BERCITA'S HOUSE CLEARING

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 2, 28 February 1907, Page 37

BERCITA'S HOUSE CLEARING

Bercita Hepburn, soft, golden tendrils of hair, framing her flower-like face, was a ' thing of beauty,' but there were moments when hearing bercita was scarcely a 'joy for ever.' Since her class in high school - had taken up the study of domestic science, Bercita, its most enthusiastic - member, had aired her views at home on every possible occasion. Returning from school one afternoon, Bercita found her mother seated in the library re-arranging, her desk. • ' Beginning house-cleaning already ? ' Bercita smiled, bending; her slight, graceful figure to press a kiss., on her mother's cheek. She sanK down beside her, adding, ' I wish, mamma dear, it need not be the upheaval this year, that it has been other years. It may really be an enjoyable period if we undertake house-cleaning in the practical way suggested by Miss Mil-burn in our domestic science class.' ' Tut'! tut, Bercita,' chimed in Judge, 'Hepiburn from his chair. ' Your mother's way of doing things is all right, and beats the new-fangled ways.' 'Do you fonow, papa, my one desire matrimonially is that I may get a husband as loyal to me as you are to mamma ? ' Bercita laughed. The dimples showied themselves daringly in her cheeks, and she loojked so winsjome and mischievous that the judge and' his wife might be pardoned for the indulgent Iqok^ each flashed upon her. ' What is thei matter with your mother's way ? ' the judge asked severely, albeit the tender look. , Bercita considered. ' Miss Milburn says it is not wise to attempt cleaning more than one room at a time,' she began. ' Neither do "I, as a rule,' Mrs. Hepburn answered smilingly. ' But one- cannot arrange things exactly as one please®, ,when the convenience of, outside workers • has to 'be considered.' ' Miss Milburn says it can be done,' Bercita asserted calmly. ' And, anyway, I don't tthink that house-cleaning should be allowed >to interfere with the everyday comforts of the family, particularly the-ser-ving of regular meals. So many people, Miss Milburn says, .live in a catch-as-you-go way at house-cleaning time.' • ■ - The judge looked at his wife, a twinkle in his eye. ' Polly, ' he said, ' perhaps it is fortunate for - Bercita that the summons came for you to go to grandmother. Bercita doubtless " will be glad to undertake the cleaning during your absence.' ' Why, Nathan ! The. child is too inexperienced ! ' ' Oh, mamma, dearest, do let me ! ' Bercita .pleaded, ' What's the use of -having a fine education if one never has . a chance to put it into practice ? ' Mrs. -Hepburn looked undecided. The judge urged : ' Come, mother, let the fledgeling try its wings.' It was finally agreed that Bercita should' undertake the cleaning of the house during her mother's absence, with the assistance of Nora, the maid, paper-hangers, painters, and so forth. ' - Two days after Mrs. Hepburn's departare, the judge called his 'daughter over "the telephone.

' Bercita, I'd like you to come down town' and ta&e drawer with me;, and go 'to the orchestral concert afterward,' he said. ._. 'Oh, papa, I'm so sorry I can't accept,' 'Bercita answered regretfully. l The fact is, I had to' let the paperhangers' begin to-day or wait for them till next - week. Ask Cousin Loretta in my place. And don!t come home to dinner, papa. Nora and I haven't - a minute for cooking. Good-by, dear.' ' • - It was" well for Bercita's pride that she did not .see the twinkle in her father's eye as hehungupthe ■receiver.' When the judge let himself, indoors with his latch-key that night, it was well again for*" Beroita tjiat she did not see her father's face as he groped .bis way through the piled-up furniture in the hall. Early next morning, the judge was routed out ol a soaimd sleep by • unwounted- sounds in the next room. He arose hurriedly, slipped into his bathrobe, and stepping, into the hall, 'encountered his daughter enveloped in sweeping cap and huge checked gingham apron. " ■ ' Good-morning, papa, dear.- Hurry and get dressed, won't you ? I'm having the -calciminers come early, because — ' Bercita's voice died away, as % she dived, into a closet, from which . she presently emerged, her arms laden with- clothes. The sight of his dress-suit trailing on the floor induced the judge to maike "-a hasty movement to rescue it. -But his daughter" whisked it out of hi-s reach, tossing -it over -her shoulder as she disappeared in the next room. 1 Thank you, I don't need any help. Do . hurry, papa. Breakfast will. be< read in ten minutes— just .coffee and toast this morning.' - - „ -%> . , The judge gasped. When had his absent "housekeeper ever suffered him "to depart on a breakfast of merely coffee and toast, even in the thickest bT'house-elean-in-g time ? The judge dressed and • went down to the ■mockery of breakfast and then beat -a hasty - retreat. For two days, when at home, the judge lived, breathed and 'had , his being in house-cleaning activities. Belated meals, ' pick-ups.' at that, disturbed papers, mislaid books, appeals for assistance with, refractory nails and hooks that -his daughter's .fingers could not conquer, were only a few of the minor discomforts he was made to -endure. Butf the ■ third day," the enemy was routed. The judge ' came home to find' his daughter lying on, the lounge, , her head tied up, -two of her fingers swathed in ' cotton, ~ and her right foot bandaged. ' _ 'Don't be alarmed, papa,' said a voice that vainly strove to be cheery. ' I'.ve only sprained .my ankle, hammered two fingers and worked up a headache. You^ve been very patient a-n-d— ' the Voice trembled and" broke. Bercita pushed^ the bandage higher. 'Papa, why don't you pronounce judgment, arid- -tell me I've • made a fool of myself, going at things in- such-barn-, mer-and-tongs fashion ? You' must; when you think "of; mamma's 'gentler- . •• -- ' 'Poor little girl!' the ' judge- said, . in his " least "judicial voice. " * .'".-",- : And then Bercita broke down entirely. Presently ■ she' said : . „ - '.It all comes of my setting up 'io know more "than mamma. And what hurts most .is to think I can't set foot on the f100r,.-and she'll be ",so_ disappointed when she comes home and finds such a house.' ' She sha'n't, dear,' the judge said. 'We will get Mrs. Moloney to come and help Nora put things straight. I shouldn't wonder if —we, _could get Latham's man to lend a helping hand, too, "with the rugs and windows.' N .". ■^_ B>^ ?r^, , - ; - „- ' Papa, I've had my lesson,' Bercita said solemnly. Then she added the. next minute, the old mischievous look in her eyes, as she reached up and patted her father's cheek, ' And JTm more resolved than ever that he'll have, to be a man exactly like you.'