The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-11-17
miscellaneous.
Miss Merriweather.

| 'OlAty uOlafs-anU I've earned II, mercy
knows?'
And Miss Merrweathcr glanced down at
the little heap ofmoney, lying the upon white
ly secured table, in a retrospective manner.
Just to think fthe patches ofturkcys I've
rose-pampered them up as if they were
babies, too. Yes, | do say I've earned it
we'll"
"And you ought to put ii in the bank, and
it will accumulate interest"
| Miss Prue's sister, Mrs Potter, II little,
wilted looking woman, with a small nub of
dusty, flaxen hair pinned tightly at the back
of her head, who was manufacturing pre-
serves in big brass kettle, swung over the
blaze in fireplace, had one single idea Of
solid confectionery ut interest.
Blanks amt always safe,' remarked Miss
| Prue, half to herself; land don't see the use
of money either if you keep it always in
bank, so as you can't get it if you want to. |
reckon I'll have some good out of this, any.
| how. I'm going to give q -"
"a party" screamed Meg Potter, a bounc.
| ing, black eyed girl in red jacket, who was
watering thrifty crocus that dwelt in an
ancient coffee boiler in the kitchen window.
"Oh, yes, do, Aunt Pruel and I'll help you to
make the cakes, and we'll invite those charm
ing Thompsons that have just come from the
city, and"
~ l, ".
at amt a.going to be no such affair; and |
tell you, once for all, it's only going to be
party for poor folks-thosc that don't have
turkeys or plum pudding. I'm going to
search round in all the highways and byways
for the poorest and most miserable, and make
them all come; and I'm going to give them
one good feed of frosted pound cake and
lemon pies and boned-turkey, and currant
ielley, and other delicacies'
Nonsense p grumbled Meg, humping her
waterng-po down with emphasis, that
won't be NICE
Goodness gracious! groancd Mrs. Potter,
"you always was queer Prue Merriwealher
but this beats all They'll most likely get
i'll, and blame you for it, and call you names
and your money will all be wasted, when you
might save it up. you're afraid ola bank,
lend it out"
Pm going to-" interrupted Miss Prue.-
"Whosoever giveth to the poor lendeth to
the Lord. I'm going to lend this much to
the Lord, anyway"
But you won't get no interest" mourned
her sister, stirring up her preserves with
much detection.
amt afraid of getting cheated, anyhow"
said Miss Prue, dryly
And as there was no hope whatever ofper-
suading her to change her mind, her sister
best of it and help along with the prepare.
tons.
at looks as if you were cooking your we'd
ding dinner, Pruc Merriweather," Uttered
Miss Jemima Jonquil, appearing in the door
way with a purple calico apron pinned over
her head, and glancing critically at the row
of pies upon the cupboard, besides which
stood great cake studded with rasins and
ctron. II came to fetch your pattern back,
and smelling nutmegs and things here came
here, this way
Miss Jonquil was fat and fair, and had a
Notwithstanding manner and light gray
eyes.
"Dear me" she continued, gliding in ana
Pumping herself down into a chair by the
fire. "If it amt this very day ten years ago
that you was cooking things just like you are
now, because you thought Jim Griggs would
be back next day. We all told you not TO
put faith in his promising-that it was quite
likely he wouldn't come he was always so
careless but you was so headstrOng you
would prepare for him. and have party to
welcome him anyhow. | suppose you
thought it might be your wedding day if he
took a notion to suggest it-for ! suppose he
hadn't spoke already"
Their he had or not" said Miss Prue, flushing.
"He didn't come, so hope you are satisfied"
"Oh, now, Prue," said Miss Jemima, re-
proachfully, ''you know was awfully sor-
ry when he didn't come, you looked so
distressed, and pitied you ever since.
"You seemed as though you thought such
a lot of Jim. If he had only returned YOU
might have been Mrs Griggs all this time
He must be married long ago, and l suppose
you don't expect to be nothing but an old
maid now"
Miss Jonquil being fully six months young
er than Miss Merriweather, could afford this
taunt.
IL don't expect anything only what Pro-
violence sends" said Miss Prue composedly,
setting plate of tarts in the window TO
cool.
A great fire roared in Miss Merriweathers
parlor next day, and the strange guests were
soon assembled, enjoying the novelty and ex-
changing greetings, comments and criticisms
Dear me" said an old lady in linsey
shawl, who earned scanty living by knitting
socks, ''if there amt Jane Higgs, and looking
as if she thought she was as good as any
body"
"And just see old Daddy Skifkins, with his
wall eyes and bristles know he'll spoil my
appetite" remarked Mrs. Baker, who was al
most helpless with dropsy. II do think he
might have sense enough to stay away"
Miss Prue felt that she had an ample re-
ward in the happiness she had the means of
bestowing upon these poor creatures, into
whose lives go few such CLEANS as these had
fallen.
"If people would only seek happiness in
this manner they would find it oftener," she
bought.
Meg, who was helping her aunt lay the
table, found the affair rather an interesting
experiment, and even Mrs. Potter conceded
that lending to the Lord WAS not q bad in.