Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-10
COUSIN FALCONER.

Nothing but hasty pudding and
milk y said Tibby, with q grimace
"What will mamma sayf"
And Hannah Ann, the raw-boned,
wooden-vissaged servitress, uttered the
expressive monosyllable, "Humph 7,
which is equivalent in Yankeedom to
that famous French shrug of the shoul-
ders.
"It's all very we'll to talk" said
Hannah Ann, "but l dunno as can
make quails on toast an currant jelly
outer sticks an stones. I've done the
best L can, and nobody can't do no
more"
rs the leg of pork all gone, Hannah
Ann ?" said Tibby, plaintively.
Every identickle particle on'tp
Hannah Ann answered, with the majesty
of Druidical priestess.
"And the chickens2" meekly limited
Tibby.
"I killed the last one Wednesday,"
"Didn't old Hugh bring along any
trout yesterday ?" pursued Tibby.
eyes," said Hannah Ann; "he
brought 'em along. But we owed b i'm
two dollars and fifty cents already, and
Hugh has a family to support. So
didn't fairly like to run up any longer
account"
"And you were quite right" said
Tibby, with a sigh. "But Hannah Ann,
what are we to doP
"Thats what I'd like to know my
SELF" said Hannah Ann, curtly.
Tibby was silent, drumming her
pretty pink-tipped fingers on the
kitchen table. while her deep hazel
eyes looked intently at the old-fash-
ioned, brass warming pan on the oppo-
site wall.
"Hannah Ann," said she, piteously,
Rt length, "couldn't you suggest scme-
thing? Because, when I ask mamma
what is to be done, she only cries, and
says, Write to your rich Cousin Fal-
coner.' And have written to him and
I only get back checks for ten dollars,
with the coldest acknowledgment of
my letter. I'd rather starve than live
on such grudgingly doled-out charity
as that Don't you know of some Vay,
Hannah Ann, to make money!"
Hannah AIMS hard face softened, as
an icicle softens when the winter sun
strikes it.
"Miss Elizabeth" said she, "it's q
secret. Don't speak of it. But I was
clear driv' TO the wall, 30 I've took q
boarder."
ga boarder, Hannah Ann?"
"Out in the barn-chamber," said
Hannah Ann. "You see, Miss Eliza
beth" (Hannah Ann never condescended
to the undignifed pet name with which
her little mistress had been invested
since she was ten years old), "thif
house used to be sort % tavern in tho
old days afore the window wa
added on, and the renaissancy porch
put out on the south corner. jerks
Glen Halfway House, it used to be
called when was q gal. And there
come gentleman as used to hunt ant
fish on these ERE mountains, twelve
good years ago. is this Jenks' Gler
house 2 says he. We'll, it's what the.
used to call it, says I. 'Oan I get &C
commodations hereT says he. I'm
afeared not says I. And then yo1
should have seen his face fall. Il al
ways boarded here says he, and
can't make up my mind to go elsewhere
I'll pay any price you please, my goo
woman, and am not at all particula
where you put me- well, says I, 4
you don't mind the barn chamber-it'
very clean and quiet there, with th
apple tree boughs in bloom close to th
window And says he, Put me in th
hen-coop. If you like So I've bee
boarding him ever since and the wee
is up tomorrow, Miss Elizabeth, and
expect he'll pay his seven dollars"
Tibby's eyes sparkleds
Hannah Ann," she cried, "you al
female Napoleon. You did right"
"I know of two other boarders
could get," shrewdly added Hanna
Ann-"sketch young ladies, as don
like their rooms at Coons' boarding
house--if you could make up yo1
mind TO spare the big front room; al
after all, you never use II, except as
guest chamber for company as new
comes"