The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-06-30
Nancy Hill.



The night set in dark and chill. All
day long fine. frosty sleet la fallen,
which as the wind rose in heightened
gusts, changed to fast-falling snow
flakes.
All day the note of preparation had
sounded in Abraham Plum's kitchen;
for it was the day before Christmas.
Mrs. Plum showed The last Iuartet OF
pies into the oy n, shut the door with a
claug, end began to clear away the sup
per table. She was a short, fat woman;
yet she was brisk in her movements this
evening, aud his she swept into the pantry
laden with blue-edged plates and teacups,
mn air of pride wns visible She fingered
to look at the result of her toll, and to
count, for the twentieth time, the row of
pies on the shelf before the window.
Three plum, two gooseberry, four
blackberry, eight apple, fifteen mince,
and great platter OF cranberry tarts!"
Mr.. Plum came in also, an admiriug
expression gradually stealing over his
face. II vow! il you haven't got a
show! Why, you haven't counted them
in the oven!'
so / dldn't!' calculated his wife
Them are mince. They always go of
ftster'n any other" She broke Off !
lit of burnt crust as big as cent vlr!
carefully.
Come. mother, you've looked at 'en
enough for one day. You've got all da.
and tomorrow. too, to see 'em in."
mo l hain't," broke in his wife
Dear me! what sights TO be done to
morrow. hope Sarah1l come owe
early t'help. ! rather looked for Name
to. day"
Her husband drew chair to the STOW
and seated himself. I'D gone afte
her." said he, "only knew Sam wa
just crossed-grained enough not to let he
come if did. She's got to take him
the right mood, you know"
Mrs. Plum sighed aud sat down
rest. This Nancy OF whom they spoil
was the youngest of her flock, not fl,
years wife She was also unhappy
her marriage which accounted for b,
mothers sigh.
Samuel Hill had been q gay youth ar
II handsome one. Courted by all Il
girls of the village, lie turned FROM the
too evident homage TO little Nancy Plur
the most serious. minded damsel of a.
He called her tenderly ''the little psalr
singer" SIZE. in her turn, was fttter'
10y his preference, and she yielded |
her heart to his keeping, in spite Of pa
entail objections. 1t proved to be an a
of folly on her part; he was carele
keeper. More than that, be was
times unkind. Her parents read {,
eloquent signs of misery in ber face
every visit, but she never complained
him. Something In her looks forba
direct inquiry "a look as If she hnd {
liberately counted the cost of exister
and nerved herself to endure it. II,
many times she inwardly wished hers
girl again at home was known only
herself. They had not been marri
Two years before he drank openly inste
oil in secret Whole days were pass
away from her -where2 She knew-a
cried over the knowledge.
MIR. Plum looked thoughtfully at
stove. Hes q poor worthless co
that's a fact. used t'tell Nelly d
she'd sup sorrow if she'd marry him,
she would have her own way"
"Lawl it don't do no good after
things done t'say I told you So. "
expression of excited anticipation
= f,ded from Mrs. Plum's face; she
her feet On the stone hearth aud res
her ell ows on her knees as she mu
aloud. "Its all luck an by cha
business anyway. Cause some occasi
N ally git cheated. I don't follow I
Is they're tblnme. None of us are v
sharp-sighted in such ppatters. / wal
l shet my eyes anu said Yes, know
no more'n the man in the moon whet
| Should repent or not"
well, have you?" asked her hnsbs
archly.
She smiled mischievously. Isl
Ia own it ii 1 thought I'D come
\ spindagU?'
J That's jist like wimmin," said
,e Plum they're so queer OSnu?
4 Yes Id proclaim it from Dan to B
sheba. and SO serve as warnin'."
) wife laughed. "All wimmin are cul
the same pattern. blieve. The
Marcy. now! xpect she'd eat her tor
sooner'n step up tine n say, Fat
Sam abuses me.
It'll be sleighin' to morrow, que
Mrs. Plum rose aud wet to the vino
"Why. the grounds white alreAd.
shading her eyes with her hands
u peerlng into the darkness.
-, That's like wimmin. too" ohuc
I'm Mr.. Plum. "When you git the IL
of EN- in an argument they alters CHI
the subject
Thamr ,w came and with il al
the m ,r.ied ofTshoots OF the housI
Plum. First came Sarah. with chill