The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-12-24
miscellaneous.
RACHEL'S WAR.
BY AUGUSTA LARNED.

NlTh. IetllbTeW NNu tOult III bhNthblhi
TO borrow Raohael's large dripping pan
and she meant to inquire, before the cal
was over, whether Rachel intended to usl
her preserviDg-kettle on the following
week. But there was an admirable indi
rectness about the good woman's mode o
proceeding; 80 she settled down in a com.
Portable r~ocking-ohair, which creaked with
her weight, and took off her sun-bonneI
and smoothed out the folds Of her gown.
Rachel was making pumpkin-pies; and
the etiquette of the country did not oblige
her to forego her occupation on account OF
her visitor. There was a pan Of siited
pumpkins upon the table, and a pan OF
golden milk, showing the richness of fall
pasturage, and eggs, and butter, and whihs
of cinnamon perfume we're coming and go.
ing, Rachel held up q blue pie plate upon
her hand, and slitted the rust from about
the edge with dexterty.
At the moment, in that not unpictur-
esque attitude, with the plump barred arm
and well-poised head, Rachel was n ft re-
preventative Of the genuine Yankee girl
Nature had put o J~ourney-work upon her.
The clear, positive lines of her face told
that. If she was not strictly handsome,
there certainly was no other girl in Basset
with the spirit and courage Of Rachel Hen
derson.
Have you got acquainted with the Bray
tons, RACHEL" Mrs. Pettigrew was inquir-
ing, as n sort Of roundabout introduction
to ounce "sass" and the preserving-kettle.
''You know hat family that has bought the
old Shorter placer"
'No. 1 haven't, " returned Rachel. with
a slight jerk in her tone, which showed her
disposition was not unmitigated sweetness;
"but | know their pigs and chickens too
well" she added. They have been over
running the garden for a month past, and
father is so easy he won'tsay boo to a neigh
Dor whatever happens; but, at last, / have
taken matter into my W hands and de-
clared war. We keep our animals at home,
and expect other folks to do the same, or
else take the consequence"
81 know what you can do, Rachel, when
you get your dandor up; but il seems to me
you have got n breacky COW Of your own,
remarked Mrs. P%ettigrew, who took pecu.
liar comfort in touching up her friends on
their weak points.
'eOh. yes,", returned Rachel, carelessly
''old Bess was trying in that respect last
summer. But we always paid damages, and
now father keeps n board on her head, and
looks well to the fences"
oval, " and Mrs. Pettigrew sighed. 81
don't why the Lord put such p~ropensities
into critters; but / s'pose roofing and
scratching is the way pigs and chickens
have of arning a living, though some o. fem
do seem to be totally %deprayed. Aud if l
wanted 10 prove total depravity, I'd pint TO
them shotes we had a year ago come next
spring"
'As a general thing, il pigs and chickens
have enough to eat at home, they won't
trouble the public" remarked Rachel, with
a lNNIn ngnnWnNWH ne che aaAWAI Nhn Aw.V.
door and tried the temperature with her
hand.
1.-The Braytons. haven't had time 10 get
things ship-shape. Old Eli Shorter was
dreadful shittless, and let the place run
down at the heel. Besides, Rachel, don't
Spite your market. There's n likely young
man over there. Everybody has q good
word for Herman Bmyton. Folks say he
has been through college, and knows a
sight; but he don't put on any airs, and has
chosen to be a farmer rather than 60 into
having or doctoring."
~ am not acquainted with the young
man" said Rachel, coldly; "but / can tell
him one thing-it takes more than college
learning to teach some people TO observe
the rights of others"
'Look out, Rachel, " and old Mrs. Petit
grew screwed her eyes into an odious wink.
'Tve heard girls talk jest as You do afore
now; but there's no knowing what may
happen. 1 must tell you of a remark Phi
lander made last night, just as he was blow
ing out the candle. 1t seemed to strike
him suddenly; and, says he, Hubby saws
he, Il shouldn't be a bit surprised il one Of
these times Rachel and Herman Brayton
struck up a match. For you see the farms
jine; and it would look, as we might, say,
providential.
Folks needn't trouble themselves about
making matches for me-" broke in Rachel,
with her face in a fame. 81 can attend to
my own affairs without anybody's interior
euce; and Herman Brayton is the last man
/ should ever look at."
Come Rachel, don't get rid" the old
lady made haste 10 say, in a purring tone.
ut was all a joke, and Philapder says, q Y
he, Rachel Henderson is as smart as a
whip, aud any man who gets her will be
doing pleguey we'll; but she'll be awful
pertickerler, 1 know she will Deary me,
how late IL Is. How late it is. l must be
going. Now think of it, Rachel. could
you lend me your big dnpping.pan? Sister
Blake is coming over with her family to.
morrow, and mine won't take in an extra
sized roast"
The negotiation for the preserving kettle
hAnb CIbllDll1uNA AAlas IElllklth went on,
swinging the d%ripping-pan Justify; and
Rachel Henderson, In the interval of watch
ing her pies, stood at the window 10 cool
her flushed face. Constitutionally she
hated the gossip ofa little country neigh
borhoodi and il nettled her 10 know her
name had so soon been joined with Her
man Brayton's.
Now, with a positive feeling of dislike,
she looked across the pleasant fields-with
broideries of red and purple and gold hung
upon the fringe of forest trees, and corn
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.
'Rachel! Racheln called outa h~alf-grown
boy, running at that moment round the cor
ner of the house, and holding up the life.
less form of a fine cock. "You told me 10
let fly if / see any Of Mr.. Brayton's hens
on the place; so, when / ketched this tall
strut at the cabbages, / just chucked him
a stone, and he pumped as dead as a door
nail"
''That was right, Jack; but upon my
word, you have killed the Shanghae roost-
or" And Rachel felt a little twinge of re-
morse, knowing the expense and rarity of
the dead specimen before her. "However,
l am not a bit sorry" she said, after a mo-
ment's reflection. Experience costs dear,
as the copybook says; and Iguess, in time,
our neighbors will find out that we are not
TO be imposed upon. Take the rooster
home, Jack, and throw it over the door
yard fence. 1t will be a declaration of
warl"
'1f father should find it out" said Jack,
refectiYely, che might scold like Sam Hill.
Then l s'POse you could bear the brunt,
Rachel, ehT'
ibid you ever know me 10 shirk respon-
ability inquired Rachel Henderson, loft
ly, $50 along, Jack, and don't be COW
ard"