Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-29

And Rachel felt little twinge of remorse.
knowing the expense and rarity of the
dead specimen before her. "However, !
am not a bit sorry" she said, after mo-
ment's reflection. "Experience costs dear,
as the copy book says and guess 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
war"
IF father should find it out said Jack,
retlectively, '.he might scold like Sam Hill.
Then | spose You could bear the brunt,
Rache. eh ?'
did you ever know me to shirk respon-
sibilties ?" inquired Rachel, loitily. go
along, Jack, and don't be coward"
When Jack came in with the men folks
at dinner time he looked sUlky and out of
sorts, and kept telegraphing in dumb
show to Rachel across the table, until at
last when she got up to cut the pie he
followed her into the buttery and shut the
door.
Il tell you what it is. Rache,n he broke
out, that was sneaky piece of business,
and don't mean to do any more such Jobs.
| threw the rooster into Braytons's yard
and then got behind tree and pretty
soon one of the girls came out and found
it, and began boohooing like baby. As
near as | could make out it was present
to her, and she had raised it in basket ;
and felt just as if had been stealing a
sheep
Let them boohoo," replied Rachel with
severe dignity They ought to think
enough of their choice fowls to keep them
at home"
After the dinner dishes were out of the
way and the chores were all done up Ra-
chcl replenished her fire and put on an ex-
ira sized kettle of water to heat Then
she went up stairs and changed her dress ;
and when she came down again there was
a bit Of a lace collar with transferred work
and cherry bow at the throat of her de-
laine dress, over which she wore iauntv
black silk apron with braided pockets.
She seated herself with her work basket
at the sitting room window, almost as il
looking for company, and let her gaze
wander down visible stretch of road.
where golden rod and asters bloomed, and
the sumach bushes beside the old stone
walls appeared to dip with scarlet color.
and the pokeberry was turning vivid pur-
pie. Presently her eyes lit up with CLEAN
of triumph. There We're the Bravton pigs
nosing along through the dust of the road,
and for once she was glad to see the pests.
They We're lOng-snouted, slab-sided ami
mails, with plentiful marks of the slough
upon their coats, and unappeasable appe-
tites. Rachel waited with grim species
of amusement to see them turn in from
habit toward the Henderson side gate,
which was shaded by II huge black cherry
tree, and begin the process of roofing un-
der. They dug with the nozzle, bent the
| fore legs, inclined the dorsal column and
lifted powerfully, until the gate was un-
latched, and the whole blistly tribe poured
into the yard with grunts Of satisfaction.
| Under one of the kitchen windows lay
a tempting pile of potato parings, previ-
ously prepared for bait. which vicious
old female, and mother of numerous dis
reputable children, immediately scented.
They gathered together, pushing and
struggling for the tit-bits, when slap dash
down came pail of boiling water upon
the backs of the miscreants. and with
heart-rending squeals they galloped from
the yard. ltwaS evident to Rachel's mind
tha. the hair and hide of her enemies had
suffered considerable damage; but still
she replenished the fire and put on more
water, determined to be prepared for ac-
ton should the porkers return. However,
during the afternoon there was peace along
the border, and Rachel went to bed that
night flushed with consciousness of vic
tory.
The next morning. early, Mr.. Hender-
son and his men went off to 4 distant de-
tached meadow, to do Job of top dress
ing, and took their dinner with them.
The partridges had been whirring through
ha hriC Crht tnr- IL ,,l,
caused Jack to shy away with the long
shooter from the garret-an ancient fire
arm, supposed to be worthy of much
reverence, because of Il tradition which
connected it with the war of 'l2 1t would
"kick," as Jack expressed it, and by a
deal of coaxing managed to get it off one
time in ten.
Rachel had enough on hand to keep her
pleasantly occupied for two or three hours
There was tray of solid, golden butter
on the shelf which must be worked over
and laid down for winter use, and the
last scald was yet to be given her sweet
pickles. She opened the window and let
the warm air in, laden with the mellow,
ripened smell of apples dropping from the
orchard trees, and the crvsanthemums
and zenas bloom about the doorvard.
ened by haze, crows were circling, and
their loud caws alone broke the country
stiffness, which always seems deeper of
dreamy autumn day.
Rachel was contented in the midst of
her busy loneliness. There was something
about the mild glow of the morning, and
the beauty of the world, and the soft wind
coming in through the south windows,
that filled her with rest She had almost
forgotten the annoyances of yesterday
and those provoking Braytons, and was
stepping about at her work singing
"Greenville," in clear, sweet but untu-
tored voice, when a gawky lad, all Of II
color-trom his tow trowSers, hitched high
in the back by improvised suspenders, to
the Struggling locks that strayed from be-
low the rim of Il torn straw hat-made
his appearance at the door.
81 thought I'd stop and tell the folks. y
said he, putting his head in, ''that Brayton's
cows are in your corn. Gosh They've
stuffed themselves till they're ready to
bust"
Instantly the strain died on Rachel's
/ lips, the spirit of peace went out of her