The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1883-06-21

"My son Will be up to pay his re-
spects tomorrow" said Mrs. Ackley.
"He lives little beyond here"
"Ah" said Mrs. Jones.
"He hasn't been real successfulin the
world" added Mrs. Ackley. "He
married a schoolma'am, and they've a
little family, and Ackley's had to set
down his foot, as he won't help him
any more"
every one for himself, eh?" said
the old woman, with chuckle.
Mrs. Ackley nodded. She had
ventured upon this confidential family
communication as a sort of hint to
Cousin Jones, not to lend money to the
impecunious Abraham, junior. If
there was money floating around in
the golden atmosphere that surround
ed Mrs. Jones, why should it be given
over into such velvet-like hands as
those of Mrs. Abraham, junior.
perhaps" suggested Maria, sweetly'
"Mrs. Jones would like some hot
buttered toast?'
"Well, since you're so pressing, 1 am
rather partial to it," said Mrs. Jones.
"And," added Abigail, Jealous lest
she should be outdone in these sweet
deeds of hospitality, 'there's a very
good meat pie in the pantry which l
made myself, if"
"Meat pie" cried the old lady,
Meat pie is relish for anything
going. don't know when I've put
my teeth into good meat pie before.
Bring it on, young woman-bring it
on"
The three Ackleys looked on with
beaming eyes, while Mrs. Jones ate
and drank like a half-famished lion
ness, and afterward they conducted
her to the bedroom, where the fire
blazed brightly on the painted, red
brick hearth, and the patchwork silk
quilt-Maria's own wolk-was laid os-
tentatiously across the foot of the bed.
And then they all came down stairs
closed in solid phalanx around the fire,
and looked at one another with mean
ing in their speculative eyes.
"Queer, amt she?" said Maria.
dressed exactly as if she came out
of an old rag-bag,' commented Abigail.
Hold your tongue, girls!" said Mrs.
Ackley. "Geniuses are always eccen-
c,t1nt And Cousin Jones is
cool forty thousand dollarsp
Early the next morning, long before
daylight had irradiated the sullen
darkness of the wintry horizon, and
Mrs. Ackley was doing her best, in
curl papers and dirty flannel wrapper,
to make the kitchen fire burn, an old
box-sled stopped at the door, and in
came Abraham, Junior, brown-faced,
good-natured and smiling.
"Well, mother" said he, shows the
folks?"
They're all we'll enough" said Mrs
Ackley, who always entertained a
secret fear lest Abe should want to
borrow money of her.
"Father got home YETI" said Abe.
"Now
Mrs. Ackley was blowing desperate
ly at a crampled bit of paper which alb
solutely declined to ignite the kindlings
to it.
That's you, mother, to 'T!" said
good-humoredly. "You're
too economical even to burn enough
waste papers! Goodness knows, they
don't cost nothin'!
"Humph~ said Mrs. Ackley. 81
know some people as amt economical
in nothin'!"
"And that reminds mep' said Abe,
skating easily away from the subject,
"Tm going down arter my boarder"'
"What boarder?:" said Mrs. Ackley,
sharply.
didn't you know" said Abe.
"Me and Jane Eliza, we've bid for one
of the town poor. 1t amt much pay,
to-be-sure. The selectmen are real
close this year, on account of the Town
hall havin' cost such sight O money.
But it's better than nothin'. And the
old woman will be company for Jane
Eliza and the children. It's old HUI
dah Jones, You know Cappen Jones
widder, down in Frog Lane"
"Oh~ said Mrs. Ackley.
II expected her up last night" said
Abe, drawing on his blue yarn
mittens; "but guess she found the
weather one too many for her rheuma-
tiz; so now Pm goin' arter her, with
IN armchair tied into the boX-sled.
And, by-the-way," fumbling in his
coat pocket, "herc's letter I got last
night. Guess it was meant for father,
but l opened it by mistake"
who's it from?" screeched Abigail,