Publisher's Synopsis
"Let me have plenty of clean collars in my bag, for I must go at once; and some of you bring me a glass of cider in about an hour;-I shall be in the lower garden."The old man went away into his imaginary paradise, and Nan into that domestic purgatory on a summer day, -the kitchen. There were vines about the windows, sunshine on the floor, and order everywhere; but it was haunted by a cooking-stove, that family altar whence such varied incense rises to appease the appetite of household gods, before which such dire incantations are pronounced to ease the wrath and woe of the priestess of the fire, and about which often linger saddest memories of wasted temper, time, and toil.Nan was tired, having risen with the birds, -hurried, having many cares those happy little housewives never know, -and disappointed in a hope that hourly "dwindled, peaked, and pined." She was too young to make the anxious lines upon her forehead seem at home there, too patient to be burdened with the labor others should have shared, too light of heart to be pent up when earth and sky were keeping a blithe holiday. But she was one of that meek sisterhood who, thinking humbly of themselves, believe they are honored by being spent in the service of less conscientious souls, whose careless thanks seem quite reward enough.To and fro she went, silent and diligent, giving the grace of willingness to every humble or distasteful task the day had brought her; but some malignant sprite seemed to have taken possession of her kingdom, for rebellion broke out everywhere. The kettles would boil over most obstreperously, -the mutton refused to cook with the meek alacrity to be expected from the nature of a sheep, -the stove, with unnecessary warmth of temper, would glow like a fiery furnace, -the irons would scorch, -the linens would dry, -and spirits would fail, though patienc