Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1883-05-05

old lady, warming her gaunt hands
before the cheerful blaze. "Eh, doyou
live as high as this every day." as she
saw the liberal preparations for supper,
eve are economical people," said
Mrs. Ackley, apologetically; 1--WE raise
our own poultry, and Abigail picked
the raspberries last summer on the
mountain, and changed off eggs for the
sugar, at Martins grocery store at the
crossroads; and the tea was a present
from old Captain Greer, who is in the
China trade, to pay Ackley for breakin'
the roam colt. So,you see" "Yes,
see," said Mrs. Jones, nodding her head
jerkily, like mandarin somewhat out
of order.
Managing people, you bel You won't
never come to be boarded out like town
| poor, reckon!"
II hope not" said Mrs. Ackley, de-
voutly.
"The idea" said Miss Abigail.
"Well, things is ordered differently
in this world" observed Mrs. Jones.
ITS uphill with some and down-hill
with others. But 1 guess 1 can get
along with you'll"
my son will be up to pay his re-
spects tomorrow" said Mrs. Ackley.
"He lives q ttleubeyondhere."
"Ahw said Mrs. Jones.
"He hasn't been real successful in the
world" added Mrs. Ackley. "He
married 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-liI1e hands as
those of Mrs. Abraham, junior.
,S'Perhaps, suggested Maria, sweetly.
sMrc 10 hot
buttered toast? ?"
"Well, since you're so pressing, l 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 1
made myself, if"
"Meat pie,' cried the old lady.
"Meat pie is a relish for anything
going. l 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, Willie Mrs. Jones ate
and drank like 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-
trio! And Cousin Jones is worth a
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, "how's the
folks?"
They're all well enough" said Mrs
Ackley, who always entertained
secret fear lest Abe should want to
borrow money of her.
Father got home yet? said Abe.
'Nor'
Mrs. Ackley was blowing desperate
ly at a crumpled bit of paper which abb
solutely declined to ignite the kindlings
adjoining to it.
"That's you, mother, to 'T'l" said
Abraham, good-humoredly. you're
too economical even to burn enough
waste papers! Goodness knows, they
don't cost nothin'!'
"Humphr' said Mrs. Ackley. 81
know some people as amt economical
in nothin'p
"And that reminds mer' said Abe,
skating easily away from the subject,
"I'm going down arter my boarderr'