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MOTHER BROOMSTER. 35
ask the question
of the Chimney-Elf, the Old Woman
who lived in the Shoe cried ont :
" "
Oh, here's Sister Broomster. Now let's toss her !
Rhoda turned to look, and saw an old woman coming
up the hill with a broom over her shoulder, and a
blanket tightly rolled up under the other arm. She
was a very clean, nice-looking old woman, with her hair
combed smoothly back, and a handkerchief tied over
her head; her dress turned up in front, and pinned
behind ;
and her sleeves rolled tightly up to her shoulders.
As she came to the top of the hill she threw
down the blanket, and, turning her broom upside-down,
leaned upon the handle of it while she took breath
Then nodding to the other old women, they seized
upon the blanket and spread it carefully upon the
ground.
How d'ye do, Mother Brooinster ? " said the Chimney-Elf,
who had a word for every one. " Haven't yon
got the sky clean yet You ? have been at it ever since I
can remember."
"Well, no, Chimney-Elf," replied Mother Broomster
turning her head sideways and looking attentively at
the " sky. There are a few cobwebs left those white
things, don't you see " ?
u Why, those are
"
clouds ! interrupted Rhoda,
All the old women stopped
spreading the blanket,
and looked severely at her.
" Little girl," said the Old Woman who lived in the