Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-04-04
What Came of Making Pickles.

'Well, Love, my poor child,' said
a dignifed old gentleman, 81 have
looked your matters all over, and l
must say see nothing bat starvation
oefore you and your family"
swell, father" replied a bright 1t
tie woman OF twenty-five years, in q
tremulous voice. 'I'ye not, the least
idea Of starving, nor of lettlrg my
family starve-not, if God spares my
health. y
"You were always a brave child,
Love, bat this is a terrible crisis. 1t
would be cruel in any one to taunt
you now, but you remeabsg that |
told you and George that it was very
imprudent for man to marry till he
had something ahead FOR an emergen-
cy."
81 remember, father, that you
thought | should be wiser to marry Il
man with house and store, for whom
| did not care, than to marry George,
with two thousand year But if |
had the choice to make over again to-
day, | should do just as Ldid them. |
wouldn't change places with any vo-
man on earth-even now"
"You are faithful wife and brave
little woman, Love, bu-"
"But what, father 2"
"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?" 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 appar.
emily dying. She knew that she
could rv&r the pillars of her little do
nestle structure herself, but how d?
"Well, Love, I will do what l can
fer you," said the old gentleman, sand
-and-and if it were only for you
and the babies, should say at once
come home, and be as welcome there
as you were four years ago but you
know the house is so snal! we haven t
room for tour in it.
Love smiled a sad smile, and then
said-rerhaps little provokingly,
'four Of us would occupy no more
chambers than three the babies are
too little to be away from us at night.
But if your house was twice large,
father, | could not take my husbands
own little home away from him, now
that he is sick. ! shall have to de.
eide soon and will let you know my
plans"
The respectable old gentleman rose
no, and with his handkerchief polish
ed his already shining beaver. kissed
Love, patted the heads of the babies,
and turned to go, saying-"Keep up a
good heart. child, and remember that
the ravens fed Elijah"
"Well, l don't want them to feed
me +! prefer to feed myself" replied
the spupky little woman, who felt that
it was rather hard III her father to dis
courage her, and then exhort her to
"keep up 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 gen
tleman was going down the steps a
young man came up.
"Ah, good evening, good evening""
said the stout, good-natured hotel
keeper to both, and then added to
Love, Here I am on the old borrow.
ing business. My wife says she can't
please the lawyers in court times since
you and she changed pickles and
honey. Old Squire Watts called out
the minute he sat down to supper,
Come Bunce, borrow some more Of
that neighbor's pickles for u.s. Them
pickles is a standin joke among them.
why can't nobody in town make
pickles and catsup and chow chow
like yourn Ny wltc's a cook that
cant be beat on bread, and meats and
pastry, and cake, but she ought to
prentice herself to you on some
things
Love, who had known Bunce all her
lifo Snnilnl nnl aaid