The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-04-04
WHAT THEY DID.
BY ADA CARLETON sroDDARD.

at beats sll nster,' remarked Uncle
Ephraim Comstock, wiping his mouth on
his sleeve; he had just taken long satisfy
ing draught from the drippiI g bucket pull
ed up from the cool depths of the well. 81
declare for t. Betsey, it does beat ali nater.s
"What," asked Mrs. Comstock, glsncing
up; she was Smelling early pease in the
porch, and her fingers kept on with the
work while her eyes looked at her husband
and her ears listened for what he had to
say, "What's bestin' mater, now7"
"In the fust place, to begin with, sech q
family as Aaron Pettibone hedl"'
Mrs. Comstock laughed, that mellow,
shaking laugh peculiar 70 very stout pee
pie, until the tiny green globes dropping
into the shining tin in her lap nAnced
merry jig from sheos sympathy. Upon the
occasion of each successive birth in the
Pettib ne family Uncle Ephraim had made
the same remark; it had nothing of novelty
for mis- wife, yet she laughed.
ave hearn you say that sfore, Eph-
RAIN"
"Wsl, it's true 'nough to be said sgin,"
was the rejoinder. "'Tis a terrible family,
seven on 'em an all gals; an not a boy to
kinder keep the name when Asron's gone
as he is now. poor man. Time was when
the Pettibones was as pOperlous as any
family in the county. 1 do say it goes
sgin' mater, Betsey, an laugh eff you want
toll"
Betsey smiled in her pan of pesse. "I'm
a thinkin' some o. them Pettibone gals wont
new great sight o. trouble bout keepir'
the nsus' she remarked.
oval, Whatever they're agoin to do 3
more'n 1 know" pursued Mr.. Comstock,
alf totf 10 IN q
ing its contents into his cspscious mouth.
They've got the house, sech ss 'tIs, an
half N acre O. ground; but that wont feed
an clcthe seven on email gslsl Now, eff
there WAS a boy"
(which there amt" interrupted Mrs.
Comstock, "an' mebbe it's good thing.
Oaly sons amt mostly much dependence;
being too fond o. themselves"
Meanwhile, in the small, no-colored dwell
ling, which, with the half acre OF land, COM
prised Aaron Pe.tibene's sole legacy to his
daughters, the seven Misses Pettibone were
discussing ways and means; though, to be
sure, there was very little choice of ways,
and no means so speak of. They were all
alone in the world now, since the death Of
their father fortnight before; the mother
having died q year or more previously.
Each one OF them wore tiny knot of Grape
in her hair. "We haven't mOney-we can
not afford to buy mourning" Mamie, the
fifth Miss Pettibone, had explained 10 Mrs.
Deacon Parmslee, neighbor. There are
50 many Of us, you know; and Pm not sure
that papa would have desired it any way, so
perhaps il is Just as we'll" But it was her
own idea-the wearing Of those badges of
black which seemed 70 give some outward
recognition of their bereavement, and the
others fell in with her.
They were assembled in the sitting room
that sunshiny summer day. 1t was a small
room, and very properly, since the furniture,
being of the most meager description, might
nave been quite lost in q larger apartment.
But the curtains, the metsmorphosis of
muslin gown anciently belonging to Mis-
Abigail, the eldest of the seven, blew airily
out from the windows in at which the climb
ing roses peeped; the little old-fsshioned
fire place was filed with branches of ever.
green held up by pair Of brass sndirons
polished TO resplendency; and there were
various dainty devices formed of pressed fern
and autumn leaves, together with great
many cost nothing felse they would scarcely
have found place there) feminine knick-
knscks disposed about the room, really re-
deeming it from the poor, comfortless APP
paarsnce which 1t must otherwise have pre-
Q nted.
There had been silence OF some minutes.
following Miss Abigsil's declaration that
something must be come 1T" It was
broken presently by Bessie, the youngest of
tho family, bright little maiden IN the
first Of her teens with decided talent for
music
"If-if Papa's salary could go on. v might
do just Is We have.'
my dear Bessie" said Angelina, with
the not unusual touch of sarcasm in her
tones, do be AS sensible as possible. There
is no if in the matter"
Angelina was the second Miss Pettibone;
and she had long since turned the first ''old
maids corner," as Bessie expressed herself.
she stood beside Abigail, now. Abigail
was shors aud brown, with swapping black
eyes, and hair in which thesd5 OF gray were
beginning to show. Angelina was tall aud
blonde, with a certain tLinness of form and
voice which gave fair promise OF sharpen.
ing into sng0lsrity and sourness.
Bessie's brow contracted, and there were
signs of An approaching storm; Mamie put
sn arm around her: Never nind, Baby"
she whispered; and just then Miss Abigail
cleared her throat to speak:
O5nCCn ~ nhS OAotcQ ufc tDS
school at -Four Corners, for year" said
she. "The salary is very small can
manage nicely on it for myself, but"
you can't help support the rest of u.s."
said Angelina with no small degree of acer.
bity. Well. it is each one for himself, az
the children say. / shall marry Mr..
Briggs"
For an instant there was q shocked still
ness, like the lull which proceeds tenn
pest; and then the chorus of expostulstions
began
10, Angel"
'-Thst old widoweri"
t'And those eight childreRfs
al wosldn't, Angelina" said the eldest
sister, sh0rtly.
"Noi presume not, retorted Angelina.
"Neither would certain qussi-historicsl
personsge, commonly deRominsted Jack,
psrtske of his evening meal, Abbie.'
Miss Abigsu, though she Redeemed, smiled
little conteDptuously, "Well, you must
please yourself" said she. 1--WE must all do
what we think is for the BEST"
"Yes," Gertrude, the third sister, tall. dark
haired girl Of twesty-four years, broke in,
land Bertha and I have spoken of going
down to Scoville. Mr.. Howe has sdyer-
tised for girls to sew on pants and coats.