The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-03-09
A PECULIAR Woman,


A PECULIAR Woman.
"Ketch hold, Tom. There! declare
if you amt spilled about a quart !
knew You would get it too full"
81 didn't spill more than ten drops,
Cousin Silence. How you worry over
| the loss of q little grease"
"Its one of my principles to save, as
you might a learned long ago"
81 believe i'll prudence; but what's n
few drops Of lard moro or less on this
farm, and nobody knows how much in
bank? You sklmp and screw as if you
think there were danger Of your getting
Oh the town."
"Well, you are the frankest young
man / ever saw" and Silence Withers
put her arms akimbo aud gazed at her
young cousin, Tom Lowey, as if he
was curiosity escaped from some mu-
scum.
eyes; ] was always noted for my
frankness," said Tom, coolly, "and |
never hesitate to speak my mind when
duty urges. However, | don't want to
hurt your feelings, Cousin Silence"
"No danger" said Miss Silence, with
a laugh of derision. 81 am no spring
chicken, an my feelin's have grown
tough. But the idea of your duty urgin'
you to speak your mind to me! Perhaps
you don't rocollcct the whippin's l used
to give You"
~ haven't forgotten" laughed Tom.
"You used to make me do my duty in
those days But wish / could convince
you that it would he only a Christian act
! for you to send little hell to Mrs. Bald
win. You wouldn't feel the spending of
| $50 ont of your $50, 000."
"Massy sakes 1t seems as if other
folks know more about my business than
I do myself. Fifty thousand Law
Who said / was worth that much ?"
ooh, it's common talk, " replied Tom.
"Well, it won't do you any good to
talk. You'll never see the color Of my
money after I'm dead and gone. I've
made my will and, since plain speak
in pleases you, I'll make free to
say you amt mentioned in it. So,
there !"
al calculate to take care of myself"
said Tom, fitting tho chair against the
wall. "Lcave your money wherever
you choose | don't want it.
"Ihe day may come when you Will
want it, Tom Lowey, and then you'll he
sorry for sayin' them words. I'll re-
member EN-; so will you when your
pride has its fall. There's plenty OF
things can leave my money to; it won't
go begging"
81 guess not"
You'd morc'n guess il YOU were tc
live here spell and see the stream Of
visitors have There amt day but
get nagged about my money by some
body. Deacon Bonney thinks it's hi'
bounden duty to advise me to leave 1t tc
found an orphans homo. Old Mr..
Craig wants it left to Wolfboro Acad
envy Squire Darby has his mind on il
for a public library, and the minister
thinks 1 ought to remember what 9
debts on the church. To hear EN- talk
you'd think had one foot in the grave
| don't give none O. 'em any satisfaction
and then they say I'm peculiar. Well,
perhaps | am; but don't see no posi-
bility of any change in my natur'. "
Tom laughed. He was spending {
couple of hours at the farm, which haC
been his only home until he began t.
scratch for himself" to use his gaun
cousins expression. Now he never lcf
more than day or two pass withou
looking in on the lone spinster to see i
he could give her any help, and to-dn,
he was making himself useful i'll lifting
jars and boilers Of hot grease ON and OF
the stove, for Miss Silence was trying
out lard.
Toms law practice, as yet, was no
very exacting, much to his regret AM
he had more time on his hands thai
pleased him.
"But, now, do promise you'll SEM
Mrs. Baldwin something for Christmas
Cousin Silence" said Tom, returning t
the attack.
81 never promise what | don't mea1
to perform, was the characteristic an
swer he received to his pleading. MAR
tina Baldwin and me amt been on speak
in terms for these five years, and I'd b
maxim myself pretty small to send he
Christmas presents. I'd soon be on tn
town if began to help all the poor fol
Won know. 1t pears to me you take
mighty deep interest in them Baldwins
Tom. Melissa Bonncy let out a hin
that you was q sparkin' that Prissy Gan
roll.
81 wish Melissa Bonney would min
her own business.
"Don't get riled. dare say it's true
'Twould be like Won to court gal with
out penny, because you've not per
ny yourself. Prissy CAROLS been raise
out of charity by her aunt"
"That don't make her less lovable
Cousin Silence"
"Now, Tom Lowey," said Miss s
lence, brandshing the big iron spoo
with which she stirred the lard, "don
make a fool of yourself over a prett
face. Butter your bread before you eu
il. There's Melissa Bcnney, who's
fathers worth"
"That's enough" interrupted Tom
and, before Miss Silence could stop him
he vas out of the kitchen door an
walked briskly down to the gate.
claw sakes what peculiar creature
men are Talk of bein peculiar why
I amt a circumstance to that Ton
Lowey. He'll marry that PrissY Car