The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-12-04
PEPPERY PUMPKIN PIES.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.

| bTeat SOideH pumphiLS, yeio" ohouSn
to be the apples of the Hesperides, were
lying about the kitchen floor, and Polly
at the kitchen table was making pumpkin
pies.
Her thoughts ran in this wise, as she
measured out the Ingredients: "One and
one-half pounds of loaf sugar, one-half
pound of butter, two quarts of cream
| no, one quart. So Melissa's really en-
gagged to the minister. Dear me, some
people like everything in this world. 1
| wonder if they are SO lucky in the next2
How gravely he would look at me if he
thought. He has stern face; but how
kindly he can look out of his blue eyes.
The other night when I burned my arm
at the candy-pulling, he dressed it as
carefully as woman, and looked SO kind
and sorry that, what with his sympathy
and the hurt, could hardly keep back
the tears. He said had already learned
one of life's hardest patience
under affiiction.' Do you call this affiic-
ton, said, laughing9 will be happy
indeed if 1 never have any greater aff1ic-
ton than this. And he answered SO
gravely that it silenced me. 4 pray you
may be happy, dear child" Here Pol
ly broke out in warbling little melody
that started the canary in the sitting
room to singing with all his might, and
caused Aun: Phoebe to exclaim, in tones
sharp enough to sour the incipient pies:
"Can't you stap that noise, Polly! You
and this abominsble bird will run me
crazy yet; every nerve in my body is just
a tingling now." Then she added in
tones not too low to reach Polly's ear:
81 will get rid of you both some day, ,and
then may be will have some peace of
my life."
There was silence in the house after
this. Polly turned aside her head that
her tears might not fall in the pastry she
was working, and the sympathetic bird
hushed its song and dropped its head.
Polly's reddish brown curls were
caught up high on her head and fastened
with an old-fashioned shell comb of her
mothers; she had on q fresh, dark cali
co, and her rolled-up sleeves showed
white arms, made winter by the -four
busted over them. She was q pretty
picture as she rolled out her pastry and
cut it in delicate, curling strips, but she
was 80 engaged in repressing the ugly.
angry feelings that flushed her cheek and
heaved her breast, but found no outlet at
her lips, that she WAS unconscious of
spectator until, hearing a movement, she
raised her eyes and met the minister's.
He was standing in the doorway be-
tween the sitting room and kitchen, and
Polly's first though was that her aunt
had maliciously sent him to seek her,
thinking thus to embarrass her. This
thought came to her assistance, and sm;l-
ing and dimpling in spite of her annoy
ance as she met the sunny gaze of his
with the air of princess, and went on
With her work.
Fe brought the chair and set it so close
thai Polly trembled lest some of the flour
should fail on his immaculate black
clothes.
''You are making pumpkin piesa" was
his commonplace question, but it was
asked in the tones which thrilled poor
Polly's soul like rich music.
She smiled an affirmative, and he went
on, looking up in the fresh sweet face:
"Have you ever heard the tradition re-
specting pumpkin pies' 1t is said they
are a sort of moral thermometer of the
individual by whom they are prepared.
Pumpkins, you know, are nourished in
sunshine. They are gathered in the
glowing autumn days, and brought in
the house, golden reminders of the sum-
mer sun. If the pies are made by one
Of sunny disposition, they will be sweet,
juicy, and delicious-in short, such an
essence Of sunshine, sugar, and spice as
those you are making. But if one i'll
natured thought is harbored during their
preparation, they are soured and ruined"
Polly blushed crimson at this out-and-
out compliment, and in her confusion
mistook the pepper box for that which
held the spice, and busted the nies free
ly. Then she calmly poured in half
bottle of lemon extract, while the minis
ter thought he had never seen so bewitch-
ing little house wife.
As he rose to go he said, laughing:
81 believe l am to take my Thankgiv-
ing dinner with you tomorrow. So,
Miss Polly, I shall have an opportunity
to gauge your disposition by your pies. +"
Polly shook spoon at him, and ans
wered, confidently. that if that was to be |
the only test she was not afraid.
As the front door closed on the minis
ter Aunt Phoebe, bristling with indigna-
ton, stalked into the kitchen.
eff you think am going to have such |
disgraceful performances in my kitchen !
you are mistaken, miss! I asked the
minister In the sitting room while I went
to put on my other cap, and he walked |
deliberately out here. and here he stayed. |
Ion enticed him out; you know You did,
you ungrateful mink And you fiirted |
with him over my table and my pies, and |
under my very nose, for was watching |
you behind the door. I consider it nv |
duty to report the minister. I shall have
his name on every tongue in town. He
shall be drummed out of the place-and |
you-leave my house this night have |
put up with your nonsense as long as !
intend to. You are not fit to stay in