The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-23
wink, but kept silent and soon found
that pressing business required his eb-


But the doting mother was taken into
1u!l confidence and she and Minerva had
long, earnest and apparently deeply
interesting conversation upon the sub
lect-one that continued for over an hour:
I indeed it had not concluded when the
old man returned, for he caught the
! name of the minister and asked:
"What are yon going to have Domino
Martin here for, child?"
ooh, just because like him, and his
wife Is such q dear old lady, and they
will be very lonely on such o day, with
their children eli married and away from
home. Sol thought you would like to
see them, and if he is here eve1. thing
will be sure to go right. and it is Christ,
mas, you know, and"
:" Hold on, for mercy's saker' OK
claimed her father, "or you won't have
breath enough left to eat your dinner.
and that would be very bad"
But you wanted to know, and"
You have told me sufficient TO satisfy
any reasonable mortal man," he said as
he took his place Mt the table and began
loading her plate as if she had been in
| danger Of starvation for O month.
Dinner over-it was one of the SUBJ
stantial, old-fashioned kind, though the
mother had added the richest of dessert
delicacies to tempt her child, as IL there
was no such thing as dyspepsia in tie
| land-and the Deacon took an easy chair
by the broad hearth, lighted his pipe,
and between the curling clouds of smoke
resumed the subject Of the morning con-
versation
"How many are you going to have.
dnughter?" he questioned.
"A All the boys and girls"
"Boys first, every time with your sex,
and girls with the other" he laughed,
'but oil means how many2"
"Wel (rehectively,) from fifty to ssv-
enty-fve."
.'Gracious! the old house will scarcely
hold them, and will. be certain to be torn
down with their romping. But what
does mother say?"
U."Oh, she is perfectly satisfied, aren't
| you mother, dei.s?" and look Of under
standing passed between parent and
daughter.
'"Then all / have to do is to help the
riot along, for riot it will be with 80 many
youngsters together. But what was it
you said you were going to have?"
"a tub'lo vevang," was answered will,
the broadest possit:s French accent
etion.
| "Ah. yes, I remember, end no doubt
it will be grand
~ think yon Will find it solemn.
father"
eyes, yes" and fearful she should see
ho7" much he was puzzled, he instantly
changed the subject and continued ::
'"Well, it will take lot to feed 30 many
boys and girls. They are always hungry.
and con devour more than SO many
wolves. So, Hannah, fear you haven't
provided one quarter enough"
I "You are right" responded his wife:
since our pet told me about her plans
md how many would be here I have
been calculating"
"Wcll, they shan't go away hunary.
il there is enough in the land to feed
them. I'll have Mike kindle fire under
the big farm kettle, and kill lotsof chick
ems and turkeys, and send him for Mrs.
Smith to help dress them, and when I
go over to town tomorrow I'll bring
home some oysters and-well, any thing
else you need to have good time"
"Ohl how much I thank YOU. dear
father, said Minerva, impulsively spring
ing to his side and kissing him. "You
are the klndest end best father in all the
world"
"All talk" he laughed, ti: though rare
pleasure was Visible in his fats, ssasoos "snd
you'll get married some day and forget
all about me-"
married." exclaimed the girl, sud-
denly growing asly pale. "Neverl I
mean" she continued, with her face
flusl to the deepest crimson, ''I mean
that Ill never forget YOU"
"Whew," he whistled, "I never saw
the wind chop around moro suddenly.
Catch a girl saying she'll never get
married. They would as soon think Of
not being handsome and having pretty
dresses. But you needn't blush SO. It's
NIL right and proper, and the natural con-
| dition of womankind."
'"Then," asked she, nrchly an coauet-
lshly standing before him with one little
finger thrust between herred lips in mock
modesty and bashfulness. "You wouldn't
object to my getting 1narried?'
mo, not to good, honest, industrious
man. Why should I? A human heart.
and especially of your sex, without love.
is as good as wrecked. No. my darling:
find good man whom you can love with
your whole heart, and who loves you the
same, for am oid-fashioned enough to
believe in such things, and I'll not only
give my consent but my blessing, some
thing worth havingfor start in life, and
such wedding Us will make the Of
rafters ring"
"And suppose, father" questioned the
blooming girl, half wey between smiles
and tears, suppose it should happen to
be Franklin. Emmons, mean?"
."Humph! don't know. He is"
:. Just as nice young fellow as ever
lived" interposed his wife.
Eyes, yes; can't say aught against
him, but.
II know" laughed Minerva at his con-
fusion. "when you really come to think
OF giving me up it is too much. That's
u believe You are right, child. But I
must go and see about an extra supply Of
provisions. GraciouslSit viii te foftn.
nate if we don't have famine"
He wiped away the mist from bia old
eyes brought there h;F ::llo Thought though; iii.
daughter had suggested; tried to whistle
oraveiy aown inc very situation. ne mad
with the touch of rugged eloauence de-
Tended, and hastened to call his nan.of.
all-work and give him instructions. "Afi.
nerva has come back, Nike" he said
land ls going to hnve scme kind of q
blowout on Christmas Eve. She callsi ita
tabler vevaught, or something of the
kind
ga fwhat r. questioned the Irishman.
scratching his head in the most puzzled
manner.
.'That's what sticks me, hike, though
! did not let her know it. Anyhow there