The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-12-08

do So softly. The minister's wife was
just taking from the oven the 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', Miss Graham. Haint
been to breakfast yet, see; we had
ours half an hour ago. l know my
mother used ter say that if anybody
lost an hour in the mornin', the might
chase after it all day, an not ketch up
with it then"
'There's good looking 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,
and have got great many things TO
learn yet. I run in ter see if you could
spare me cup O. yeast, mine soured,
an the last batch of bread l made
had ter throw to the hogs"
Certainly" and a roguish smile fit
ted over the fair face of the minister's
wife, at this specimen of her meddle-
some neighbor's own economy. But
she had learned the rare lessen of a
judicious silence, and taking the cup
that Miss Patience produced from be-
meath her shawl. she bade her visitor
be seated while she left the room to get
the desired article.
As her steps died away Miss Patience
noiselessly arose from her seat, and ap-
preaching the dresser upon which the
pie stood, peered curiously into the ap-
ertures in the crust, her sharp face ex-
pressing eager curiosity. ~
'I'll bet ninepence she didn't know
enough ter put crackers in. I wisht |
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 deftly around
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 con-
venient chair. she actually groaned
aloud:
"Well, l never! an we payin' that
man $500 year, besides 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 out of the house as
if some dreadful contagion had haunt
ed it; but when the minister, in carv-
ing the pie that the deacon's wife had
sent, made two curious discoveries al
most simultaneously, the reason for
Patience's altered demeanor was made
plain, and the young pair indulged in a
hearty laugh that made the old parson-
age ring like a peal of Thanksgiving
bells.
The Tuesday following was the regu-
lar day for the weekly sewing circle,
and seldom had that interesting gathing
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 we'll nigh bursting with some i'm
portant secret that she was only await
| ing q fitting opportunity to divulge.
That opportunity was not long in COM
ing, for Mrs. Deacon Farrell, who was
a constitutional croaker, took occasion
to say in reference to hard times:
'"The deacon has been tryin' ter col
lect the church tax, and he says he
never fonnd money so tight in all the
years he's lived here. It's as hard ter
get IS now as it used ter be $40.
can no WONDER" spoke up Miss Pa
tience, with the stony severity Of a
sphinx. "You can't expect folks ter
like pawn out their money when they
see it fairly thrown away adj wasted"
Everybody looked curious, and some
of the younger girls began to bride
defantly. The minister's sweet young
wife was evidently q favorite with them,
at least.
what do you mean by that?" asked
Mrs. Deacon, pointedly. "Mis' Gra-
hams young and inexperienced, to be
sure; but as the deacon was ssyin' only
yesterday, she does very well indeed,
considerin'."
Miss Patience tossed her head know
ingly. II don't want ter say nothin' to
hurt her, but, livin' next door, as do,
| can't always help seein' and hearin'
things that other folks can't be expect
ed to know about and when l see an
know things like"
There was an ominous pause, and
the deacons wife asked excitedly-
"Like what?'
"Chicken-pies, with the legs and feet
Of the chickens baked in!"
Had thunderbolt fallen among
them, it could not have caused greater
surprise to these tidy, thrifty New En-
gland housekeepers than this dreadful
revelation of the incapacity of their
pastors young wife.
care you sure of it?' gasped one ma
tron, breaking the ominous silence.
II know it for fact" was solemnly
returned.
Chicken legs in a pie!"
"She's a born fool!' p calculated the
deacon's wife, Indignantly, "and I'm
thankful, for her poor husbands sake,
that / sent her over one of my pies
yesterday. They had to throw hers
away, OF course, and it's lucky that he
didn't have ter 60 without his Thanks
givin' breakfast on account of her igno-
rance and shiftlessness.
"How did you know about the pie?'
asked one of the girls.
Miss Patience bristled defiantly.
sThat's nobody's business but my own"