Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1878-01-05
happy young couple until dinner time.
Theh. having said grace, she seated


Theh. having said grace, she seated
herself and was helped to boiled pork
and cabbage, and watched little Mis-
tress Anne as she set upon the table
great dishfuls Of round, white balls of
dough, and cried:
There! none other ever made them
before 1 did. thought them out for
myself. Cut it in two, Gra.y"-that
was what she called her husband
"cut it in two, and within thou wilt
find an apple. Here is sauce for it,"
Grateful-all-your-nays did as he
was ordered, and burst into a laugh.
Thou art the best of cooks" be
said. "Mother thou never didst so
neat a thing as this--confess it,"
That speech settled matters 1t
was more than Mrs. Popkins the elder
could stand. She glared at her
daughter-in-law. She glared at her
son. She rose and doned her hood
and cloak, and took two of the round
balls-the first apple dumplings she
bad ever seen-upou plate and
walked out of the house with it.
HAS she taken leave of her senses at
las,?" asked the daughler-in-law.
"She is proud of thy culinary skill,
my child" replied Grateful-all.your-
days, who, like other men, had no in
tuitive perception, and thought his
mother and his wife the best of
friends, land would fain boast Of it
to our neighbors."
"Alackt" cried Anne, my heart
misgives me-"
And well it might. for Mrs. Pop
kins the elder bad gone straight to 'hs
house of one in authority, VINO de
lighted 10 the destruction of witches,
and had set before him the plate.
Verify" she said, IL have often
declared | would denounce even one
of my own kin who should prove to
be witch; aud here is the proof that
Anne, the wife of my well beloved
Grateful-all-your days. has proved
herself q witch by making this.
Within dumpling Of dough. with no
bole 10 it lies a whole apple. None
but q witch could do such deed. l
denounce her. Cut one Of these open
to prove the truth of what 1 say to
thyself; keep the other for the
judges"
The great witch finder did as she
was she was bid, and pronounced the
apple dumpling the ctieiest work Of
Satan she bad ever seen not only
witchcraft, but an evil miracle. so to
speak.
That night poor little Mistress
Anne was arrested and cast into
prison. Her mother-in-law. as good
q cook as there was in Salem, had
declared that she had done what was
impossible to any cook. Grave elders
bad opened the remaining dumping,
and out of it had rolled boiled apple.
Anne had not thought of halving and
coring it. As the evil one bad helped
her by fire. fire was to be her death.
The stake was set, faggo,s were
ready, but before she was burnt some
form of trial must be gone through
The mother.in-law was witness.
The husband was on The spot, tears
in bis eyes, and q great basket on his
arm and Anne was brought from
her prison to confront the fierce ucn
who were only too anxious to doom
ber to death. According to their laws
she might speak in her own defense i
she had anything to say. The charge
was made, evidence given, the dump
ling exhibited. Then up rose Mis-
tress Anne, white aud trembling.
IL have nothing to deny" she said
81 made the dumpling; but / beg
leave to show all those now assembled
how the work was done; then, j
there is anything evil in it, do me to
death, for l am worthy
ut is but just" said the judge
Perform your incarnation"
Then stepped forw ard her husband
Master Grateful-all- your-days Pop
kins. He set before her the baske
and took thence box of -four, som'
butter, a rolling pin and pasteboard
four apples. a pan of sugar, spoo'
and nutmeg. In the court room, q
in all rooms that needed warming a
that day, was an open fire; over thi
be placed the pot, aud kneeling on To-
floor, Mistress Anne mixed and rolle'
out paste Then pairing the apple
she infolded each in white sheet AM
|, dented the edges of the lap in To
paste until it was invisible; then To
pot of water, boiling and bubling, SD
J dropped them in.
"ls there witchcraft 10 this!' sh
, asked.
ut is all deceit. They would bo
, out y cried the mother-in-law.
! 1--WE will wait and see," cried To
, judges. They waited.
An hour after, all four sal about
D table eating the delicious dump'ing'
( over which Aune poured a savor
D sauce, and each declared that nor
I but good arts had been used in III