The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-08-26

Der key; the picked peppers; the round
of dried beef; the high shelf of cheese,
flanked at one end with honey and the
other with jelly and preserves and the
handy and humble corner for cold
victuals.
As Mrs. Remington came in and de-
posted the pitcher of currant wine for
the pies in progress, Betsey stood at the
cupboard at its far end, apparently alb
sorbed in reviewing and wiping the
china plates, while her thoughts went
wandering out into the unknown world
in search of a beloved form and face.
And so the long morning went by in
the pleasant, thrifty kitchen till the
household affairs reached a most happy
climax. The kitchen was sweet with
straying odors, and the ease of culinary
compromising was something wonderful
to witness. There was no touch in New
England cookery unknown to Mother
Remington and she managed the situa
ton like one to the manor born.
"Tury, Ketury," called Mrs. Rem
ington, without stopping her beating of
eggs, to little girl sporting with Rover
in the dooryard. "Seeif Ration is out
to the courthouse, and tell him to come
and clear the oven out for me. By the
time he's swept it out l shall be ready
to set in. Tell him to bring along the
oven broom. Pick up your sun bonnet;
don't let Rover claw it inter flinders.
Here's bunch o. raisins and piece o
cake for ye I'll hand it through the
pantry winder."
Certain it does beat all how Hetty
takes to that child" soliloquized Aunt
Polly as she hung the silver cloths to
dry on the stoop. "No wonder poor
Roxy Harris died easy when she'd
lodged her little gal with Hetty. She
never hundred one o hern so, nor
thought O letting anybody else. L can see
that sister Remington fails every day."
Betsey," called her mother, " I've
'sOt in and shall leave the cleanin' up
for you to look after while | watch the
baking. Bring down my best bingham
and get me my broad white linen apron,
and bring EN- to my bedroom while I'm
slickin' up, and get my spectacles out
the stand drawer and lay the weekly
paper along with 'em. You'll find it
under the piller to the settle. They to
hide it, (apologetically); " if l don't
Betsey dutifully supplied hermother's
wants; and as if to conciliate her, Mrs.
Remington said:
You're a good girl, Betsey, but it's
my bOunden duty to keep yer from flynn
up into the face O Providence. Girls
need a sight o admonishin'."
In an incredibly short time after the
dishes were all in place and Ratios
wife, living near, came in to do her ac-
customed part and the white pine floor
was secured and sanded to high de-
gree of excellence, and Betsey hung
the kettle on for the restful cup of tea
her mother SO enjoyed after her morn
ing work.
In her own little room she made her
simple toilet, smOOthed her hair and
fastened a clean white vandyke about
her waist, its snowy ruf1ie circling her
pretty throat, and tied on clean apron,
pauSing as she did so to gaze for the
twentieth time from the little south
window down the road, in the direction
of store and post-Oifice.
At last the old horse came in sight.
Well she knew his sober trotting and
the faint rattle of the old One-hOrse
wagon, but jim was not alone, and who
ever could be with him.
The old wagon ratified ON into the
yard past the window and Betsey, with
wide eyes and FACILITATING heart, real
lied who it was that had taken them so
unawares. She came down stairs,
rushed past Rover, who stretched ut
length on the doorstep, raised his head
with a suspicious sniff, and In another
moment felt her hand clasped by Henry
Creighton.
"Well,n said Jim as he threw the
reins on the horses back and stopped to
unfasten the trace; 81 he'd so much
business on hand | took pardner, but
l be blowed, SIS, if | didn't forgit about
your post-oiiice after all"
No need Of apology. Jim could talk
if he chose but nobody heard him or
cared what he said. They fingered a
minute and then walked slowly and in
the most absorbed manner in the direc-
ton of the garden.
81 reckon that want the kind o mail
she was worm over" he unused. "She
seems tickled to death TO see him; what
do they want out there, | wonder
nothin' there, but lettis, rare ripes and
green currants and them not fit for
pickin'.'
The low swinging blossomy boughs
shut them from sight or sound. The
little birds fitting about on the tree
tops were too happy in their love, and
too busy in their life to notice them,
and Just exactly what he said or how
he said it, we can never know. Bliss
fully happy were their faces, however,
as they turned back to the house some
half hour later and sought Mother Rem
ington in the kitchen. The wide swing
table was laden with the delicious
cookery of the day, while the vacant
oven and its open door told the secret
of the broken watch. The weekly paper
had slipped from her hand, and Mother
Remington was in the land of dreams.
Very hurriedly she resumed her self
possession and listened to the young
lovers full story, as with Betsey's hand
in his. he stood before her. There was
a dignity and earnestness in his manner
that compelled both attention and re-
spect.
"Such good fortune has befallen me
that | have come to talk it over with
YOU" he said. Il have been offered a
partnership in my Uncle Jobs store,
he to furnish capital, and l to relieve
him in every way, by taking the care
and responsibility of the business; in
other words, he asks me to be a son to