The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-06-27
A MORNINGS EXPERIENCE.


There is our loss.
A MORNINGS EXPERIENCE.
THE Price family were gathered in
the kitchen on Sunday morning. The
family consisted of MIR. and Mrs. Price,
more commonly 4" Uncle" and Aunt
Price; Miss Abigail Price, a spinster
sister; Mrs. Richton, Aunt Price,
mother, an aged lady of seventy years;
Mollie Jennings, niece visiting the
farm; and Bridget, 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 oc-
Cured in the proceedings, for Aunt
Price stood in the middle of the kitchen
irresolutely swinging her parasol,
while Uncle Price switched the honey
suckle that grew around the door with
his whip; Miss Abigail stood grimly re-
earding the twain, with her head tied
in duster; Mollie had paused in the
open parlor door, Grandma Richton
rocked fcebly in the corner by the
dresser, and Bridget peered in from the
sink.room. open-mouthed.
''Well,' Miss Abigail was remark
ing, IF you think it's safe, far be it
from ME to make objections. You
know James and Joseph are both
gone"
''Shor' 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
Floyds--"
They'd naturally expect to get
something at Floyd s." said Aunt Price;
''but coming here right in the face of
parcel of women-fOlk, for the little
they've got, would be some different.
'Humphw commented Miss Abigail.
''they might as well steal oar 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 Mushroom door, why, then
''Bolt lost? How's that?''
1--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"
"We1l. WE'LL" said Uncle Price,
latching the Mushroom door medita-
lively. "rll go round to Nathan's
after service and get his pistols. 1
hain't thought much about it, but it
would be Il good plan to have 'em here
nights. Jest put in piece of wood
over this latch; that II hold it; and keep
quiet and don't worry. Mercy! / 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.
"Iguess it would 60 off enough to
make noise. Abigail ID want to fire
something, and she might as well try
that. You know the butt end, and that's
all that's necessary"
..All right" said Miss Abigail, with
undated grimness. There's no tell
ing what / may hit, but it don't matter
much. If you come home and find''
Come, Marthy," interrupted her
brother; "we shall be late. Good-by,
grandma. Jest keep quiet, and I'll bet
my best cow nothing IL happen. Whoa,
Elijah! Backr'
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 near
est hill; then, after taking a comprc-
hensive view of every part of the farm
that came within the range of her Wis.,
ion, 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 forego-
ing conversation, had collapsed upon a
chair, and Mollie was spasmodically
trying to reassure her.
There isn't the least danger, Bird.
gct-at least l suppose there isn't; moth
ing may happen, you know. We've
only to keep the doors locked and keep
insidc-just be sure you do that-and
you needn't be afraid" ended Mollie,
who, being from Boston, with all city
girls horror of burglars, very much
exaggerated the terrors of their posi-.
ton.
"Shure an I'd niver left home for 8
pla-ace where I'll be kilt intirely in the
da-ay toimer' moaned Bridget, with
her face hidden in her apron; then sud
denly sat upright, in fresh alarm, as Z
gust of wind whistled down the chin
ney and clapped blind together.
s.That's nothing but the wind. How
it does blow, though! Aunt Abigail
what are you going to doP"
"Doa I'm going to fasten that wash
room door!' responded Miss Abigail
who was dragging heavy ''beam" o
wood across the shed, which she pro
ceeded to lean against the door in ques
ton, bracing the other end against tn,
boiler. 81 don't want any OF iona
than's little pieces of wood stuck owe
latches. mean to have it safe. III,
latch don't hold. anyway, and . win(
like this would have that door open II
minute. Idon't exactly like this ar
rangement, either" she added. eyein,
the uneven base Of tho beam with nm
friendly eyes, while Mollie stood, sym
pathizingly, in the doorway of tn
kitchen.
"Well," continued Miss Abigail
after final crowding in of the beam
81 suppose that must answer. Now
Bridget, we want dinner ut . quartz
past twelve. Get your fire made an,
let the cabbage be boiling. It won
do any good to sit there crying. II
take care of the pudding. I'm goin|
up stairs to put mother to bed. II yol
want anything speak to me, and dom
unlock . door for your life. Mollie