Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-07-07
LOVE IN ASHES.


will"
Certain, wife" responded the deacon
from his cart in the yard.
"There comes Kendall's new basket
wagon, with two women in it," pursued
the lady, wringing her mop. "lsn't that
the horse that balks; Z"
being in the act OF clnptying four
gallon bucket Of soap, tho good man
youchsated no reply. When the Jellied
mass had quivcred and splasAed into the
barrel in waiting he looked up just in
season to see the gay little pony shy at the
cart and go tearing down the road,
They'll upset! They'll be killed Run
after 'em Do something !" shricked Mrs
Clutter.
Don't get excited. wife; they're all
right now. That girl drives like man"
And, picking up his bucket, the mod
crate deacon marched of fora second sup
ply of soap. But though the little Incl
dent had failed to shake his nerves, It did
make him oblivious of his wite's wash
tub poised Oh the landing Of the dim
stairway, and, as Il natural consequence,
he put his foot in it. The tub rolled; the
deacon swaycd like pestle in mortar;
there was a lively succession Of bumps,
followed by "a clattcr and 4 thud, and dea-
con, tub and bucket strewcd the cellar
floor.
"Adab and Abihuw CALCULATED the
fallen saint, with sinful energy.
"What's up, uncleI" cried an anxious
voice overhead.
81 can tell you what's down" was the
grim response. "Comc and brace me
while try to step"
The owner Of the voice, iinc-looking
youth Of one and twenty, was already
groping his way among the debris, ms
aun: in the rear with the camphor.
The deacon's attempted locomotlon re-
suited in groan.
"I must have sprained my ankle, lIar-
vcy. If ia postponed this tub-race I'll
after Ia been my rounds, 'twould have
been better calculation"
"Oh, l wouldn'twory aboutmy rounds,
uncle. What's the hurry?"
"Mv customers expect Inc to-day, that's
the point. hate mastery to break my
word. Now there's the widow Cleaves
waiting for me to take her ashes, so she
can scrub after me with the boiling suds,
md up at Kcndall's they're clear out OF
soap"
"And not clean withoutit, eh?" laughed
the Young man. "Sec here, uncle; since
YOU are going 20 feel so uneasy about dis
appointing the people, why not send Inc
in your stcad?"
"You, in your fine clothes should
smile, - mumbled Mrs. Chuttcr, with the
stopper OF the camphor bottle between her
teeth.
"Why can't my unclc's mantle fall
upon me, auntief was intending to bor-
row the frock."
"WcIl, if l do say it, you've got the
Vance common-scnse. Some young men
of your bringing up would be ashamed TO
drive soap-cart,"
"uumph Some young men would be
fools" said the deacon, with warmth.
"Nobody has any call to DC ashamed to
deliver suoh soap as make. If you've
mind to run the team to-day, Harvey, |
shall be obleeged to you.
Fifteen minutes later the worthy dea-
con WIS extending his aching length upon
the sitting-room lounge, and gazing
through the open window at his youthful
proxy, who, duly initiated into the Iuys-
tcries Of the calling, was driving away il
the big blue cart. Behind bounced and
crcaked an empty asA-Lin, ilankcd by two
covered barrels of soap; but the swinging
seat was clean and comfortable, com
manding n fine view of the surrounding
country.
A half mile and more tho road wound
through his uncle's fertile acres, for Dca-
con Clutter was withal q farmer. Farm
ing, indeed, WAS his chief vocation, soap
boiling being Mi acccssory venture grow
ing out of sundry extensive experiments
in the use of lcachcd ashes rs fertilizer,
1t was one of those tuneful mornings in
early June when all nature joins III glad
doxology. The newly arrived bcbolinks,
tipsy with glcc, caroled III the meadows.
The orioles, hanging their hammocks in
the elms, could scarcely work for singing.
Gay brceze5 whispered love 70 the grace
full young clover, then danced away to
nirt with the coy hillside birchcs. Every
where were life and motion irradiatGd by
the benignant sun. For Harvey Nance's
study weakened eyes there was too much
glare, too much ilutter. lie lost no time
in putting on his blue goggles.
"Who cares if they do make me look
like a frog?" mused he, as he settled them
astrido his aristocratiC nose. "Thanks to
them, and to change of air, my poor optics
are undoubtedly improving. | shall be
back to college by fall. Ha! ha! If the
fellows could only sec me uow!"
And here, TO the infinite surprise Of
staid Dobbin, his new master broke into
rollicking class song-a song abruptly
ended rs turn in the road revealed
near farmhouse.
"If peddle soap, I'll pcddle ut with
decorum," soliloquized the youth, knock
ing upon the back door with the handle
of his whip.
To have seen the capable air with which
he measured ashes, bushel by bushel, Civ
ing in exchange money or gallons Of soap
according IN the customer,s desire one