River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-06-27
A MORNINGS EXPERIENCE.

klllHcH vi nuuuaS ihoihlbS. AnO ldliii-
ly consisted of Mr.. and Mrs. Price, more
commonly "Uncler and "Aunt'' Price;
Miss Abigail Price, a spinster sister;
Mrs. Riehton, Aunt Prices mother, an
aged lady of seventy years. Molle Jen-
nings, neice visiting the farm; and
Bridget, new recruit rom Ireland.
Uncle and Aunt Price were dressed in
their best. and their ancient horse, Elijah.
harnessed in an open wa ION, 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 swing
ing her parasol while Uncle Price switch
ed the honeysuckle that grew around the
door with his whip; Miss Abigail stood
grimly regarding the twain, with her
head tied in buster; Mollie had paused
IN the open parlor door, Grandma Rich
.oa rocked feebly in the corner by the
dresser, and Bridget peered in from the
sink-room. open-mouthed.
"Well," Miss Abigail was remarking,
'tif you think it's safe far be it from me
to make objections. You know James
and Joseph are both gone"
'.Shom put in Uncle Price, testify; IF
it's come to that Marthy'n' | can't go TO
church Sundays, we'll move. We sha'n't
be gone moren two hours. Jest lock up
all you like, and I'll resk your being
troubled in broad daylight"
"But Uncle,n said Molile, nervously,
''you know they went to SIMPSONS at
three in the afternoon, when they We're
all out berrying, and they went 20
Flovd's-"
"They'd naturally expect to get some
thing at Floyd's,n said Aunt Price; 'but
coming here right in the face of parcel
of women-folks, for the little they've got,
would be some different"
'sHumph!" commenced 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 wash
room door, why, then"
''Bolt lost2 How's thats"
"We can't find il, 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 medltahvely.
| "I'll 90 round to Nathan's after service
and get his pistols. | hsin't thought
| much about it. but 1t would be good
| plan to have 'em here nights. jest put
| In a piece of wood over this latch; that'll
| hold it; and keep quiet and don't worry
| Mercy! | never see nothing like you Tor
worrying. I've locked the barn, and If
ANYBODY comes round, you jest pint that
| a tbo 0ilo her
| dow.
sits loaded, amt it," queried Aunt
Price, apprehensively.
II guess it would go 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 I'M
abated grimness. There's no telling
what may hit. but it don't matter much.
| If YOU come home and fnd''-
Come, Martha" interrupted her
brother; ''we shall be late. Good-by.
grandma. Jest keep quiet, AID III bet
my best cow nothing'll happen. Whoa,
Elijah! Back!'
Miss Abigail stood in the door until
the antique wagon, Aunt Prices red
| shawl, and, finally. the crown OF Uncle
Prices much worn beave, hat had disap-
reared beneath the crest of the neare t
/ hill; then, after taking a comprehensive
/ view of every part OF the farm that came
| within range of her vision, and herself
examining the locks of the shea doors,
she came back into the kitchen, where
| Br' doet. whose fears had been greatly ex-
| al
collapsed upon chair, and blolle was
spasmodically trying toreassure 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,
! lust 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 position.
"Shure an I'd niver left home or pla-
ace where I'll be kilt intirely IN the da-
av toime!" moaned Bridget, with her face
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 il
does blow. thought Aunt Abigail, what
| are you going to da2"
"Dol I'm goingtolasten that wash-room
doorln responded Miss Abigail, who was
| dragging a heavy ''beam" of wood across
the Shed, which she proceeded to lean
| against the door in question, braciDg the
| other end against the boiler. Il don't
want any of Jonathan's little pieces OF
wood stuck over latches. | mean to have
it s afe. The latch don't hold, anyway
and a wind like this would have that door
omen in minute. | don't exactly like
/ this arrangement, either she added, eye
inc the uneven base of the beam with un
! friendly eyes, while Mollie stood sym
pathizingly, in the doorway OF the kltch-
en-.
"Well,n continued Miss Abigail, after q
/ final crowding in of the beam. wen
| 7 sunpose that must answer. Now
| BRIDGET we want dinner at quarter past
| twelve. Get your fire made and let the
cabbage be boiling. 1t wont do any good
/ to sit there CRYING. I'll take care OF The
pudding. I'm going upstairs to put
/ mother to bed. II you want anything
sneak to me. and don't unlock door for
your life. MolIie will you just see tat
| the lower windows are fastened.
After thorough examination Of the
aforesaid easements, Miss Abigail came
| back and took her invalid mother In
charge, with firal caution to Bridget to
{. let h,r know if she saw anyone COM
inon Mollie. somewhat reasure | by the
existing quiet, went up to her own room
i and tried to forget the present IN the
latest of Mrs. Southworth's novels.
Meann lille it weuld be impossible 70
| describe the condition of Budgets mind'
tbus left alone in the kitchen. Being
| firmly impressed with the conviction that
unknown periIs beset neT, at inst she
dared not move from her chair the
cackling of the sociable fowls outside
| the door and each fresh gust of autumn