The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-11-26

taking from the oven newly warmed
chicken-pie, which she nearly dropped
from her hands, so startled was she by
the sharp, shrill voice that spoke so close
to her ear:
Good-mornin' Mis- Graham. Halnt
been to breakfast yet, | see-we had
ours half an hour ago. know my
mother used ter say that if anybody lost
an hour in the mornin', they might
chase after it all day an not ketch up
| with it then.
"That's a good-lookin' pie-pretty
rich pastry, though, for chicken-pie!
l don't never put much shortenin' in
ANYTHING of that kind; it's rich enough
inside ter make up. But you're young,
an have got good many things to
learn yet. run in ter see if you could
spare me a cup o yeast; mine soured,
an the last batch o bread made L had
ter throw to the hogs"
Certainly" and roguish smile
fitted over the fair face of the minister's
wife, at this specimen of her meddle-
some neighbours own economy. But she
had learned the rare lesson of judi
cious silence, and taking the cup that
Miss Patience produced from beneath
her shawl, she babe her visitor be seated
while she left the room to get the de-
sired article.
AS her steps died away, Miss Patience
noiselessly arose from her seat. and APP
preaching the dresser upon which the
pie stood, peered curiously into the
apertureS in the crust, her sharp face
eXnressinT eaopr curiositV
"Pll bet ninepence she didn't know
enough ter put crackers in. 1 wish't /
could get one look, jest ter satisfy my
own mind" she added. And deter
mined to accomplish her object at all
hazards, she ran knife deity around
a small portion of the edge, and insert
ing four inquisitive fingers, lifted the
brown crust and took glimpse of the
contents.
A look of unmitigated disgust passed
over her face. Dropping into a conve-
nient chair, she actually groaned aloud:
" Well, l never! an we payin' that
man five hundred dollars year, besides
a donation party at Christmas. Ough!'
Unsuspicious Mrs. Graham, as she
returned with the yeast, was somewhat
puzzled by the sudden freshness of her
guest, who hurried ont of the house as
if some dreadful contagion had haunted
it; but when the minister, in carving
the pie that the deacon's wife had sent,
made two curious discoveries almost
simultaneously, the reason for Patience's
altered demeanor was made plain, and
the young pair INDUCED in hearty
laugh that made the old parsonage ring
like peal of Thanksgiving bells.
The Tuesday following was the regu-
lar day for the weekly sewing-circle,
and seldom had that interesting gath
ering proved SO lively and animated as
on this occasion.
Miss Patience was in the field bright
and early, and it was evident at glance
to those who knew her best that she
was well nigh bursting with some i'm
portant secret that she was only wait
ing a fitting opportunity to divulge.
That opportunity was not long in COM
ing, for Mrs. Deacon Farrell, who was
constitutional croaker, took occasion
to say, in reference to the hard times:
g The deacon has been tryin' ter col
lect the church tax, and he SAYS he
never found money so tight in all the
years he's lived here. It's as hard ter
get five dollars now as it used ter be ten"
" And no WONDER" spoke up Miss
Patience, with the stony severity of a
sphinx. 'You can't expect folks ter
feel like payin' out their money when
they see it fairly thrown away an
wasted"
Everybody looked curious, and some
of the younger girls began to bride de-
family. The minister's sweet Young
wife was evidently favorite with them,
at least.
''What do you mean by that?" asked
Mrs. Deacon, pointedly. Mis- Ora
ham is young and inexperienced, to be
sure; but, as the deacon was sayin' only
yesterday. she does very well indeed,
considerin'.p
Miss Patience tossed her head know
ingly. {" 1 don't want ter say nothin'
to hurt her, but, Twin next door as |
do, can't always help SEEM an hearin'
things that other folks can be expected
to know about, and when | see an know
thinks like --''
There was an OminOus pause, and the
deacon's wife asked, excitedly:
Like what?''
Chicken pies. with the legs an feet
of the chicken baked inF'
Had a thunderbolt fallen among them
it could not have caused greater sur
prise to those tidy, thrifty New En-
gland housekeepers than this dreadful
revelation of the incapacity of their pas
tors young wife.
"Are you sure of itP'' gasped one
matron, breaking the ominous silence.
Iknow it for fact" was solemnly
returned.
Chickens legs in pier'
"She's a born fooln' calculated the
deacon's wife, Indignantly, land I'm
thankful, for her poor husbands sake,
thatl sent her over one of my pies yes
terday. They had to throw hers away,
OF course, and it's lucky that he didn't
have ter go without his Thanksgivin'
breakfast on account of her ignorance
an shiftlessness."
"How did you know about the piep''
asked one of the girls.
Miss Patience brstled defiantly.
chats nobody's business but nv
own!' she retorted tartly. II don't 90
round ter find out things that don't
concern me, I'd have you know; but
whnn thav,,a tbrOu,o ,;o.L% 49, -