From Ailenroc’s Book, by Cornelia Alexander
Mr. Washington Brown is our good-natured man. Everybody says he is one of the best-natured men in the world, and, of course, what everybody says must be so. His neighbor, who is known to be a choleric person, sighs regretfully and wishes he could take the world fair and easily, like Brown. It has grown into a proverb that nothing upsets Brown’s temper. No, sir; rain or shine, luck or no luck, it’s all the same to him. But his friends don’t drop in often to see him get off to church.
On Sunday morning he takes his rest—no use in a hurry, so he lies in bed till the call to breakfast rouses him. Then after breakfast he feeds the horses, and, as it is getting late, begins to prepare for going to meeting.
While Mrs. Brown clears away the breakfast things and tidies up the kitchen, he blacks his boots; and by the time she is ready to make up the beds, he is calling for hot water and his clean clothes. He meditates a while and contemplates his unshaven visage in the glass, and says: “Amanda, I believe I will wear that pair of drab pantaloons to-day, as it is getting late in the season and I may not have another chance to wear them.”
“O dear!” sighs Amanda. “There are no buttons on them.”
Mr. Brown’s eyes open wide and he glares angrily. Read More