The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-12-10
PUMPKIN PIES.
a Thanksgiving story.

| pTtht Bolucu puuphluSs stloN
enough TO be apples of the Hesperides,
were lying aboIt the kitchen floor, aud
Polly at the kitchen table was making
pumpkin pies.
Her thoughts ran in this wise, as she
measured out the ingredients: Zone
and one half pounds loaf sugar. one
half pound Of butter, two quarts OF
cream. no, one quart. So Melissa s
really engaged to the minister. Dear
me, some people have everything in
| this world. / wonder il they are so
lucky in the next. How gravely he
would look at me il he were to hear me
express such o frivolous thought. He
has stern face; but how kindly he
can look out Of his blue eyes. The
other night when burned my arm at
the candy pulling, he dressed il as
carefully as a woman, and looked so
! kind and sorry Inat what with his sym
pathy and the hurt. / could hardly
keep back the tears. He said / had
already learned one of lifes hardest
lessons-'patienee under afiliction.
DO you call this afiliction said, laugh
lagly? / will be happy indeed il /
never have any greater affection than
this. Aud be answered so grsyely that
Il silcnced me. Il pray you may be
happy, dear child >" Here Polly broke
out in a warbling little melody that
started the canary in the sitting groom
% singing with all his might, aud caus.
ed Aunt Phoebe TO exclaim In tones
sharp enough 10 sour the incipient
pies: Cant you stop that noise, Pol
| lyl You and this abominable bird will
run me crazy yet; every nerve in my
body is just tingling now" Then
she added ia tones not TO low to reach
Polly's ear 81 will get rid of you
both some day, and then may be i will
have some peace Of my life. !"
There was silence in the house after
this. Polly turned aside her head that
her tears might not fall in the pastry
she was working, and the sympathetic
bird hushed its song and dropped its
head.
Polly's reddish-brown curls were
caught up high on her head and fasten-
ed with an old fashioned shell comb OF
her mothers; she had on fresh, dark
calico, and her rolled-np sleeves show
| I'd white arms, made winter by the
| hour busted oyer them. She was a
| pretty picture as she rolled out her
pastry and cut il in delicate, curling
strips, but she was so engaged in re-
pressing the ugly, angry feeling that
1ushed her cheek and heaved her
jreast but found no outlet at her lips,
that she was unconscious of spectator
until, hearing a movement, she raised
her eyes and met the ministers.
He was standing ia the doorway be-
tween the sitting-room and kitchen, and
| Polly's first thought was that her aunt
had maliciously sent him TO seek her,
thinking thus to embarrnss her. This
hought came TO her assistance, and
smiling and dimpling in spite Of bel
annoyance as she met the sunny gaze
Of his blue eyes. She motioned him to
a chair with the air Of a princess and
vent on with her work.
He brought the chair and set il as
close as possible TO the table, so Close
that Pclly trembled lest some of the
flour should fall on his immaculate
black clothes.
"You are making pumpkin pies?'
was bis commonplace question, but u
vas asked in the tones which thrilled
poor Polly's soul like rich music.
She smiled an affirmative, and h,
went on. looking up in the fresh, swee
face: Have you ever heard the tradi
tion respecting pumpkin pies? IL II
said they are n sort of moral thermom
eter Of the Individual by whom thel
are prepared. Pumpkins, you know
are nourished in sunshine. They ar,
gathered in the glowing autumn days
aud brought in the house, golden re
minders of the summer sun. IL tn
pies are made by one Of a sunny dispo
sition, they will be sweet, juicy and de
licious-in short, such an essence o
sunshine, sugar, and spice as those yot
are making. But IL one illnature,
thought is harbored during their prep
aration, they are soured and ruined. y
Polly blushed crimson at this on
and out compliment, aud in her confu
sion mistook the pepper-box for tina
which held the spice, and busted th
pies freely. Then she calmly poure
IN half bottle Of lemon extract, Will
the minister thought he had never see
? 80 bewitching housewife.
As he rose to 60 he said, laughing:
IL believe / am TO take my thanks
giving dinner with you tomorrow; SO
Miss Polly, / shall have an opportuni
Q ty TO gauge your disposition by you
, pies.
, Polly shook q spoon at him and an
swered confidently that II that was I
be the only test she was not afraid.
. As the front door closed on the min
/ lister, Aunt Phmbe, bristling with ia
= dignatioD, stalked into the kitchen.
IF you think am going TO hay
such disgraceful performances in m
kitchen you are mistaken, missi / ash
q ed the minister in the sitting-root
Q while i went to put on my cap, and h
2 walked deliberately out here, and her
) he staid. You enticed him out, yo
Q know you did. you ungrateful min,
And you flirted with him over my IA
d BILE aud my pies, and under my noss
for / was watching you behind th
door. l consider il my duty TO repoI
. the minister. / shall have his name O
], every tongue in the town. He shall b
\ drummed out Of the place--and you
! leave nv house this night have pu
up with your nonsense as long az 1 IL
tend TO. You are not fit to stay in
q respectable family"
, "Ob, aunti' moaned Polly, wit
white lips: bnt Miss Phmbe went on
though IN more argumentative ton
as her wrath cooled.
"No, you needo't leave to-nigh
either. | have 80 much company il
|, vited to-morrow that You shall help m,
/! I might "a we'll get what can out
y you. Though II you were 10 wor
: your fngers TO the bone you couldn
! repay me. You haven't any claims a
! me nov; you are big enough and stror
!. enough 90 work for yourself.
}. wouldn't have turned you out whs
u Won were little and belnlcea but n,