Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-11-07
WHAT CAME OF MAKING PICKLES.

"Well, Love, my poor child" said dgnifed
old gentleman, ~ have looked your matter all
over, and must say see nothing but starva-
ton for you and your family
swell, father replied bright little woman
of twenty-five years, in trembling voice, GIVE
not the least idea of starving, nor of letting my
family starve-not if God spares my health"
''You were always brave child, Love, but this
is terrible crisis. II would be cruel in any one
to taunt you now, but remember that | told you
and George that it was very imprudent for man
to marry till he had something ahead for an
emergency"
81 remember, father, that you thought l
should be wiser to marry a man with house
and store, for whom did not care, than to mar
ny George, with ~, 900 year. But If | had the
choice to make over again, to-day, should do
just Ms did then. l wouldn't change places
with any woman ON earth-eyen now"
''You are faithful wife and brave little wo-
man, Love, but
"But what, father :"
''You can't live on in this way, child"
"But will live, father, and live well, too, and
take care of George and the babies"
"How p Ay, that was the word that had been
ringing in the heart of this brave little woman
ever since the day that her husband failed at his
desk, and was brought home apparently dying.
She knew that she could rear the pillars of her
domestic structure herself but how 7
''Well, Love, will do what can for YOU said
the old gentleman, "and-and-if it wore only
for you and the babies, should say at once,
come home, and be AZ welcome there as you
were four years ago; but you know the house is
10 small; we haven't room for four in it,"
Love smiled sad smile, and then said-per
haps a little proyokingly--"f flour of lis would oc-
cupy no more chambers than three; the babies
are too little to be away from us at night. But
If your house were twice M large, father, could
not take my husband's own little home away from
him, now that he s sick. shall have to decide
soon and will let You know my plans"
The respectable old gentleman rose up, and
with his handkerchief polishing his already SHIN
ing beaver, kissed Love, patted the heads of the
babies, and turned to go, saying-skeep up a
good heart, and remember that the ravens fed
Elijah"
'fWell, l don't want them to feed me ! pre-
fer TO feed myself" replied the spunky little
woman who felt that it was rather hard in her
father to discourage her and then exhort her to
"keep a good heart"
She loved the old man, although he was stiff
and narrow in his views, and never forgot any
slight offered his Judgment. She followed him
to the door and said, "Good-bye, father give my
love to MOTHER" although the real mother, who
would have found room enough in her heart and
home for them all, had been for years in the
grave.
1t was twilight, and as the old gentleman was
going down the step, Young man came up
All boOu tNonlllbf bOOu oNcHillby tut
stout, good natured hotel keeper to both, and
then added to Love- "Here am on the old Dor
rowing business. My wife says she can't please
the lawyers in court time since you and she
changed pickles and honey. Old Squire Watts
called out the minute he sat down TO supper
come Bruce, borrow some of that neighbour
pickles for us. Them pickles s standing
joke among them. Why can't nobodyin tow
make pickles, and catsup and chow-chow lk
your'n? My wifes cook that can't be beat OF
bread and meats and DaatrV and cake. hit Hl(
ought to prentice herself to you on somt
things"
Love, who had known Bruce all her life, smiled
and said
II will give you a jar with all my heart, Mr.
Bruce, and that wont half pay your wife for til
nice things she has sent in to poor George.
have my cucumbers all ready now to make m
next years pickles, and yet have two or tire
jars left"
"Suppose you make a bargain Mrs. Bart, Il
buy two barrels at the best Boston price, III you'll
make them for me, and chow-chow and oatsuI
too
Love laughed, and the hotel keeper went wit
her to got the jar. The old man went down til
street whispering with sgh-"The Lord know
whose going to feed that family /; 1 can't do i
for wife says l can't, and she knows everythir
most and Love is terrible obstinate"
Well, the hotel keeper ran back the next mt
ment with his pickle jar, as happy as some me
would have been to find nugget of gold TIL
size, for he had rival Who kept the old taver
and he'wanted to keep all the lawyers who can
there to hold court as his customers
Love had long talk with her husband thu
night. The next day an old school friend wi
had always been like sister, came to stop wi
the sick man and to look after the babies, al
she went to Boston, ten miles away in an ear
train with neat little basket in her hand
any one had been near enough when she put I
her little basket on the platform of the dep
with such spirit he might have heard h
whisper
',see if my family starvcs while am ali
and in my health !"
The day was lovely and everybody on d
street and on the cars looked cheerful and hi
py or course there were sick, and lame and bli
and deaf people but heaven was keeping, TIN
out of her sight that day, and bringing befI
her only happy grown folks and merry lit
ones.
The streets looked so clean and the air seem
30 pure that she charged herself with havi
borne false witness against the beautiful as
ran with a light heart through Washingt'
fremont and Court streets, and Bowdon squa
first to store and then to hotel. In OF
place she asked for the proprietor or the Ste
ard and opened her basket, drew Q
three little glass jars of what the he
keeper at home had called " sour things.
one minute she told her business, and the nee
slty that brought her out on it. Her cheer
face, her prompt manner, and her we'll cho
words gained the the victory for her. She W
back at night pledged to supply homemade pl
les, chow-chow and catsup for three hotels
five large groceries, and she whispered as
mounted the steps of her little home, " I'll 81
father whether not we are going to starve
Her cheerful story of success did more for
poor, disheartened young husband than
OF old school pills or four tiny new school o
could have done. The very story OF an an
womans poke bonnet, which was worn one
cd in the cars to blind one eye, and OF the =
airs OF silly bride, and of boy with two glil
pigs bnttoned into his jacket for safe trans
tation, really frightened the hope of life in
heart and after partakng OF a nice supper
pared by their pretty friend, he said
Now girls, feel as il l were going to
about again, and this Is the first time have
ann la...a