Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-04-19
THAT PUMPKIN PIE FESTIVAL.

oven uoor open SO long n person
would think you was one of them city
gals by the way you go bout doin'
things. Hain't larned you over and
over again how to bake pumpkin pies
Hain't l 'stilled into your mind, Cindy
the ups and down of cookin'? l rather
guess your par will begin to think he'd
oughter have followed my vice and
thought twice afore he'd let you 60 a
gallivantin' off to that boardin' school
to the city"
She was a jolly-faced, ample wasted
matron, the speaker; and she unbur.
dened herself of the forcgone with a
considerable degree Of short breath
jerky gestures, and frequent peeps over
the steel-bowed spectacles. 1t was one
of those story-and-a-half New Eng,
land farm-houses, surrounded by we'll
kept garden and Cindy, the busy lit
tie body who fitted from the apple.
pairing pan to the stove, was rosy
checked lass, with nut brown hair, dim.
pied chin, and nose slightly of the
piquant, turn-up order.
Cindy Browns years numbered only
seventeen, and the few short years reach
ing back when the new sunshine came
to the little farm house had been filled
with the pure Gains which reach about
and encircle a lovely girl in the fra
grant meshes. No storms of passion
had, MS yet, intruded; no winds of adj
verso circumstances had approached to
stir the pool of her lot All way joy in
Cindy's life, and her good hearted
mother prayed to God nightly to tenn
per the child's future with peace and
content.
This was the seventeenth anniversary
Of Cindy's birthday, and it was the &C.
casion of .tete; not such .tetes as COM
monty arise. from such occasions in the
city-balls, gay parties and the like.
All, mo- Cindy's .tste was jolly, SUBJ
stantial, good, old-fashioned pumpkin
pie festival.
A store of luscious yellow moons
were put away on the pantry shelves,
and score or so more were in prospec-
tive ere the wanted amount was acquir-
ed. The long stretch of landscape,
reaching afar on toward the west, was
tinted with the bronzes and yellows of
autumn and the woods, too, had be-
gun to put OH their mantle of golden
hue, and dot the undulating plain here
and there like gigantic money pieces.
A step on the gravel walk startled
Cindy from her kneeling position by
the stove. Mrs. Brown, too, was startl-
ed, for she dropped a couple of stitches
as she peeped over her spectacles at the
intruder.
1t was only little, round faced
neighbor lad, with straw hat surmount-
ing frecklcd brow and a shock of yell
low curls. His Bingham shirt, open at
the throat, disclosed the line of weather
tan upon his neck. He pulled off his
hat and nervously nibbled at its rim
while he suffered forth:
"M-M-iss B-Brown, them folks 900
yer in the-the big house sent-sent me
for to tell you Tiff you would let-let
'em fetch some-some city folks w-with
'em to-to-night.
Before Cindy could reply, her mother
laid down her knitting and exclaimed:
"Ikey Bruce, do you know what I'd
do if your was my boyp
"N-no; would you-you-you give
me p-piece of p-pie?' returned the
youngster.
I'D take a strap to you, young man.
That's what I'd do"
"W-w-what f.f-or?"
"I'd strap you up SO slick, young
man, that you'd talk stSeight forever
AFTER" said Mrs. Brown.
She picked up her work again, and
the needles recommended their musical
clicking.
keys eyes opened very wide, and he
bit an entire piece out of the rim of his
hat as he replied:
"M-ma's done it, but--but she hain't
her y-yet."
Never mind, key; you'll get over
it some day." broke in Cindy.
She cut a goodly-sized piece from one
of the pies and handed it to him, say
ing at the same time:
"You may tell the folks at the big
house that I would very much like to
have them bring their friends. Now
run back, key, and say just what I've
told you"
"Th-thank you. mum. G-good-by,
Mrs. B-Brown."
"Good-by to you, Ikey; don't let
your tongue trip up your feet" return
ed Mrs. Brown after keys hurrying
form.
The fragrant aroma of pies filled the
low-ceiled kitchen, Aoated out of the
doorway, and greeted the nostrils of
more than one passer by.
There, ma, the pies are all done,"