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Article COUSIN BRIDGET. ← Page 6 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Cousin Bridget.
" So cross , my dear , you mean , " answered Bridget ; and although her cracked voice was still the same ( for Bridget could not hel p her voice ) , yet she smiled now , and laid her delicate , wrinkled hand on Minna's when she spoke : " so cross , my dear , " she continued ; " tbat is the word—¦ I will tell you ; for with these bright eyes and ruby lips , my story may , stand you in good stead ; but go now for your walk . " " I shall not be long ; I am only going- down to Mrs . Mallet's . "
"Tut , tut , child ! " and Bridget moved uneasily on her chair , and began knitting very fast . Minna , who was just leaving the room , came back ancl looked at her with the most roguish smile and then taking one of her hands from the knitting , kissed it respectfully and affectionately , and left the room ; and soon her light , bounding step brought her to Mrs . Mallet ' s door , and she entered the shop . How full of useful articles that little shop was ! Pots of blacking
were ranged upon a hig h shelf , with balls of twine , and boxes of lucifer matches , mops tied together leaning iu one corner ; brushes and brooms candles and rushlights , and bacon , were hanging from the ceiling ; lumps of salt and jars of soda on another hi gh shelf ; in the window Indian bowls filled with rice , sugar , ancl tea , in ivhich the flies are buzzing and amusing themselves ; while , over the last how , in the corner of the windowa fat spider is ing from his webread
, peep , y to pounce on an unsuspicious fly , who is rolling and tumbling about with a p iece of sugar too heavy for him to carry . The floor is covered with pots of jams and bottles of pickles , diversified with door-mats and a tub of cranberries ; and in one dark corner , hanging up in a wicker cage amongst the brooms , bacon , & c , is a starling , with one rough
leather only in his tail , possessing but one eye , ancl lame with one leg ; but he is a great pet , for they have had him for years ; night and day he has hung in that corner , always appearing as though endeavouring to discover what those strange things are which hang ' close to his cage ; as he sits with his one little sharp eye fixed on them , and when they are moved , utters a variety of words in an interrogatory tone , as though he would ask if that is what they are called ; but as no one has ever taken the trouble to inform himhe still sits gazing at themtlie
, , problem unsolved . It is strange , but there is no one in the place he so loves as poor stupid Janey—he pecks at everyone else who attempts to feed him , but at her approach , says , " Jack ' s a good boy ! " in a decided ecsiasv . Jane was in the shop when Minna entered , looking more doleful more stupid than ever . Minna observed this directly , but was too good a tactician to make any remark about it .
" Well , Janey ! " she saicl in that bright voice ivhich cheered tbe drooping heart to listen to , " Is your Mother in , or Peggy ? because if some one can mind the shop , I can show you how to trim the cap ; I have the ribbon . " "Yes , Mother be in ; but , I say , Minna Westrop , Peggy be out again ! " and she looked earnestly in -Minna ' s face as she uttered the last words almost in a whisper .
" Well , never mind Janey , dear ! it ' s a beautiful day for a walk , and will do Peggy good . Your Mother will mind the shop while we are at work , I dare say . " " Ah ! but , Minna Westrop , Mother dnan ' t know as Pi ggy be out ; and she said as I war ' nt to put a foot till she com'd , or she / d let me know it ! " ' " Indeed , " said Minna , rather thoughtfully , " that ' s strange ! Well ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Cousin Bridget.
" So cross , my dear , you mean , " answered Bridget ; and although her cracked voice was still the same ( for Bridget could not hel p her voice ) , yet she smiled now , and laid her delicate , wrinkled hand on Minna's when she spoke : " so cross , my dear , " she continued ; " tbat is the word—¦ I will tell you ; for with these bright eyes and ruby lips , my story may , stand you in good stead ; but go now for your walk . " " I shall not be long ; I am only going- down to Mrs . Mallet's . "
"Tut , tut , child ! " and Bridget moved uneasily on her chair , and began knitting very fast . Minna , who was just leaving the room , came back ancl looked at her with the most roguish smile and then taking one of her hands from the knitting , kissed it respectfully and affectionately , and left the room ; and soon her light , bounding step brought her to Mrs . Mallet ' s door , and she entered the shop . How full of useful articles that little shop was ! Pots of blacking
were ranged upon a hig h shelf , with balls of twine , and boxes of lucifer matches , mops tied together leaning iu one corner ; brushes and brooms candles and rushlights , and bacon , were hanging from the ceiling ; lumps of salt and jars of soda on another hi gh shelf ; in the window Indian bowls filled with rice , sugar , ancl tea , in ivhich the flies are buzzing and amusing themselves ; while , over the last how , in the corner of the windowa fat spider is ing from his webread
, peep , y to pounce on an unsuspicious fly , who is rolling and tumbling about with a p iece of sugar too heavy for him to carry . The floor is covered with pots of jams and bottles of pickles , diversified with door-mats and a tub of cranberries ; and in one dark corner , hanging up in a wicker cage amongst the brooms , bacon , & c , is a starling , with one rough
leather only in his tail , possessing but one eye , ancl lame with one leg ; but he is a great pet , for they have had him for years ; night and day he has hung in that corner , always appearing as though endeavouring to discover what those strange things are which hang ' close to his cage ; as he sits with his one little sharp eye fixed on them , and when they are moved , utters a variety of words in an interrogatory tone , as though he would ask if that is what they are called ; but as no one has ever taken the trouble to inform himhe still sits gazing at themtlie
, , problem unsolved . It is strange , but there is no one in the place he so loves as poor stupid Janey—he pecks at everyone else who attempts to feed him , but at her approach , says , " Jack ' s a good boy ! " in a decided ecsiasv . Jane was in the shop when Minna entered , looking more doleful more stupid than ever . Minna observed this directly , but was too good a tactician to make any remark about it .
" Well , Janey ! " she saicl in that bright voice ivhich cheered tbe drooping heart to listen to , " Is your Mother in , or Peggy ? because if some one can mind the shop , I can show you how to trim the cap ; I have the ribbon . " "Yes , Mother be in ; but , I say , Minna Westrop , Peggy be out again ! " and she looked earnestly in -Minna ' s face as she uttered the last words almost in a whisper .
" Well , never mind Janey , dear ! it ' s a beautiful day for a walk , and will do Peggy good . Your Mother will mind the shop while we are at work , I dare say . " " Ah ! but , Minna Westrop , Mother dnan ' t know as Pi ggy be out ; and she said as I war ' nt to put a foot till she com'd , or she / d let me know it ! " ' " Indeed , " said Minna , rather thoughtfully , " that ' s strange ! Well ,