The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-12-23
Misfellaueoas.
POLLY'S PIES.

The clock struck three anu ike u
punctual Fate, Polly shovel in hand, flung
wide the oven door. For hours had that
mystic laboratory been Mt work, unseen Of
mortal eve. and the fragrance, compound
Ell Of spice, of sugar. of crusted loaf and
sayory fowl, which now fioated forth and
filed the kitchen. told the result. Far
through the house spread the delicious
whin, and stir and hustle overhead an
nounced that some one there recognized
the signal, and knew that baking was
done. ...
In and out travelled the busy shovel till
the inner depth. where yet red glow
fingered. was reached, gave up its last
treasure, and Polly, making fan OF her
apron, stood before the table to inspect the
result. There they were. ranged in ORDER
due. the loaycs brown and white, the rolls,
the cracking pork anil beans. the "elec-
ton cake" that difficult dainty. over
whose pecarious fortunes she had watched
till mitlnight-the Internationally pies,
gold. brown. and cranberry red, tooth
some mince md transluscent apple, Gus
tard ilecked with cinnamon, tarts OPEN
mouthcd and gaping for the friendly jam;
and in the midst. its disk Of yellow earth
ernware towering above the rest. the huge
chicken pie. To whose composition had
gone such wealth Of cream, Of celery. OF
f,tted pullcts. rs Il Is not often met with
outside the limits Of the Pursall farm.
With something Of the feelings OF the
General Mt the head of his battalion Polly
reviewed her forces, noting here and
there n specially crisp edging, and In her
own mind appOrtioning this and that to
Uncle Nathan or Aunt Sspphirl, and
these to grace to-mOrrow's dinner: for
Tomorrow" WAS New England's special
day-that great day Of the feast" in be-
half of which governors arc wontto make
proc,amation. and neighbors to vie in
friendly zeal of housewifery and kind re-
uembcrancc of those who have no por-
ton of their own.
Eyes" said Polly halfaloud, .'that will
be tho best for the Bulgcr children, l
guess. The crust Is little too brown,
but they won't mind that. and it's so big.
Then old Aunt Pigett shall have this; and
that one I'll send" ISL.
An approaching footstop cut short the
soliloquy. and blushinS rosy red. she
caught up one special pie. and hurried 1t
into the table drawer. Next moment her
mother entered.
"Well, Polly. done?n
"Yes. mother. Come and look Mt
them"
They made pleasant picture. that
mother and daughter. rs they stood side
nv side before the long ironing-h.b!c.
Mrs. PurS,ll was tall and erect, the very
model Of farmers wife. Strong, sweet,
with face unflrrowed by the wheels Of
that light team. Care and Worry, who
drive so heavily over female good looks
In our country, and smile undimmed and
bright. Il was easy to vision forth the bon
nv bride, who. thirty years before had
passed through that door on her wedding
morning. to be henccforth the JOY and
comfort Of all within. And beside her
stood the vision renewed in early youth.
the same eyes Of happy blue. the same
,limpIe, checks. the same capable hands; I;
for Mrs Pursall was noted housewife.
and Polly inherited the gin in full meas
ure. II WAS with little heart beat that
she now watched her mothers critical
survey. and the nod with which 1t con-
clu,lel. r w -.r- -.-.. ---r..i
.rirstratc, dear I never saw better.
And what lot Of them Some arc TO
send away suppose ?"
/ .1Oh YES. indeed; IL would take as n
month To eat them all. See, mother.
these ARE the ones I picked out for our
selyc,-for tomorrow and Sunday. you
know. And the others arc for different
foik,-old Katy. and Uncle Nat, and the
Bulcrrs, and so on. Don't you think l
was lucky in my loaf cake ?"
.Indccd you were, and it's a trying
cake. too. Suppose yoa frost \ couple OF
the loayes for tomorrow evening, and
put the others away in the tin. You
must he SURE and wrap them mp well.
Did you ask anybody 10 come in tho ese-
ming beside, the Watsons and JiinF
"No. ma'am-thxt is-yes," began Pol-
ly. fushiny and fustered. "Imean, i did
nj ask; but when Phil Ralson was here in
the summer he said he should drop In II