Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-01
THE OLD BELL PEAR TREE.

ol kitchen, in the pantry and m,lk,room, ana
up in the kitchen chamber, where the great
loom which had woven 'ffty rag carpets, {"
and the spinning wheel which had filed the
great oasen chests with linen, stood side hy
side, and where the old musket which had
done brave service under General Putnam in
the French war and at Bunker Hill, were
laid like old veterans asleep on the great
brown beans, and around which clustered
world Of old tales and legends Of Indian war
whoop and scalping knife, and in latter times
IN the days Of the Revolution, Of tired coat"
and Tory, and Of trus-hsarted patriots, who
left their fields and harvests, and laid down
every thing that was precious and pleasant to
them, for the freedom OF their homes. 50
And these old legends and stories were like
precious jewels strung across the hard face Of
the winter evenings, when wet sat around the
great fireplace at grandms's, listening to her
words, and watching the flames leap around
the great "baok iOgn and ''fore stick"
'Grsndms! grandma" / shouted the
name loud the second time, standing in the
back door that bright October morning, whose
mists were like torn ribbons on the hills, and
whose pulses wero full Of the slumber and
EHeetness Of the dying year.
"Why, Josephine, where did you come
FROM" called the cheerful voice Of the old
lady, "a she came around the corner of the
house, her face shaded by a blue sun bonnet,
while she held large wooden bowl Of peppers
In both hands.
ITS vacation, grandma. I've come to
spend the day with you; and such search as
I've had fer you" go
Well, I'd gone back o. the barn to lay out
n few yards for bleaching, and then I thought
might as well take to-day to pickle my pen.
pers, so kept on the vines
wish yOu could have known my grand.
mother Morris. She was such dear old lady,
with smile which kindled up her pale,
al N N al tha ,lo
ness OF youth, with heart that was full Of
kindness and sympathy to every human being,
and memory that was like q pleasant book
full Of pictures and stories of the past I think
that kind, loving heart was like life fresh and
green when her head had blossomsd into the
SHOWS Of age.
Grandma, what makes YOU ALWAYS so
busy 90 | said, as she came into the kitchen,
ana, taxing up skein Of blue wooden yarn.
sfipped II over chair and commenced wind
ing II, while she made some INQUIRIES respect-
ing my parents and family & E
expect It s the blood Of the Morrises, my
oahd she said, with her old mellow laugh;
you never found one o. them with idle hands
as long as they'd strength to use 'en, or there
was work for 'em to do. {" = = : {
ou must be genuine Morris, then
grandma" l said, and then lifted up the cover
OF willow basket which carried - ESQ
See what mother sent you to-day. -
! did not wonder that the old Iady's eve
frightened at the sight of the pears which Law
there like great gold ard emerald goblets
She took up ore Of the largest by its slender
stem aud surveyed II admiringly..
o. . It's the zeal old-fsshiOned bell pear Dear
me. There's nothing takes me back three
score o years quicker than the night Of one /"
Why, grandma ~ Fr.- -
child e ny
But like to hear long storios, you know. "
che looked at me thoughtful for moment.
Row, do tell me, grandms"
We'll, III get to seeding these peppers
hrst, removing her sun bonnet, and hurry
ing into the pantry for great yellow earthen
o, I can see that side kitchen. ss w. s.t IN.
gether IN the autumn morning, with the pleas.
ant sunshine dimpling all over, huttering in
tneeorners, and asleep on the ceiling, and still
near my gr3ndma's voice, and see her knife
glance quickly through the white core of the
peppers. 80
II was the first that discovered thenn-the
rour pears on the little tree that stood amonv
the ounces at the bottom of the garden. nv
father had set it out three years before. and
We q had good deal Of trouble with il, for
somehow pears didn't appear to do well on our
Peaches and apples had always hourished
nicely, but i'll luck seemed to wait on cur
P-- 80 PO"i ueesl anu 1 Knew tather' d
taken sxtrs pains with the one he'd set out
amsng the ounce trees; so started up to the
mouse, quite proud of the discovery which /
had made. ....-...-.. :. -
Father guess what I've found y:
was the youngest Of the family, and a
great pet with my father, Who always calls me
the " child Of my old age" He was mendirf
his seine net By the window, aud mother was
carding some wool for spinning in one corner.
81 don't know, Dobbin, . he said "Come,
now, don t get into any fresh mischief" and
he pulled my ear playfnlly, for had caught
M fingers in the net. -
"Nhat'n you give me IL tell you?u jump
ing up and down before him.
80 csn't tell you, Rcsanns, till hear what
you've fund ~ = =
I've found four pears on the new tree. ,, :,
Ny father laid down his net. = :. = i
@hst, not on the bell pear tree among the
-, %Yss, that very one. Now, fathsr what
=" III take you along with me this after
noon, for I'm going down the river fishing - /
eisppsd my hands for joy, but here mother |
-ls.0ss Sam'vel, how can you say that, shs,s
such sue, harum-s scarum thing she'll be sure to /
eye on her. - oNY1
cant tell what answer mother would havs
made TO all this, but just at that moment there
was rap at the kitchen door, and I opened.
ana little boy was standing there. I can
ses aim now, SAID my grandmother. closing
hsr eyes aha Speaking softly. He wore an
old straw hat, srta blue homespun suit, and
be looked sad and worn-out, But he had
bright, intelligent fsee, with large, clear hazel
eyes - - - '.'~---.--.e
:. Can you tell me, little girl, II there's .py.
e2oy mere wants 70 hire q shsnd ?'' Somehow
fslt sorry for the boy. 80 : ,,-S
"a. ,soed on one side, a deeply interested
a aaaitor, whie my father stood and question ed
him 10 his nsttsr-of-fact way and mother
stopped carding her wool, to listen
IT., ne soid plain, straightforward story.
lie said that his home was in WoSaford- n
town about ten miles from our village that his
father was drowned at sea when be was a
babe, and that afterwards his mother h.S nm.
ported herself and son by plain sevine Vii
suddenly she, too, siekensd and died. ~
The boy--he was only 2twelvs -vas lsf,
honeless and friendiess in the Ferld, snd. ths
nsighbofs were about to bind hin out b ths
owner Of his mothers csttsge, whom she had
IL n