Morris tribune., 1883-09-15
PROVIDENTIAL PIGS.


ted upon the face of mJ small lAfrican,
as she stood upon my threshold with
upraised hands and eyeballs that seemed
starting from their sockets. Her pause
was one of preparation, for with the in
ate consideration of her race, she
sought to break the news gently to me,
but the burden of it was too great for
her, and with the next breath she ex-
claimed:
"Dem pigs done chawed up Miss
Liddy's weddin' gownr'
"Glory," l exclaimed (she had been
piously christened Glorianal, "Glory,
how did it happen?"
"DunnoW said Glory. "Pears to me
dem pigs has got Satan in 'em. Guess
dey's 'scended from de ole lot what run
down steep place into the sea. II 60
an fetch We piece.
She sped out and instantly returned
with tattered shred of India null that
had once been white, and still bore
some resemblance to a gown. Poor Miss
Lyddy! This was all that remained ol
her dream of wedding splendors: IT
was too ritiful! l felt at once that the
bonds of good neighborhood had been
irretrievably broken, and that Major
Hawthorne must be made aware of this
last and worst depreciation OF This un-
seemly pigs
"But who would break the news to
Miss Lyddy?"
"Glory," said I, "where is she?"
"Gone over to de buryin' place OBJ her
ancestors" answered Glory.
Poor, faithful soul; even in those last
days of her maidenhood, with the vague
terrors OF matrimony and the still. more
appealing responsible tiles of unsaved
heather souls hanging over her, she did
not forget the ancestors. Long lines OF
Ludkinses lay buried in little sunken
nillocks in the family burying-pIace,
which lay just in sight of her sitting
room window. She herself was the last
of her race, and until within three
weeks it seemed that the only fate which
awaited her was to live out her little
space under the ancestral roof-tree, and
then take her in the silent ranks of
those who had gone before. But a
change h id come. It came in the per-
son of returned missionary from the
Nicronesian Islands, who lad buried the
first and second partners of his joys and
sorrows somewhere under the palm
trees of those tropical lands and had
come back to the scenes of his youth to
recruit his health, serve his cause and
look up partner No. 3, He met Miss
Lyddy at woman's missionary meeting.
He called the next afternoon and was
invited to stay to tea. He accepted the
invitation, and next morning Miss Lyd-
dy came into my room-for l, too, dom
iciled under the Ludkins roof-tree, for a
consideration-and with much hesita-
ton and many faint and delicate bushes,
informed me that she had promised to
share the future lot of the Rev. Nehe-
miah Applebloom, to take care of his six
children, and to support him in his ardu-
Gus labors among the heather of the
Micronesian Islands. ..
l was struck dumb with amazement.
"Miss Lyddy," l said at length, "have
you duly consid )red this project?''
Her thin figure Quivered, and her
white face, that had yet delicate re-
membrance of youth in it, grew tender
with feeling.
eyes," she said; ST think I have. /
have always had presentment that |
should marry minister or missionary"
and prophetic faith! "And
Mr.. Applebioom says he knew the mo-
ment he set eyes upon me that was or
dained to be his wife; so you see 1t IS
not the surprise to either of us that it is
likely to be to our friends"
knew that her mind was fully made
up. demurred no longer, but lent my
self at once to discussion of the wedding,
which plainly saw was what Miss Lyd-
dy desired of me.
"You will be married in church, I
suppose?"
tie decision. 81 am the last of the Lud-
kinses. All the Ludkinses were mar
ried at home. l will 60 out from under
my own roof tree. If must seem 70
fofsake the ancestors"-she paused to
regulate a little choking in her throat
IL will at least not forsake their tradi-
tions. shall leave little money with
the parish clerk that be may see that
the graves of my dead are kept in prop
er order, as I always have loved to keep
them, but hope they will forgive my
but 1 will at least 60 as a
Ludkins should. It is nay desire to be
in my grandmother's wedding
gown"
Miss Lyddy's voice trembled. and
there was humidity in her eyes, at
which did not wonder, for it was much
like funeral, after all.
II thought, perhaps" went on Miss
Lvddy, sit brought the venerated relic
to YOU, you would tell me if. anything
were necessary to be done to fit it to me.
don't care for the fashions, yon know,
and my grandmother, as l remember
her, was about my height, but still, you
-something-some changes might
be advisable" ~
Certainly" / said, "do bring it to
me. should so like to see it,"
/, sit is sprigged India. (she called it
Ingy) null. Ny grand 'ather, Capt.
Simon Ludkins, brought it home from
over the seas. I'll bring it,"
Like some pale and gentle ghost she
rose then and went to the bureau draw,
er and unrolled from rolls of linen that
smelt OF lavender, the frail relic of Mrs.
Capt. Simon Ludkins' wedding state. 1t
was fine, emoroIue.ou null, the un-
doubted product of Indian looms.
"It is lovely" l said, "and so we'll
kept that it will be just the thing for
you. Will you try it on? We ear tell
hen Just what it needs"
Miss Lyddy proceeded to d!srobe her
,elt and put on the spider-net gown.
As she did so the changes in fashions
became only too evident. 1t
rad no waist to SPEAK of, and just little
puff for sleeves. Miss
Lyddy was evidently surprised. She
lad not thought of this. l knew we'll
what the troubled look upon her face
meant, and pitied her maiden sensi-
,iI;ties. Could it be possible that her
Mrs. Capt. Simon Lud-
rims, had ever worn such a gown as
his? She said not word that could
Indicate the depth of her modification
but. her face was study for an
Irtist, EA ~
"There must be sleeves" she muir
nured, after a few moments of silent
nd embarrassed contemplation.
"Yes," I replied, cheerfully as nav
gravity would allow. "And
vou might have fchu and a founce on
he bottom"
She looked down. She had not before
ealized that the skirt of the venerated
ellie lacked full quarter of yard OF
ouching the floor.
However could theyp she calculated
q en- undertone. But she quickly re-