National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-01-14
ber family to- morrow and mine won't
take in an extra sized roast

| 1uc UtSOtldtlOu IOT Tue pTtScFV-
ing kettle also accomplished, Mrs.
Pettigrew went off, swinging the
dripping pan Justify; a I'd Rachel, ,in
the interval watching her pies, stood
at tie window to cool her flushed
face. cOnstitutionally she hated
the gossip of a little country neigh
bOrhoOd and it nettled her to know
her name had SO soon been j >ined
with Herman Brayton's. Now, with
a positive feeling OF dislike, she look
ed across the pleasant tields-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 knobs
until tlieir russet touched the blue
of the sky-tO where the chimney
stalks of the old Shorter place came
out from their nest Of trees.
'Rache! Racine called out half
grown boy, running at that moment
round the corner # the house, and
holding up the litcless form of Il
fine cock. You told me to let fly
if | see any of Brayton's stray hens
on the place; so when ketched
this tall strut at the cabbages, | just
chucked him stone, and he plump
ed as dead as a door nall
That was right, Jack; but, upon
my woId,you have killed the Sll ing.
hae rooster And Rachel te!t a
little twinge of rrmorse, kno wing
the eypencc and rarity of the dead
specimen before her. However |
aln not bit sorry, she said after a
moments reflection. Experience
costs dear, as the copy book says
and | guess, in time, our neighbors
will fiud 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 decla
ration of war
If father should find il OUT said
Jack, retlectively, he might scold
like Sam Hill. Theu spose YOU
could bear the brunt, Rache, eli! 2
did YOU ever know me to shrink
responsibiliiyr inquired tache, loft
lily. Go along, Jack, and don't be
Il coward
When Jack came in with the men
folks at dinner time, he looked sulky
and out of sorts,and kept telegraph
ing in dumb show to Rache across
the table until, at last, when she
got up to cut the pie, he followed
her into the buttery, and shut tt,
door
Il tell you what it is, Rache,' he
broke out, that was a sReaky piece
of business; and | don't mean t1
do any more such jobs. | threw
the rooster into BrlNton's yard, and
then got behind tree and pret
ty soon one of the girls came .ou'
aud found it and began boohooine
like a baby. AS near as | could fine
ont, it was "A present to her, a"d sh,
had raised it in a basket; ard fell
Just as if | had been stealing {
| sheep
Let them boohoo,' replied Rache
with severe dignity. They ough
5 to think enough of their chOic,
fowls to keep them at home.'
After the dinner dishes we're on
: OF the way, and the chores all don,
up, Rachel icplenished her fire, ant
put on an extra sized kettle of wa
ter to heat. Then she went up stair,
| and changed her dress; and whci
t she came down again there was ,
; hit of lace collar with transferred
. work and cherry bow at the throa
of her dellne dress. over which Sh,
+ wore .iaunty black silk apron will
braided pockets.
. She seated herself with her work
4 basket ut the sitting room window
| almost as if looking for company
. and let or gaze wander down tn,
=. visible stretch of road, where COLDER
. red astors bloomed, and the sumacl
l bushes beside the old stone. wall
$ appeared TO drip with scarlet color
:, and the poke berry was turning
I vivid purple. Presently her eye Ii
D up with II glcam of triumph. Their
D were the Brayton pigs nosiug alon;
through the dust of the road; and
e for once, sic was glad to see th
= pests. They were'vng snonted.sla
t sided animals, with plentiful mark
% of the slough upon their co. is an'
e unappeasabe appetites. Rache
watched with grim species n
!. amusement to see them tnrn IN frou
n habit toward the Henderson sid
/ gate, which was shaded 10y hug
s black cherry tiec, and begin tn
| process OF roofing under. They du;
with the nozzle, bent the fOreltgs
: inclined he dorsdl cOlumn,and Iifte,
i oweri'ully, until the gate was M
s latche,l, and the whole bristly ,rib
g poured into the yard with grunts o
\ satisfaction.
Under one of the kitchen wind
: Ows lay n tempting pile Of pOtat,
t parngs, s,prcviously prepared for bait
which u vicious old female, TN
y mother of numerous disrcputabl'
q children, Immediately SCENTED
They gathered together, pushing m,
: struggling for the tit bits, when slap
! dash down came u pail Of bOilin,
! water upon the backs of the lniscre
ants,and with heart rcnding squeal
Q they gallOped In ~ body from tn
u yard. IL WIS evident to Rachel
i mind that the hair aud the hide q
: her enemies had suffered consider,'
y BILE damage; but still she replcnishc,