The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-06-29
OUR STORY TELLER.
A MORNINGS EXPERIENCE.
IHarper's Weekly.l

The Price family were gathered in the
kitchen on Sunday morning. The fam
lily consisted of Mr.. and Mrs. Price,
commonly. "Uncle" and Aunt !"
Price; Miss Abigail Price, spinster
sister; Mrs. Richton, Aunt Prices
mother, an aged lady of seventy years !;
Mollie Jennings, niece visiting the
farm; and Bridget, and a new recruit
from Ireland.
Uncle and Aunt Price were dressed
in their best, and their ancient horse
Elijah, harnessed in an open wagon, was
in readiness to take them to church in
the village, three miles away. A hiatus,
however, appeared to have occurred in
the proceedings, for Aunt Price stood in
the middle of the kitchen irresolutely
swinging her parasol, while Uncle Price
switched the honeysuckle that grew
around the door with his whip; Miss
Abigail stood grimly regarding the twain,
with her head tied in a buster; Mollie
had paused in the open parlor door,
Grandma Richton rocked feebly in the
corner by the dresser, and Bridget peered
in from the sink-room, open-mouthed
"Well," Miss Abigail was remarking,
if you think it's safe, far be it from
me to make objections. You know
James and Joseph are both gone"
Sho" put in Uncle Price, testify
if it's come to that t Marthy'n' | can t
60 to church Sundays, we'll move. We
sha'n't be gone more'n two hours. Jest
lock up, all you like, and I'll resk your
being troubled in broad daylight"
But, uncle" said Mollie, nervously,
"you know they went to SIMPSONS at
three in the afternoon, when they were
all out berrying, and they went to
Floyd's-"
They'd naturally expect to get some
thing at Floyd's," said Aunt Price :;
but coming here right in the face of a
parcel of women-folk, for the little
we've got, would be some different"
Humphl" comment ed Miss Abigail.
They might as well steal our spoons as
anybody else's; but, as | said before, if
you think it's safe, and we mile from
any house, and the bolt lost off the wash
room door, why, then"
Bolt lost? How's that?"
"We can't find it, that's all; and
there's no earthly way of locking it..
And here there've been six robberies in
a fortnight, and almost murder"
Well, well % said Uncle Price, latch
ing the wash-room door meditatively.
"Pll go round to Nathan's after service
and get his pistols. | hain't thought
much about it, but it would be a good
plan to have 'em here nights. Just put
in piece of wood over this latch f;
that II hold it; and keep quiet and
don't worry. Lord! l never see nothing
like you for worrying. I've locked the
barn, and if anybody comes round, you
Jest pint that old gun of mine out the
chamber winder."
It's loaded, amt it?" queried Aunt
Price, apprehensively.
81 guess it would 90 off enough to
make a noise. Abigail d want to fire
something, and she might as we'll try
that. You know the butt end, and that
all that's necessary"
All right" said Miss Abigail, with
undated grimness. "There's no telling
what may hit, but it don't matter much.
If you come home and find"
Come, Marthy," Interrupted her
brother; we shall be late. Goodbye,
grandma. Jest keep quiet, and I'll bet
ny oo.e "" hOthinS IL udpptH. whoa,
Elijah! Backp'
Miss Abigail stood in the door until
the antique wagon, Aunt Prices red
shawl, and finally the crown of Uncle
Prices much-worn beaver hat had dis
appeared beneath the crest of the nearest
hill; then, after taking comprehensive
view of every part Of the farm that
came within the range of her vision,
and herself examining the locks of the
shed doors, she came back into the
kitchen, where Bridget, whose fears had
been greatly excited by the foregoing
conversation, had collapsed upon chair,
and Mollie was systematically trying to
reassure her.
There isn't the least danger, Bridget
at least suppose there isn't; nothing
may happen, you know. We've only to
keep the doors locked and keep inside
just be sure you do thatTand YOU
needn't be afraid" ended Mollie, who,
being from Boston, with city girls
horror of burglars, very much exagger-
ated the terrors of their position.
Shure an I'd niver left home for a
pla-ace where I'll be kilt intirely in the
daray toime" moaned Bridget, with her
lace hidden in her apron; then suddenly
sat upright, in fresh alarm, as gust of
wind whistled down the chimney and
clapped blind together.
That's nothing but the wind. How
it does blow, though! Aunt Abigail,
what are you going to do?"
Do? I'm going to fasten that wash
room door" responded Miss Abigail,
who was dragging heavy "beam5 Of
wood across the shed, which she pro-
ceeded to lean against the door in ques-
ton, bracing the other end against the
boiler. g don't want any of Jonathan S
little pieces of wood stuck over latches.
] mean to have it safe. The latch don't
hold, anyway, and wind like this would
have that door open in minute. / don't
exactly like this arrangement either"
she added, eying the uneven base of the
beam with unfriendly eyes, while Mollie
stood sympathizing in the doorway of
the kitchen.
"Well," continued Miss Abigail, after