The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-12-11
90, Mr.. Brisket," faItered

been such a mortal long time acomin',
miss" grumbled Mr.. Brisket. "And
times is dull and I've got notes to meet"
I'm very sorry, Mr.. Brisket, but -
"Tain't no good standin' here" said
the butcher, irritably scratching his
head. "I might ha' knowed what an
swer l should ha' got afore crossed
the threshold. But it's hard on q poor
man, that's what it is, and them as calls
themselves gentry hadn't ought to eat
If they can't pay. I'll call again this
day week, miss, and then -
And with this the butcher whisked
himself away under the arch of morn
ing glory vines, where the locusts were
singing, and the pink and purple cups
swung to and fro in the morning wind.
And Polly, with crimson cheeks and
heart beating with vague resentment,
turned back into the great sunshiny
kitchen, where Lisbeth was swaying
nervously to and fro in the splint-bot-
toned rocker, with week.old newspa-
per in her hand, her yellow hair catch
ing the sunbeams like coronal Of gold
as she rocked.
"Lisbeth," said the elder sister, aus
terely, "are the wild grapes ready for
preserving"
"Wild grapes ?" repeated Lisbeth,
AingiDg the newspaper into the window
seat; d" haven't thought of them since
you went away. Oh, Polly, how wish
we were rich p
Polly advanced soberly to fat wicker
tray of clustered grapes, full of subtle
perfume, and busted over with pale
bloom, and began to separate them
from their stems with deft, quick fin
gers.
"Why ?" said she.
"I would 20 to New York and see
this new play" said Lisbeth, still sway
ing back and forth in the splint.bot-
toned rocker. "Olivia was a country
parsons daughter, and 80 are we. 1
should like to see my own counterfeit
presentment on the stage"
Nonsense, said Polly. "You had
better come here and help with these
grapes"
It's such wretched business to be
poor |" said Lisbeth. She was spark
ling little creature, after the cumming
bird style of damsel, with yellow hair
curling over her forehead, intense hazel
brown eyes, and small red mouth with
diInples lowering shyly in its neighbor-
hood. "Just look at us, Polly, you
nd me, two girls of nineteen and sew
anteen, that ought to be enjoying our
selves and having a good time, and here
we are, washing and scrubbing, and
turning wretched rags of dyed silk, and
cleaning faded ribbons, and counting
every pound of rice and every potato !
Even these wild grapes, Polly, that you
aud gathered down by the edge of the
swamp, we shouldn V, nture on the ex-
tuavagance of preserving them, if Mrs.
Deacon Blodgett hadn't offered to sup
ply the sugar on halves. Oh, do hate
this life Even Brisket the butcher
thinks he can insult us with impunity. "
eyes," said Polly, thoughtfully, "we
mustn't order any more meat at pres
ent."
"But we must live, flashed out Lis
beth.
"There is salt E1ackerel," said Polly,
"and eggs, and vegetable soups, and
Mrs. Pullett always sends us o nice cut
) of pork and some fresh sausages when
/ they kill their pig. Oh, we shall get
I get along somehow, Lisbeth; anything
is better than debt"
: Lisbeth looking up with sparkling
4 eyes.
III
increase papa's salary? Six hundred
dollars year is shameful pittance fol
y such man as he is.
i Polly shook her head over the grapes
5 Papa isn't young man any longer
d Lisbeth," said she, "and he isn't al
e modern in his ideas as Mr.. Crocus."
i "But he is such learned man, CRIED
out Lisbeth, shaking the yellow mant
:, out of her eyes. "And his sermons
Q oh, Polly, they make me cry, they are
y so deep and so solemn, and go dowI
d into ones heart so Six hundred dol
n lars year, Polly, for such work an(
p study as that II
"There is no doubt, said Polly, 80
4 berly, but that clergymen are, as a gen
a eral rule, very much underpaid in thi
Ie country"
l. "I shall never marry a clergyman,
l. cried Lisbeth, with energy. "No, Pol
], ly, never I'd marry a dust-man first
1 For dust-men get their pay, and clergy
D. men don't, and -
Lisbeth stopped short, scarlet an
I'd confused, in this rhapsody of hers, fol
a, ohancing to glance up, she beheld i
lp the doorway a tall and solemn face
at young man, with an umbrella in on
at hand and a travelling sachel in th
r other.
ly "We don't want anything, please,
said she, jumping at once to the eonclr
a sion that she beheld book agent, or
vender of patent polish, or some sue
e, itinerant tradesman.
tn sci beg your pardon, said the gentl
SO man, apparently as Euch embarrasse
as was she herself; "I must have Dli
I'D taken the house. / was looking for I'll
at Reverend Francis Fem II
"My good gracious another mi
lr- sionary, murmured Lisbeth, sotto-Uoc
gh as Polly stepped graciously forwar
nd saying:
You are not mistaken, sir; this