Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-29
Calls and Sketthes.
RACHEL'S WAR.
BY AUGUSTA LARNED.


to borrow Rachers large drpping-pan
and she meant to enquire, before the call
was over, whether Rachel intended to use
her preserving kettle on the following
week. But there was an admirable indi-
rectness about the good woman's mode of
proceeding; so she settled down in a COM
| Portable rockingchair, 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 oblige
her to forego her occupation on account of
her ylsltor.-Ihere was a pan of sifted
pumpkin on the table and pan of golden
milk, showing the richness of full pas
turage, and eggs, and whifls of cinnamon
perfume were coming and going. Rachel
held up a blue pie-plate upon her hand,
and slitted the crust from about the edge
with dexterity. At the moment, in that
not unpicturesque attitude, with the plump
barred arm and well-poised head, Rachel
was fit representative of the genuine
Yankee girl. Nature had put no Journey
work upon her. The clear, positive lines
of her face told that. If she was not strict
ly handsome, there certainly was no other
girl in Bassett with the spirit and courage
of Rachel Henderson.
''Have you got acquainted with the
Braytons, Rachel ?" Mrs. Pettigrew was
inquiring, as a sort of roundabout intro
duction to ounce sass and the preserv-
ing kettle. You know, that family that
has bought the old Shorter place.
| "No, haven't" returned Rachel, with
a slight jerk in her tone, which showed
her disposition was not unmitigated sweet
ness; 'but know their pigs and chick
ems too WELL" she added-.'They have
been overrunning the garden for month
past, and father is SO easy he won't say boo
to a neighbor, whatever happens; but at
last have taken matters into my own
hands. and declared war We keep our
animals at home, and expect other folks
to do the same, or else take the conse-
quences."
Il know what YOU can do, Rachel, when
you get your dander up; but seems to me
YOU have got breachy COW of Your own,"
remarked Mrs. Pettigrew, who took pecu-
liar comfort in touching up her friend on
her weak points.
"Oh, yes" returned Rachel, carelessly !;
old Bess was trying in that respect last
summer. But we always paid damages,
and now father keeps board on her head,
and looks well to the fences"
Wal" and Mrs Pettigrew sighed. Il
don't know why the the Lord put such
propensities into critters; but spose root
/ ing 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 to them shotes we had year ago
come next spring"
''As a general thing, if pigs and chick
ems have enough to eat at home, they won't
trouble the public remarked Rachel,
with a little asperity. as she opened the
oven door and tried the temperature with
her hand.
1.-The Braytons haven't had time to get
things ship-shape. Old Eli Shorter was
dreadful shittless, and let the place run
down at the heel. Besides, Rachel, don't
spoil your market. There a likely young
man over there. Everybody has a good
word for Herman Brayton. Folks say he
has been through college, and knows
sight, but he don't put ON airs, and has
chosen to be a farmer, rather than to go
into lawing or doctoring."
II am not acquainted with the Young
man." said Rachel coldlv; ''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 Mrs. Pettigrew
screwed her eyes into an odious wink
'I've heard girls talk jest as you do atore
now; but there's no knowing what may
happen. l must tell you of remark Phi
lander made last night, just as he was
blowing out the candle. 1t seemed to
strike him suddenly; and says he, Huddy,'
says he. Il shouldn't be bit surprised if
one of these times Rachel and Herman
Brayton struck up match. For You see
the farms .jine; and it would look, as we
might say, providentialn
"Folks needn't trouble themselves about
making matches for me-" broke in Rachel,
her face in a flame Il can attend to my
own affairs without anybody interference.
and Herman Brayton is the last man |
should ever look at"
Come, Rachel don't get riled," the
Old lady made haste to say in purring
tone. "lt was all joke, and Phiander
says, says he. "Rache Henderson is as
smart as whip, and any man who gets
be awful particular. | know she will
Deary me how late is must be going.
Now think of it, Rachel, could you lend
me your drippen pan? Sister Blake is
coming over with her family tomorrow,
and mine won't take an extra size roast"
The negotiation for the preserving kettle
also accomplished, Mrs. Pettigrew went
off, swinging the dripping-pan Justify;
and Rachel, in the interval of watching
her pies, stood at the window to cool her
flushed face. Constitutonally she hated
the gossip ofa little country neighborhood:
and it netted her to know her name had
so soon been joined with Herman Bray
toms. Now, with positive feeling of
dislike, she looked across the pleasant
tieldS-with broideries of red and purple
and gold hung upon the fringe of forest
trees, and corn lands ready Tor the sickle
upon the little knolls until their
russell touched the blue sky--to where the
chimneystacks of the old Shorter place
came out from amidst their nest of trees.
"Rachel! Rachel" called out a half
grown boy, running at that moment round
the corner OF the house and holding up the
lifeless form of fine cock, You told
me to let fly if l see any of Brayton's hens
on the place, SO when ketched this tail
strut at the cabbages just chucked him a
stone and he plumped as dead as a door
nail