Mower County transcript., 1869-12-23
1llistell0Ncous&
RACIIEI'S WAR.
RY AUGUSTA LARSED.

was over, WnGtncE 1&cNSl AuteuueU ~ uao
her prescrvng-kcttle on the following
week. But there was an admirable indi-
reei,less about the good woman's modo OF
proceeding; so she settled down in COM
Portable rocking chair which creaked with
her weight, and took off her sun-bonnet
and smoothed out the folds of her gown.
Rachel was making pumpkin-pies; and
the etiquette of the country did not obllge
her to fcrego her occupation Oh account OF
her visitor. There was pan OF sltted
pumpkins upon the table, and pan of
golden milk, showing the richness of tall
pasturage, aud eggs, and butter. and whit1s
of cinnamon perfume were coming and 60
ing, Rachel held up o blue pie plate upon
her hand, and slitted tho crust from about
the edge with dexterity.
At the moment, in that not unpictur-
esoue attitude, with the plump barred arm
and well-poised head, Rachel was fit re-
preventative Of the genuine Yankee girl.
Nature had put no ]ourney-work upon her.
The clear, positive lines of her face told
that. II she was not strictly handsome,
there certainly was no other girl in Basset
with the spirit and courage of Rachel Hen
dersou.
..Have you got acquainted with the Bray
tons, Rachel?" Mrs. Pettigrew was inquir-
ing, rs sort OF roundabout introduction
to ounce ''sass' and the preserving-kettle.
"You know that family that has bought the
old Shorter place."
mo, haven't" returned Rachel, with
slight jerk in her tone, which showed her
disposition was not unmitigated sweetness
"but know their pigs and chickens too
we'll" she added. 'They have been over.
running the garden for month past, and
father is so easy he won'tsay boo to neigh.
Dor whatever happens; but, at last, have
taken matter into my own hands and de-
clared war. We keep our animals at home,
and expect other folks to do the same, OF
else take the consequence"
II know what You can do, Rachel, when
you get your dander up; butt seems to me
you have got o breachy COW Of your own,
remarked Mrs. Pettigrew, who took pecu.
liar comfort in touching up her friends on
their weak points.
-.Oh, yes,: returned Rachel, carelessly
.told Bess was trying in that respect last
summer. But we always paid damages, and
now father keeps board on her head, and
looks we'll to the fances"
"Wal," and Mrs. Pettigrew sighed. "a
don't why the Lord put such propensities
into critters; but I s'pose roofing and
scratching is the way pigs and chickens
have of arning living, though some of 'en
do seem to be totally depraved. And if ]
wanted to prove total depravity, I'd pint tc
them shotes we had year ago come next
spring.; ,g..sa.
have enough to eat at home, they won,
trouble the public" remarked Rachel, with
door and tried the temperature with hel
hnnd. =
':The Braytons haven't had time to ge
things ship-shape. Old Eli Shorter wa!
dreadful shiftless, and let the place run
down at the heel. Besides, Rachel, dom
spile your market. There's likely younf
man over there. Everybody has q gooi
word for Herman Brayton. Folks say he
has been through college, and knows 8
sight; but he don't put on any airs, and has
chosen to be farmer rather than 60 into
having or doctoring."
II am not acquainted with the young
man," said Rachel colaly; ''but I can tel
him one thing-it takes more than college
learning to teach some people to observs
the rights of others"
'.Look ont, Rachel, and old Mrs. Petit
grew screwed her eyes into an odious wink
.I've heard girls talk jest rs you do afore
now; but there's no knowing what may
happen. must tell you of q remark Phi
lander made last night, just as he was blow
ing out the candle. It seemed to strike
him suddenly; and, says he, Huldy, says
he, I shouldn't be bit surprised if one o
these times Rachel and Herman Braytou
struck up q match. For you see the farms
jine; and it would lock, as we might, say
providential.
'.Folks needn't trouble themselves about
making matches for r,e," broke in Rachel
with her face in q flame. II can attend tc
my own affairs without anybody's interfer
ence; and Herman Brayton is the last man
should ever look at.
. "Come Rachel, don't get ril'd," the old
lady made haste to say, in o purring tone.
ut was all joke, and Philander says, says
he, Rachel Henderson ia as smart as q
whip, and any man who gets her will bt
doing pleguey we'll; but she'll be awful
pertickerler, know she will Deary me-
how late it is. How late it is. must bt
going Now I think of it, Rachel, could
you lend me your big dripping pan? Sister
Blake is coming over with her family to
morrow, and mine won't take In ans6xtra
sized roast" J. =
The negotiation for the1preserving KEITH,
also accomplished, Mrs. Pettigrew went off
swinging. the dripping-pan Justify; and
Rachel Henderson, in the interval of watch
ing her pies, stood at the window to COO
her flushed face. Constitutionally she
hated the gossip of a little country neigh
borhood; and it nettled her to know hel
name had so soon been joined with Her
man Brayton's. ....
Now, with positive feeling of dislike,
she looked across the pleasant tields-with
5roideries ofred and purple and gold nne
k1,o fu1~ or
lands ready for the sickle undulating upon
the little knobs until their russell touched
the blue of the sky-to where the chimney.
stacks of the old Shorter place came out
from amidst their nest of trees. q:
"Rachel! Rachel!' called outa half grown
boy, running at that moment round the cor.
nor of the house, and holding up the life.
less form of fine cock. "You told me to
let fly if see any of Mr.. Brayton's hens
on the place; SO, when I ketched this tall
strut at the cabbages, just chucked him
q stone, and he pumped as dead as door
nail"
"That was right, Jack; but upon my
word, you have killed the Shanghae roost
err" And Rachel felt a little twinge of re.
morse, knowing the expense and rarity Of
the dead specimen before her. 'sHowever,
I am not bit sorry" she said, after mo.
meut's reflection. Experience costs dear
as the copybook says; and Iguess, in time
our neighbors will fiud ont that we are MOI
to be imposed upon. Take the rooster
home, Jack, and throw it over the door.
yard fence. 1t will be declaration o
WARP
"If father should find it out" said Jack
rcfectively, she might scold like Sam Hill
Then I s. pose you could bear the brunt
achel, eh?'
"Did you ever know me to shirk respon
bibility?' inquired Rachel Henderson, loft
ly, 'sGo along, Jack, and don't be acow
ard"
When Jack come in with the menfolk
At dinner time, he looked sulky and out o
sorts, and kept telcgraphing in dumb shov
to Rachel Henderson across the table; un
til, at last, when she got up to cut the pi,
he followed her into the buttery and shu
tue door.
II tell you what it is, Rachel" he brok
out, s'thut was sneaky piece of business
and don't mean to do any more such jobs
I throw the rooster into Braytons yard
and then I got behind tree; and prett
soon one of the girls came out and foun
it, and began boohooing like baby. A
near could make out, it was presen
to her, and she had raised it in baslse,
and felt just as if I had been stealing
Sheep
"Let them boohoo," replied Rachel
with severe dignity. "Thcy ought to thin
enough Of their choice fowls TO keep thor
a home"
After the dinner dishes were out Of tn
wav and the chores all done up, Isach,
Henderson replenished her fire, and put
an extrasized kettle Of water to heat. The
s|e went up stairs and changed her dress
,,,l ,I,o, eno caroa down again there Wa