Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-12-21
NANCY HILLS CHRI-TMAs.

The night set in dark and chill. All
day long fine, frosty sleet had fallen,
which as the wind rose i'll heightened
gusts changed TO st-falling snow
fakes.
All day the note of preparation had
sounded in Abraham Plum's kitchen;
for il was the day before Christmas.
Mrs. Plum showed the last quartette of
pies into the oven, shut the door with
clang, and began to clear away the
supper table. She WIS a short, fat
woman: vet she was brisk III her move
ments this evening and as she swept INTO
the pantry laden with blue-edged plates
and fingered to look at the result Of her
toll and to count, for the twentieth time
the W of pies on the shelf before the
window.
Three plum, two gooseherry, four
blackberry, eight apple, fifteen mlnce,
and great platter OF cranberry
tarts?'
Mr.. Plum came in also, an admirlng
expression gradually stealing over his
face Il vam. of You haven't got
show! Why, you haven't counted them
III the oven.
DO Uluu l. tItIuiabth LIS "iiS.
Them are mince. They always go OF
Eastern any other" She broke fl
hit ofburnt crust as big as cent very
carefully.
Come, mother, you've looked at 'em
enough for one day. You've got all
day tomorrow, too, to zee 'em
NO hain't," broke in his wife
Dear me. what sights to be done to-
morrow l hope Sarah'l come over
early thelp. | rather looked for Nancy
TODAY"
Her husband drew a chair to the
stove and seated himself. I'D gone
after her." said he, ''only knew Sam
was Just cross grained enough not to let
her come if l did. She's got to take
him il the right mood, you know"
Mrs. Plum sighed and sat down TO
rest This Nancy of whom they spoke
Wa the youngest of her flock, not five
wears wife She was also unhappy In
her marriage-whlch accounted for her
mothers sigh.
Samuel Hill had been q gay youth,
and a handsome one Courted by all
the girls of the village, he turned from
their too evident homage 10 little Nancy
Plum, the most serious minded damse
of ail He called her, tenderly, The
little p>alm-singer She, in her turn,
was flattered by his preference, and she
yielded up her heart into his keeping, in
spite of parental objections. 1t proved
to be an act of folly on her part: he was
q careless keeper. More than that, he
raal
the eloquent signs of misery in her face
nj every visit, but she never complained
Of him. Something i'll her look forbade
direct inquiry-a look as if she had de
hh-rately counted the cost of existence
and nerved herself to endure it How
many times she nwardly wished herself
gal again at homH was know only to
herself They had not been married
tw" wears before he drank openly instead
of III secret Whole days were passed
away from her-where? She knew
and cried over the knowledge
Mr. Plum looked thoughtfully at the
stove Hes poor worthless coot,
that : fact. | used t'tell Nancy that
shed sup sorrow if she married him,
hut she would have her own
uay.
Law, it don't do no good after the
things done t'say | told you So" The
expression of excited anticipation had
faded from Mrs. Plum's face; she pur
her feet on the stone hearth and rested
her elbows on her knees as she unused
aloud. Its all luck an by chance
business anyway. Cause some occa-
sion'ly git cheated, t don't foller that
thev're t blame. None of us are very
sharp sighted in such matters, warnt
l shet my eyes and said 'Yis, knowin'
No more'n the man III the moon whethe
Ishould repent or not"
"Well, have you?' asked her husband
srchlv.
She smiled mischieueusly. "S'pose
I'd own it if | thought I'd come off
spindago2'
That's ji>t like wimnin," said Mr..
Plum: they're so queer Own it? Yes
I'd dproclaim it from Dan to Beersheba,
and SO serve as a warnin" His wife
laughed. "All wimmin are cut in the
same pattern, Ib'heve. There's Nancy,
now, Expect she'd eat her tongue soon
er'n step up tine n say, Father, Sam
abuses me.
"ft'llbe sleighIn tomorrow, guess. -
Mr.. Plum rose and went to the window.
"Why the grounds white aready"-
shading her eyes with her hands and
peering into the darkness.
That's like Wimmin, too" chuckled
Mr. Plum. When you git the better
Of 'em in an argument they allers change
the subject
The morrow came, aud with il all of
the married offsuoots Of the house of
Plum. First came Sarah, with children
ihree-husband to follow when the
chores were done. She bore special
commission a. serving maid from her
mother. and she smdingly accepted the
sonor The kitchen aud keeping rom
sere crowded with happy faces long he