Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-08
A MORNINGS EXPERIENCE.

The Price family were gathered in the kitch-
ed Of Mr.. and Mrs: Price: more commonly
"Uncle' and Aunt" Price: Miss Abigail Price
a spinSteT sister; Mrs. RichtOn, Aunt Prices
mother, an aged lady of seventy years: MDllie
Jennings. a niece visiting the farm and Bird
get. new recruit from Ireland.
Uncle and Aunt Price We're dressed in their
best. and their ancient horse, Eli jIh, harneSSed
In an open wagon, was in readiness to take
them TO church in the village, three miles
away. A hiatus. however, appeared 10 have
occurred in the proceedings. for Aunt Price
stood in the middle of the kitchen irresO,uIe-
ly swinging her paTaSO while Uncle Price
switched the honey Suckle that grew around
the door with his whip; Miss Abigail stood
gTimly regarding the twain. with her head
tied in a buster: MOllie had paused in the
open !arl0r door: Grandma Richton rocked
get peered in from the sink-rOom, open
mOUtEed.
Well Miss Abigail was remarking. 'if
You think it's safe, far BE- ii from me to make
objections. You know James AMI Joseph are
both gone"
"sho!''. put in Uncle Price, testify; If it's
SUNDAYS Vel moye We sha'6't + be en go6a
more n two hours, jest lock up, all you like,
and In ITesk 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 something
at FIcyds," said Aunt Price but coming
here right in the face of a parcel of women
fox, for the little we've got, would BE- Some
different
"Humph"' commented Miss Abigail. 'sThey
might as we'll steal orr spoons as any body
ese's; but, "a said before, if you think its
safe, and We mile from any house, and the
bolt lost on the waShrOOm door, why, then"
bolt lost? HOw'S that"
'N t can't find it, that's all; and there's no
earthly way of locking it. And here there've
been SIX rObberieS i'll fortnight, and almost a
murder"
wash-rOOm door medi atively. I'll go round
to NathanS after service ard get his pistols
i hahn thought much about il, but it would
be good plan To have EN- here nights. jest
put in piece of wood over this latch thatll
no d it; and keep quiet and don't worry. Lord.
! never see nothing like you for worrying. I've
locked the barn, and if any body comes round
you Jest plnt that old gun of mine out the
chamber Wlndrr."
Its loaded, amt it," queried Aunt Price,
appIehenSiVey.
II guess it would go off enough to make \
noise. Abigail d 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 wi undated
grimneSs. There's no telling what | may
hit, but it don't matter much. If you come
home and fiTd-"
Come, Marthy,'' interrupted her brother;
I'VE shall be late. GoOdhy, grandma. Jest
keep quiet, and I'll bet my best cow nothing
II happen. Whoa, elijah. Back
Miss Abigail stood in the door until the an
tique wagon, Aunt Prices red shawl, and
finally the crown OF Uncle Prices much worn
beay hat had disappeared beneath the crest
OF the nearest hill: then, after taking COM
prehenSive view of every part of the farm that
came within the range of her vision, and her
Self examining the locks of the shed doors she
came back into the kitchen, where Bridget,
whose fears had been great excited by the fore
going conversation, had collapsed upon a
chair, and MOllie was Spasmodicaliy trying to
le-asSuTe her
There isn't the least danger, B idget-at
least suppose there isn't; nothing may hap
pen, you knew. We've only to keep the doors
locked and keep inside-just be sure You do
that-and you needn't be afraid" ended Mo-
lie. who, being from Boston, with all city
girls horror OF burglars. very much eXagger-
ated the terrOrs of their position.
''Shure an Id Iiver left home 70" pla- ace
where | i be kilt intirely in the da,ay tOime!"
mOaned Bridget. with her face hidden in her
apron; then suddenly "a upright. i'm fresh
alarm, as a gust of wind whiStled down the
chimney and capped bind together.
blow, though! Aunt Abigail, what are you
DO? I'm going to fastem that wash-room
door, responded Miss \ bi Gail, who was drag
ging heavy beam of wood across the shed
which she proceeded To lean against the door
in question, bracihg the other end against the
boiler. Il don I want any of j Onathan'S little
pieces of wood stuck over latches. / mean to
have il safe. The latch don't hold, anyway
and Wind like this would have that door open
in minute. don't exactly like this arrange
ment either she added, cycling the uneven
base of the beam wi n uufrfendly ewes. while
holhe stood sympathiAngly in the doorway of
the kitchen.
Well" continued Miss Abigail, afttra final
crOwdlEg In OF the beam. Il suppose that must
answer. Now, Bridge we want dinner at
quarter past twelve Get Your fire made and
let The cabbage be boiling. 1t won't do anv
good To sit there crying. Ill take care of tht.
pudding. I'm going up stairs to put mother
10 bed. III you want any thing, speak to me.
and don't unlock door for your life. MOlie
will you just see that the lower windows are
faStened?'
Afer thorough examination of the afore
said easements, Miss Abigail came back and
took her invalid mOtheS in charge, with final
eau ion TO Bridget to let her know if she saw
any one coming MOliie. somewhat treasured
by the existing quiet, went up To her room and
tried to forget the present in the latest of Mrs
SOuthWOrth 5 novels.
Meanwhile it would be impossible to de
scribe the condition of Bridg-ts mind, thus
left alone in the kitchen. Bling firmly i'm
pressed with the conviction that unknown
peIils ieeet her, at first she dared not move
fICm her chair. The cacking Of the sociab.e
fowls outside the door and each fresh gust OF
autumn wiHd caused her new terror. Finally
after long waiting, she gained courage to cross
the floor and light The fire. moving about on
tiptOe. with terrified glances behind her. II
Miss Abigail had known that il was quarter
IaSt eleven before the cabbage was put over
the fire. she would certainly have Scoided: but
fortunately She had enough 10 do up stairs
Bridget al last took heart of grace. aud S-jZ
Ing the wash basin, started for the cellar
ana The POTATOES which were in rs farther
G3Ihef- Bridget never entered this cellar
which was excessively dark and irregular
without crossing herself. Now the pr spec,
vas especially terrible and with a mutterad
IiHStI 10 Ihe NlIgln she went down the Stair
WIN occasional ha'tings and having filed IN
Iaslh Win almost miraculous speed, scurried
a'T r dSa,h. But Today the kitchen had aim pst
a man! LelrofS tor her as the cellar and n ,If
way up the stairs she vas startled nv yioien,
euSI p vi MIid ana an om.noUs sound above.
potaiosS s s nov; mutlrred Bridget to the
oh." ctayiHuT hiuSelI's la the hnnsa - -
Another Wild blast of wind that shook win
COWS and doors. Bridget had rracSaI n " ~
@! The stairs. She had closed the DO VI, VI ;o
illo me wash room half an hour agoI Frn,n
REMIND tbs door sounded a rumble yxi.n