"Well, I s’pose we kin stand her fer a while," and Abner gave a sigh of resignation. "But, remember, ye mustn’t expect me to be harnessed up in Sunday duds an’ white collar every day. An’ I don’t want Social Service flung at my head every time I turn around."
Actual work began upon the parlor the very next day, and by noon the room had the appearance of having been struck by a cyclone. Blinds, curtains, and pictures were taken down; chairs and tables were piled out upon the verandah; mats were spread upon the grass, and the carpet hung upon the clothes-line. The old-fashioned piano, on account of its size, was the only thing left, and stood forlornly in its place, thickly covered with old copies of _The Family Herald and Weekly Star_.
"That sartinly is a great paper," Abner mused, as he stood in the middle of the room viewing the effect. "It’s useful fer most anythin’, as I told Sam Dobbins only yesterday, when he was yangin’ about _The Live Wire_."
"What was he saying about it?" Mrs. Andrews unexpectedly asked.
"Oh, nuthin’, nuthin’ perticular, except that once it a fine account of his great-grandmother’s funeral, that’s all. Anythin’ else ye want me to do, Tildy?"
"Certainly. You might as well beat that carpet. It’s just full of dust."
For over half an hour Abner whacked away at the carpet, pausing occasionally to sneeze and to wipe his perspiring face.
"Ugh!" he groaned, during one of these resting spells. "If this is Social Service work, then may the Lord help us!"
"You wanted to begin at home, though, didn’t you, daddy?" Jess laughingly asked, as she paused in the act of shaking a rug.
"I know I did; fool that I was. But, look here, when anythin’ has been dead, laid out, an’ buried as long as that parlor has, it’s a darn mistake to bring it to life agin."
"But think how clean, fresh and sweet the room will be when we get done," Jess reminded.
"Umph! De ye think I kin ever git this thing clean, fresh an’ sweet?" and Abner gave the wobbly carpet a savage bang. "Look at that dust, now. The more I thump the thicker it gits. What’s the use of carpets, anyway, I’d like to know?"
After dinner Abner lighted his pipe, and picked up his old straw hat.
"Guess I’ll work at them pertaters this afternoon, Tildy," he announced. "They’re mighty weedy an’ need hoein’. I s’pose you an’ Jess kin finish that room, eh?"
