Prudy Keeping House | Page 3

I should think it would be a real help,
auntie. She has so much care, you know. And if I got the meals for us
four, the cook could rest, too."
Aunt Madge only smiled at this.
There were five servants in all: John, the coachman; Nat, the
waiting-man; Mrs. Fixfax, the housekeeper; Rachel Fixfax, the
chambermaid; and Patty Diggles, the cook. They were all remarkably
faithful, except pretty Rachel, the housekeeper's daughter, who was
rather gay and flighty, and had been something of a trial to her
mistress.
Aunt Maude went into the kitchen dressed for her journey. Mrs. Fixfax
had just returned from market, and was talking with the cook about the
dinner.
"That is a fine plump turkey," said Mrs. Allen; "I wish I were to help
eat it; but I came to tell you, Mrs. Fixfax, that Colonel Allen is sick,
and I must go to him at once, and leave you with the care of these
children."
The housekeeper, who was a fat, comfortable-looking woman, twice as
large as her mistress, said, "Indeed, mum!" hoped Colonel Allen
"wasn't sick to speak of," and shook her broad sides with laughter at the
idea of taking care of Fly.
"I'll give up going to church to-morrow, mum; for, light as the child is,

I can but feel as if you was sitting a ton's weight on my shoulders. And
I promise to keep her alive if the Lord's willing."
"You will hardly be obliged to give up your whole time Mrs. Fixfax. I
shall absolutely forbid her going out of the house, unless you, or some
other grown-up person, has charge of her. And really, with John,
Nathaniel, and Patty to keep guard, I don't see what mischief can befall
the little creature."
"We'll all do our best, mum," replied Mrs. Fixfax, heroically.
"I have perfect faith that you will. There is one more favor to ask.
These children have had a strange visit thus far, and if I go away and
leave them, I fear they will feel rather forlorn. Can you consent to let
the little girls 'keep house,' as they call it? That is, cook their own meals,
and set their own table?"
The cook, who was stuffing the turkey was so surprised that she spilled
a handful of sage over her apron. She would not have dared say the
words, but her thoughts ran like this: "Pretty doings, indeed! What does
Mrs. Allen mean by letting children come into the kitchen to bother
me?"
But Aunt Madge had not finished speaking. "Mrs. Fixfax, there is a
little old cooking-stove in the attic. Don't you remember you had it in
your room when you were nursing Rachel through that fever?"
"O, yes'm, so I had; and it shall be set right up there again, mum, if you
say so," said the obliging housekeeper; "and I'll carry up flour and
sugar, and what not, and move out my own things, so the children can
have the room pretty much to themselves."
"No need of that, Mrs. Fixfax," spoke up the cook, very pleasantly.
"Let 'em come right into the kitchen. I should admire to see 'em enjoy
themselves."
Patty Diggles was a singular woman. She was always full of polite
speeches, just a minute too late.

"Thank you, Patty; but I think the children may feel more at home in
Mrs. Fixfax's room, with no one to watch them. And now, good bye. I
hope to come back to-morrow."
Mrs. Fixfax left the kitchen to find Nathaniel, and get him to help her
move the stove. As soon as the business was over, Nathaniel came into
the kitchen, and held up his sooty hands for Patty to see. She was
stabbing the turkey with a darning-needle.
"Some folks know how to feather their own nests," said she.
"Why, what have I done now, Patty?"
"Not you, but Mrs. Fixfax; she's going to wait and tend on those
children, and of course she'll get a splendid present for it. I should
admire to have the little dears round me in the kitchen; but she spoke
up, and took the words right out of my mouth."
The young man laughed in his sleeves, as he turned them back to wash
his hands. He took care not to express his mind, however. He had a few
fixed ideas. One was, that Mrs. Allen could do no wrong; and another
was, that he must never bandy words with Patty Diggles, because Mrs.
Allen had strictly forbidden it.
CHAPTER II.
PRIDE AND ORANGES.
While Mrs. Fixfax was making her room ready for the little
housekeepers, Aunt Madge went to her own chamber, and locked up
her best dresses, and most valuable possessions. The children watched
her with some curiosity.
"Are you afraid