The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-01-21
RACHEL,s WAR.
BY AUGUSTA LARNxp.

RACHEL'S WAR.
By AUGUSTA LARNxD.
Mrs. Pettigrew had come in ostensibly
70 borrow Rachel's large dripping pan
and she meant to inquire, before the call
was over, whether Rachel intended to
use her preserving kettle on the following
week. But there was an admirable In
directness about the good woman's mode
of proceeding; 80 she settled down in
comfortable rocking chair, which creaked
with her weight, and took of 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 visitor. There was pan of sifted
pumpkins upon the table, and q pan Of
golden milk, showing the richness of fall
pasturage, and eggs, and butter. and whifs
of cinnamon perfume were coming and
going. Rachel held up blue pie-plate
upon her hand, and slitted the crust from
about the edge with dexterity.
At the moment, in that not unpictur-
esque attitude, with the plump barred arm
and well poised head, Rachel was q fit
C8CAS0SLsO VI tuC kCuuiuC L 0AhCC
girl Nature had put no journey-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 Henderson.
"Have you got acquainted with the
Brayton's, Rachel?" Mrs. Pettigrew was
enquiring, as q source of roundabout in
PRODUCTION to ounce sass and the pre-
serving kettle You know that family
that has bought the old Shorter place ?"
mo, haven't" returned Rachel, with
q slight jerk in her tone, which showed
her disposition was not unmitigated sweet
ness; shut l know their pigs and chickens
too we'll" she added. "They have been
over-running the garden for month past,
and father is % easy he won't say boo to
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 consequenceG"
al know what you can do, Rachel, when
you get your dander up; but It seems to
me~you have got breachy COW of your
OWL" remarked Mrs Pettigrew, who took
peculiar comfort in touching up her friends
on their weak points"
"Oh, yes" returned Rachel, carelessly !;
cold 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"
oval" and Mrs Pettigrew sighed. al
don't know why the Lord put such pro-
pensities into critters; but spose roofing
and scratching is the way pigs and chick
ems have of arning living, though some
of 'em do seem to be totally depraved.
And if I wanted to prove total depravity,
I'd pint to them shotes we had year ago
come next spring"
AS general thing, if pigs and chick
ems have enough to eat at home, they
won't trouble the public" remarked Ra-
chel, with little asperity, as she opened
the oven door and tried the temperature
with her hand.
"The Braytons haven't had time to get
things ship-shape. Old Eli Shorter was
dreadful shiftless, and let the place run
down at the heel. Besides, Rachel, don't
Spite your market. There's likely young
man over there. Everybody has good
word for Herman Brayton. Folks say he
has been through college, and knows q
sight; but he don't put on any airs, and
has chosen to be farmer rather than &c
into lawing or doctoring."
Il am not acquainted with the young
man." said Rachel, coldly; "but can tel
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 odioui
wink. "Tve heard girls talk jest as YOU
do afore now; but there's no knowing
what may happen. must tell you of Q
remark Philander made last night just a:
he was blowing out the candle. 1t seemed
to strike him suddenly; and, says he
Hubby, says he, l shouldn't be a bit sur
prised if one of these times Rachel ane
Herman Brayton struck up match. Fol
you see the farms jine; and it would look
as We might say, providential
Folks needn't trouble themselves abou
with her face in a flame. II can attent
to my own affairs without anybody's in
reference; and Herman Brayton is tn,
last man 1 should ever look at"
"Come, Rachel, don't get ril'd," the oil
lady made haste to say, in purring tone
alt was all q joke, and Philander says
says he, Rachel Henderson is as smart a
q whip, and any man who gets her vii
be doing plaguey well but she'll be awfu
pertickerler. know she will Deary me
how late it is. l must be going. Now
think of il, Rachel, could you lend me you
bigdripping PAM Sister Blake is comm.
over with her family tomorrow, and min,
won't take in an eXtra-sized roast"
The negotiation for the preserving ket
tie also accomplished, Mrs. Pettigrew wen
of, swinging the dripping-pan Justify ant
Rachel, in the interval of watching he
pies, stood at the window to cool he
flushed face. Constitutionally she hatst
the gossip of little country neighbor
hood and it nettled her to know her nam
had 30 soon been Joined with Herman
Brayton's.
Now, with positive feeling of dislike
she looked across the pleasant fields-witl
broideries of red and purple and gold hun,
upon the fringe of forest trees, and corr
lands ready for the sickle undulating upor
the little knobs until their russell touched
the blue of the sky-to where the chin
ney-stacks of the old Shorter place cam,
out from amidst their nest Of trees.
Rachel! Rachelr' called out half
grown boy, running at that moment roun(
the corner of the house, and holding ny
the lifeless form of fine cock. You tol(
me to let fly if see any of Brayton's hem
on the place: 80 when ketched this tai
strut at the cabbages, just chucked hin
q stone, and he pumped as dead as dool
nail"
THAT was right, Jack; but upon fmy
word, you have killed the Shanghae roost
er." And Rachel felt little twinge Of re
morse, knowing the expense and rarity o
the dead specimen before her. However
/ am not a bit sorry" she said, after mo
ment's reflection. I" Experience costs dear
as the copybook says; and guess, il
time, our neighbors will find out that VIZ
are not to be imposed upon. Take tn,
rooster home, Jack, and throw it over the
door-yard fence. 1t will be declaration
OF war;
"If father should find it out" said Jack
reflectively, he might scold like San
Hill. Then / s'pose you could bear the
brunt Rachel, eh?"
did you ever know me to shirk re
sponsibilitys" inquired Rachel, loftily
"Go along, Jack, and don't be coward.
When Jack came in with the menfolk,
at dinner time, he looked sulky and out
of sorts, and kept telegraphing in dumb
show to Rachel across the table, until al
last, when she got up to cut the pie he
followed her into the buttery and shut the
door.
81 tell you what it is, Rachel" he broke
out that was a sneaky piece of business
and / don't mean to do any more such
Jobs / threw the rooster into Brayton's
yard, and then got behind tree and