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The floor was covered with strips of rag carpet, very neat and of a pretty, quiet color, loosely laid down. Against the wall, near the stove, hung a dust-pan, shovel, dusting-brush, and small broom. A door opened into an inner room, which contained another bed and conveniences for washing. A closet in the wall held matches, soap, and other articles. Every thing was scrupulously neat and clean.
That a political boss in this or in that district, should dictate who should and who should not, be employed in the street-cleaning department, even down to the meanest remover of dung with a dust-pan, as was done for years in New York and every other city in America, would be looked upon here as a farce of Topsy-Turvydom, with Alice in Wonderland in the title-rôle.
The box of wood with a hod of charcoal stood near by; just above hung dust-pan, brush and broom; a little market basket was on the low table at which Daisy used to play, and over the back of her little chair hung a white apron with a bib, and a droll mob cap.
Before the dust-pan is emptied, the thought occurs of a tear in one of the children's aprons, and by the time that is mended, something else appears that needs attention, and all day long tasks are half completed and nothing is entirely finished, until at night the poor toiler is weary and discouraged, with nothing to show for her pains, except an anxious face and a semi-straight household.
"And you know," says Rose, "that Uncle Herman told us of a man who declined to take snuff, because if nature had intended his nose for a dust-pan, she would have put it the other side up." How they both laugh at that! They have a governess friend at home, but they are continually picking up knowledge in their rides and rambles about.
And I spoke on't there, but Josiah said "that he wouldn't go a-luggin' round dust-pans for nobody to this Fair." But I sez, "I guess that Columbus went through more than that." But I did in my own mind hate to go round before the nations a-carryin' a dust-pan they're so kinder rakish-lookin'. But if I'd seen a good one I should have leaned on duty and bought it. But we didn't see no signs of any.
Haw haw! No offense, friend. You got me plumb buffaloed with that fivespot o' yourn." And finishing his job he retired with dust-pan and broom. "You're going to do well in Benton," she said suddenly, to me, with a nod. "I regret this scene I couldn't help it, though, of course. When Jim's sober he has sense, and never tries to be familiar."
The name of my book is Saturday Mornings, because other days I have to go to school, but Saturdays I can sweep and dust and wash dishes. What fun it will be! I don't know which chapter sounds best." She hugged the little dust-pan and shook out the dish-towels. "Oh, I just can't wait to begin," she said.
Sheets sculpturesquely draped the deities who took part; a fox-pelt from the hearth did duty as the leopard skin of Bacchus; a feather duster served Neptune for a trident; the lyre of Apollo was a dust-pan; a gull's breast furnished Jove with his grey beard. The fable was adapted to modern life, and the scene had been laid in Campobello, the peculiarities of which were to be satirised throughout.
She wanted me to git her a japanned dust-pan. She said that "them she bought of tin-peddlers wuzn't worth a cent the japan all wore off of 'em." "But," sez she, "you buy it right at headquarters you'd be apt to git a good one;" and she told me that I might go as high as twenty-five cents if I couldn't git it for no less.
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