South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-03-19
PoDy's Pumpkin Pies.

uoo2u te oe apple5 Oh the deSpertucs.
were lying about the kitchen floor, and
Polly at the table was making pumpkin
pies.
Her thoughts ran in this wise, as she
measured cut the ingredients: One
and one-ha!f pounds OF loaf sugar, one
half pound of butter. two quarts o
cream,-no, one quart. So Melissa's
really engaged to the minister. Dca,
mo. some people have everything In this
world. 1 wonder il they are so lucky
in the next? How gravely he wou Id
look at me il he were to hear me express
such frivolous thought. He has a
stern face but how kindly he can look
out Of his blue eyesl The other night,
when burned my arm at the CANDY
pulling, he dressed it as carefully as a
woman, and what with Ills sympathy
and the hurt, could hardly keep back
the tears. lie said had already learn.
CD one OF life hardest lessons, patience
under affection" DO you call this ar-
fliction?' l said. laughing; i shall be
happy, indeed. if never have any
greater affection than this And he
answered SO grevely that he silenced
me: i pray you may be happy, dear
child: Here Polly broke ont i'm a
warbling little melody tia. started the
canary in the sitting-room to singing
with all his might, and caused Aunt
Phoebe TO exclaim in tones Sharp enough
To sour the incipient pics:
Cant you stop that noise, Polly?--
Yon and this abominabe bird will run
me crazy yet; every nerve in my TO ly
is just tingling now Then she add
ed in tones not too low TO reach Polly's
car: Il will get rid of you both some
day, and then may be l will have some
peace of my life
There was silence In the house after
his. Polly turned aside her head that
her tears might not fall in tho pastry
she was working, aud the sympathetic
bird hu shed its song and dropped It's
head.
Poliy's reddish-broHn curls were
caught up high on her head and fasten-
ed with an old fashioned she'll comb of
her mothers; she had on fresh dark
calico, and her rolled up sleeves showed
white arms, made whittier by the flour
busted, over them. She was pretty
picture as she rolled out her pastry and
cut it in delicate. curling strips. but she
was go engaged 10 REFRESHING the ugly,
angry feelings that flushed her check
and heaved her breast, but found no
outlet at her lips, that she wss uncon-
sclous OF Il spectator until, hearing o
movement, she raised her eyes and met
the minister's.
lie was standing in The doorway be-
tween the sittirg-room and kitchen, and
Pollys first Thought was that her aunt
had malciously sent him to seek her,
thinking thus to em5arrass her. This
thought came 10 her assistance, and,
smiling AMI dil1pling in spite OF her
annoyance as she met the sunny gaze of
his blue eyes, she motioned him TO q
chair with the air Of q princess and wen.
on with her work.
lie brought chair and set it rs close
rs possible to the table, so close that
Polly trembled lest some Of the -four
should fall on his immaculate black
clothes.
You are making pumpkin pies?' was
his commonplace question, but 1t vas
asked in the tones which thrilled poor
Polly's soul like rich music.
She smiled an affirmative, and he
gent on, looking up in tile fresh, sweet
face: Have you ever heard the tradi-
ton respecting pumpkin pics? 1t is
sail that they are n sort Of moral Their
mometer Of the temper of the individu-
al by whom they are prepared Pump,
kins, you know,are nourished in the sun.
shine. They are gathered in the glow.
ing autumn days, and brought in the
house, golden reminders OF the summer
sun. If the pies arc made by one of
sunny disposition. they will be sweet.
juicy aud delicious, iii short, such an
essence Of sunshine, sugar and spice as
those you are making. But if one ill
natured thought is harbored durin!
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 pies free.
ly. Then she calmly poured in half
bottle OF lemon extract. while the min /.
ster thought he had never seen 50 be-
witching q little housewife.
AS he rose TO 20 he said, laughing:
Il believe | am TO take my dinner
with you to- morrow so, Miss Polly, /
/
disposition by your pumpkin pie
Polly shook a spoon at him, and an
swered confidently that if that was to
be the only test, she was not afraid.
AS the front door closed on the min
lister, Aunt Phoebe, brstling with indig.
nation, staIked into the kitchen.
If you think am going 10 have such
| disgraceful performances in my kitchen
| you are mistaken, Miss / asked the
| minister in the sitting room while /
went TO put on my other cap, and he
walked deliberately out here, and here
be staid. You enticed him out; YOU
know you did, You ungraterul mink
and you fitted with him over my table.
and over my pies, and under my very
nose, for was watching you behind the
door. ! consider 10 my duty to repor,
the minister. / shall have bis name on
every tongue in the town. lie shall be
drummed out Of the place, and YOU