The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-05-09

enc Of Bret Hlartess Coed stories.
The pies and cakes made by the old
woman were, think, remarkable
rather for their inducing the same
loyal and generous spirit than for
their intrinsic excellence, and it may
be said appealed more strongly to the
nobler aspirations OF humanity than
its vulgar appetite. Howbeit every
body ate Nanny Downey's pies, aud
thought of his childhood. 'Take 'em,
dear boys the old lady would say
it does me good to see you eat 'em
reminds me kinder of my poor Sammy
that, eff he'd lived would hev been as
strong and big ez you be. but was ta-
ken down with lung fever at Sweet
water. 4 kin see him yet that's forty
years ago, dear! comm out O. the lot
to the bake house, and smilin' such
beautiful smile, like yours, dear boy.
as handed him mince or lemmiDg
turnover. Dear, dear, how do run
on and those days is past but l seem
to live in you again!' The wife of the
hotel keeper, actuated by q low jeal-
ousy, had suggested that she seemed
to live off them,' but as that person
tried to demonstrate the truth of her
statement by reference to the cost of
the raw material used by the old lady
1t was considered too practical and
economical for consideration. Be-
Sides added Cy Perkins, EFF old
Nanny wants to turn an honest PEN
ny in her old age, let her do it. How
would you like your old mother to
make pies on grub wages, chi? A
suggestion that 80 affected his hearer,
(who had no mother) that he bought
three on the spot. The quality of
these pies had never been discussed
but once. 1t is related that young
lawyer from San Francisco, dining at
the Palmetto Restaurant, pushed away
one of Nanny Downey's pies with
every expression OF disgust and dis
satisfaction. At this juncture, Whisky
Dick, considerably affected by his ia.
vorite stimulant, approached the stran-
gers table, and drawing up q chair,
sat uninyited before him.
'Mebbe, young man. he began
grayely, 'ye don't like Nanny Dow
ney's pies?
The stranger replied curtly, and in
some astonishment, that he did not,
as rule, 'eat pie
young man. continued Dick, with
drunken gravity, 'mebbe your accus'
toned to Charlotte rusks, and blue
mango; mebbe you can't eat unless
your grub is got up by one O. them
French cooks? Yet we-us boys var
in this camp-calls that pie-a good
a competent pie!'
The stranger again disclaimed any,
thing but general dislike to that
form of pastry.
young man, continued Dick, ut
terly unheeding the explanation
young man, mebbe you onct had an
ole-a very ole mother. who, tottering
down the vale of years, made pies.
Mebbe, and it's like your blank epicure-
an soul, ye turned up your nose on
the ole woman, and went back on the
pies. and on her! She that had dam
died ye vile ye wOs baby-a little
baby! Mebbee you went back on her
aud shook her, and played of on her,
and gave her away-dead away! And
no wv, mebbe, young mani wouldn't
hurt We for the world, but mebbee,
afore ye leave this var table, YELL EAT
THAT PIE!'
The stranger rose to his feet, but the
muzzle ofa dragoon revolver in the
hands of Whisky Dick |
caused him to sit down again. He ate
the pie, and lost his case likewise, be.
fore Ready jury.