The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-04-02
THE SELECT OF CHERRYCRANEY

Table-cloths were luxury in Cherry
craney. Yet the ladies of that settlement
had frequent gatherings where the hos
FATALITIES of that region were dispensed
without ostentation or table-cloths. The
select of Cherrycraney had encouraged
these gatherings, and, no doubt, derived
from them pleasure and profit, too, aside
from the enjoyment of strong coffee, cold
boiled ham and corn-bread.
Sister Doolittle had, upon one oc-
casion, bought moderate quantity of
bleached muslin, and the select had Wis
ions of the customary delicacies spread
upon snowy Wilderness. But no prepa-
ration had been made for the arrival of
two young relatives whose sudden adj
vent and imperious requirements ban.
ished all thought of table-cloths i'll the
more urgent calls of infancy.
Having shown good and sufficient
reason why Sister Doolittle could not
cover her hospitable board with even
bleached muslin, as the select expected,
let us take look at the dear babies.
That privilege was accorded to the
select first, afterward to the unregenrate.
The sisterhood of Cherrycraney were
seated around the supper-table Chairs
were not at hand in abundance, and
stout benches furnished seats on either
side, while Sister Bulnem, the elders
wife, occupied an empty nail-keg at the
head of the table.
The only silver teaspoon in Cherry
craney was the property of Sister Doc
little, having descended to her from
some grand maternal relative, and this
spoon reposed in dignity beside the sau-
Ger of Sister Burnem. The elevation of
this spoon was the signal for silence in
Gne assembled select, af ter which fol
loved vigorous and lengthy grace from
s1tLer Sister Burnem of some sister des-
ignased by her.
The grace concluded, the select at
once attacked the substantial delicacies
before them. The want of sugar had
been Geplored in that community, but
some fertile female brain suggested
honey as a substitute. That discovery
Drought sweetness to the coffee and sat |
isfaction to the hearts of the select.
With this satisfaction came that greater
female pleasure endless small-talk.
IrecVing the select in this state of hap
p1NS5s, let us take the proposed look at |
She blessed babies.
"Both on EN- twins, mister" re-
marked n man, whose features, voice, |
manner and whole bearing conveyed but !
one impression, extraordinary meekness. |
He did indeed raise his eyes meekly to |
the visitor for moment, but immedi-
ately fixed them again in patient contem-
plation of his charge.
Two exceedingly small red-faced in
taiGfs lay asleep in a cradle peculiar to |
,GkeIrycraney. An old four-barrel, with |
both heads out, furnished cradle as
soothing to infant nerves as the most |
costly production of the cabinet artist |
The cradle was always right-side up, and |
the dear babies couldn't fall out and |
bump themselves.
Doolittle the meek was permitted to |
rock the cradle while the select took tea. |
Z" Took coffee would be the exact state
meut, but our English has not yet adapt
ed itself to that phrase.
The cradle was being rocked gently by |
the meek Doolittle, who, having ven
tred the information that they were both |
twins, subsidized into his customary 81 |
Eence.
The visitor gazed in admiration and |
silence also. Finally his pent-up feel
ings found words
90 In the whole way from this to Caro-
lima thar's nothin' 10 beat this YER"
Then he gazed again in silent admira-
ton. Cheated the piety out o. thar
rtable-cloth, too, the little cusses |" and
'the huge form was moved by visible
chuckle,
"You a-cussin' afore them babies al
ready2" was the stern rebuke of the
mother, who stood by listening unob
served.
The profound regrets and apologies
which followed speedily pacified the in
dignant matron, and the visitor was gra-
ciously permitted to kiss the heads of
the sleeping infants, the faces being too
Oar inside the barrel for anything else.
Inquisitive persons have already
sought to find the precise locality of
Cherrycraney. It is really and truly
matter in which idle curiosity should not
be gratifed.
Old French geographers before the
days of the first empire, on their maps
of Upper Louisiana, traced out the
course of river which they called the
Gascoigne. Later days, with emigration
and settlement, changed Gascoigne to
Gasconade, which name it still retains.
In a little pocket made by the sur
rounding hills, on the bank of the Gas