Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-06-12
A SLIGHT MISTAKE.

The sun had gone down in a red river
of threatening cloud; the storm which had
been impending for some days had broken
at last, in a wild whirlWind of snow and
tempest; and Mrs. Abraham Ackley had
put the tea-kettle on for the evening meal,
with Abigail her daughter, stirring sauce
painful of mush on the stove, and Maria,
her niece, hard at work, stitching the upper
parts of cheap cloth-shoes for manufac-
turer in the neighborhood. For the Ack-
leys were thrifty family. Nothing was
lost, nothing wasted, not even that slippery
commodity-time.
The Ackleys were feminine household
that night, for Abraham himself, the griz-
zled head of the family, had gone to the
city to put in a claim for a pension, which,
according to his ideas, ought to have been
paid halt century back, to some old Rev
olutionary ancestor or other.
t'It aint to be done,' said Abraham,
winking his watery blue eyes, ''not even by
the United States government itself ~
So it had happened that Abigail had fod-
dered the cattle, fed the fowls, and locked
the barn door, coming in, ali powdered over
with snow, her middle=aged nose blue with
cold
"Aever mind, girls said Mrs. Ackley,
with subdued cbuckle, ''when we inherit
your Cousin Jones' property we shan't none
of US have to work no more. We can be
ladies, and set up in sage-green dresses,
playin' with peacock-feather fans. Did you
get the best chamber ready, Marier ?''
"Marier" gave grunt in the affirmative
as she bit off the end Of her thread.
81 didn't light the fire YETI said she.-
''Thought it waren't no use burnin' up good
hickory logs until we knowed we was goin'
to want 'em."
Scarcely was the sentence well out of her
mouth, when tattoo sounded loudly on the
warped pannels of the unpainted front
door.
Glands sake aliver said Abigail, drop
ping the wooden spoon into the mush- pot,
while Maria Strengthened herself up with a
Jerk, 'it's Cousin Jones already!'
sQuickp' said Mrs. Ackley, in a shrill
stage whisper. 'Put the mush in the closet,
and fetch out the cold chicken and rasp-
berry preserves; and the best cups, Abigail,
and three tined forks, and the tablecioth
with the border of daisies.''
And she turned to the door with a far
ing, home-dipped candle in her hand.
us this Mrs. Abe Aclileys 8 8" demanded
shrill VOICE. q was, told she lived hall
way up Pine Crags.'
sEAint this Mrs. Jones?' said Mrs. Ack-
ley, in her softest accents.
s'That's the ticketr' said the stranger.
''Do open the door and let me in. ain's
no burglar, nor yet sYeak thief.''
''Im delighSel. to see you," said Mrs.
Aakiey "Do pray walk in, and let the
girls take your things. Marier, Abigail,
th;c ic Mrc Tnnpp oc vrOr,3 3xrah haoy.1 ,,ol
of. Your room will be warm d'reckly- -
We've set great store by your comm, I dc
assure YOU
"Yop're very kind" said Mrs. Jones
shaking the snow off her shabby shawl and
pinched silk bonnet. 81 amt no begger;
| Gale late to pay my own way"
| The three women smiled obsequiously
They had been given to understand that
eccentric she particularly disliked any
was no accounting for her various peculiar
tiles.
''Of course" said Mrs. Ackley, .'that
must be as you please. -
II don't choose to be beholden to any
one stifdy added the new-found relative
''Of course not said Maria helping hel
off with her rubbers. 'Uncle Abraham
will be so sorry that he isn't here to vel
come you."
81 can stand it if he can," said the ole
lady, warming her gaunt hands before the
cheerful blaze ''Eh, do you live as high al
this every day? as she saw the liberia
preparation for supper.
''We are economical people," said Mrs
Ackley, apologetically; 1--WE raise our owl
poultry, and Abigail picked the raspberrie:
last summer on the mountain, and changed
on eggs Tor the sugar at Martins grocery
store at the crossroads; and the tea was
present from old Captain Greer, who is il
the China trade, to pay Ackley for breakin
the roam colt. So you see"
eyes, I see," said Mrs. Jones, noddins
her head ierkily, like mandarin somewhat
out of order.
"Managing people, you bel You won't
never come to be boarded out Ike sowl
poor, 1 reckon"
81 hope nos" said Mrs. Ackley, devout
Fly.
''The ideal said Miss Abigail.
''Well, things is ordered differently i,
this world" observed Mrs Jones. ''It's
uphill with some and down-hill with others
But guess | can get along with youl'
| nAJ ooH Will o0 up W pay Aiis tOaklopes W
morrow said Mrs. Ackley. 'He lives ;
sSiittle beyond here"
"Ahp' said Mrs. Jones.
'tHe hasn't been real successful in tn
world" added Mrs. Ackley. ''He marriet
a schoolma'm, and they've little family
and Ackley's had to set down his foot, a
he won't help him any more.o
Every one for himself, ehp' said the oil
woman, with chuckle.
Mrs. Ackley nodded She had ventareC
upon this confidential family communicated
as sort Of hint TO Cousin Jones, not t
lend money to the impecunious Abraham
Junior. If there was money floating aroun'