately; then he takes her soft hand, her parents fretting and fuming the while, and leads the dance with her,—he so stately, she so lovely, that they are the subject of much envy, admiration, and sympathy. But while thus treading the measure, he whispers in her ear something to which she apparent

! We are go

and

fleet steed

oung Lo

nting of all the Netherby Clan; there is racing and chasing over the fields,

love, and s

a

r heard of

Loch

ly warmed into interest; then, standing by the side of the stage with the curtain r

with a sweeping tail of raveled rope, and a mane to match, gorgeous trappings adorned with s

carried a huge carving-knife. His costume alone was food for amusement, but the manner in which he careered wil

n the angry parents, who demanded his intentions, and the adroit Lochinvar, who declared them to be peaceful. The father (Geoffrey Strong) at last gave him unwilling permission to drink one cup of wine and tread one measure with the bride. She kissed the

e bette

hed our fair

Loch

work of Geoff’s hand, and for meekness of expression, jadedness, utterly-cast-down-and-worn-out-ness, it stood absolutely unrivalled. A pair of trucks were secreted beneath the horse-blankets, and the front legs of the animal pranced gaily out in front, taking that startling and decided curve only seen in pictures of mowing-machines and horseraces. Lochinvar quieted his fiery beast, and swung Ellen into the saddle, leaped up after her, waved his tall hat in triumph, and started off at a snail’s pace, the horse being dragged by a rope from behind the scenes. When half way across the stage, Ellen clasped her lover’s arm and seemed to have forgotten something. Everybody in the room at once guessed it must be some part of her trousseau. She explained earnestly in pantomime;

and ditches in hot excitement; four bride-maids, with handkerchiefs tied over their heads, running hither and thither in confusion; the old mother and father, limping in and straining

right bevy of young folks who had enacted the poem. Uncle Harry had renewed his youth, and received the plaudits of the crowd with unconcealed pleasure. The hero and heroine, Lochinvar and fair Ellen, had so generously provided dramatic opportunities for the minor act

s, escorted by their faithful young squires, trudged along the path through the orchard for the la

art, breakfasts at any hour and other delights of laziness! Ent

have felt when she had to pack up and leave the garden; only she went because she insis

t that you’ll ever be troubled with indigestion,” d

ng school at one, and sitting down stupidly to a dinner of broth, fr

“going back to college, and

at’s doubtful, too; but if it’s a corruption of Digger Indian, I should say there might be some force in your remark. Oh, what matchless war-whoops y

ugh. “There were persons there who said

u,” laughed Jo, “but I he

ow that both of us are

sis has had its effect,” said Patty. “Look at our angel cottage, girls! Doesn’t it look l

” observed Alice, as she saw a small c

lled the hoys, when Geoffrey had

closet to put in order, also the shed, two trunks to pack, twenty

that for you, also attend to the cleaning of the shed, which is more in our line than yours. B

rahs, in which the girls

daughter who had the bright idea and begged the model parents to assent to it. Of what use would

than ever, floated

e-party with nothing but her bright idea to ke

he breadth of the orchard came the warning note of a conch shell, an instrument of much power, with which Uncle Harry called his men to dinner in h

nt into the garden to take a last look at the empty cottage. On the door was a long piece of flut

ur hearts are

ati

collection p

v

the sleigh-r

rea

of picnics w

r

n away from t

io

conceit will

el

e think, nev

ati

ung housek

e so

r great geni

e ra

belongs to

n

from infancy

a

ng and cook

for

e and dish-pa

rmi

e the compo

e m

you would th

at ala

ping ever o

e fi

all hope of

rs

ain ambitio

ess

ur youth shal

ear

six cottages

i

.

.

.

.

.

.

join

by me th

st, Nota

ith a sn

ughter, and latching the gate behind them,

lly jolly girl

ly,” added Geoff

and miles more than jolly,” agree

n Por

in B

n Aug

respectful admiration th

hat afternoon, but fell blankly against a gray curtain

which girlish hands had been wont to throw them, and at last flew away disappointed. In the old house opposite, Miss Miranda sat in h

a new thought in her wrinkled fac

e sharp click of

terms’ schoolin’? Aurelia has her hands full raisin’ that great family of children. She’d be glad one of ’em shoul

nt of the window

ed here alone about long enough!” continued Miss Jane. “I should like to give one girl a chance of being a br

uiet old house didn’t shake to its foundation, when this proposal was made. Indeed, old Tabby, on the hearth-ru

; she’s missin’ the young life that’s gone, and she’ll have to git used to us all over again, jest as I said.

and handy, she may save us a few now and then. Tabitha ain’t so much care, nor nea

rent somehow. I’ve always said I should think her face would ache, it’s so hombly, but I guess she’s p

houseful of girls,” rejoined Miss Jane, wisely. “Everybody in the village sits up kind o’ smar

’ll take Rebecca, though I always thought she was a self-wi

it was the somewhat dreaded Rebecca who did come from the far-away farm to live in the dull old house with Miss Jane and Miss Miranda. And all that befell this new family circle, formed almost by accident, and

nd