The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1883-03-08


Frank. shes known Mrs. Pen6eld
awfully long and always takes her
part" And the boys separated.
Tom Layton $ father and mother
entered into this scheme with zest,
and in fifteen minutes DR.. Laytons
feet horses were trotting down the
swamp road; and in fifteen more the
Widow Penfeld, looking very wan
and furnished, was eating a good
breakfast in his dining-rosm.
"Now just rest little while on the
lounge, in my room" said kind Mrs,
Layton, when the meal was ever
III get my work together and bring
it in there"
Feeling a little queer and drowsy,
the Widow Obeyed her and in few
moments was sound asleep; but after
dinner, ashamed at her long nap, she
insisted on mending and making but
ton-holes till dark, for DIR. Laytoa
said, if she would stay to supper, he
would take her home in his sleigh.
Once or twics during the afternoon
she laid down her work and seemed
about to say something; but she al
ways took it up again and remained
silent, as was her habit
When the mistress of the Scodack
high school'was told what sort of an
April fish was in pickle for the
Widow Penfeld, she excused every
boy who said he wanted to take part
in it and eight of the largest girls
l am compelled to admit that DR..
Layton, though he was president OF
the village picked the lock Of tie lit
tie house himself; and when he had
gone about it to find out what the
| Widow needed most, he concluded
she needed everything. The Doctor
went about and explained; but as he
WIS very busy, Mrs. Dilioway few
around town with her spry little pony
id explained too. 1t was not nee
essary to ask for anything alter the
explanation. Every one offered to
give something and the boys went
rsupd with their sleds and gathered
up the gifts. Same one gave a bright
RAJ carpet, biz enough to cover the
front room and the bed room, and
the girls put it down and neatly
bound the piece that went over that
dreadful trap-door. Mr.. Tucker the
owner Of the "Scodack Dry-goods
Emporium, gave some unsuitable but
pretty, Dolly Warden calico, and some
one gave an old low rocking-chair,
and with the help of old Mr.. Spliat,
who was an upAolsterer by trade,
but who did nothing now but smoke
and tell stories by his sons fire, un
less it was to have lite fun with
the boys, the girls recovered the
lounge, the Boston rocker and the
low rocker, 50 they looked very neat
and tasteful. As for provisions, there
was fur, sugar, coffee, tea, beans,
potatoes, apples, ham, jar Of but
ter, a few onions and squashes, every
tAiAg, in fact, and more stored away
in pantry and cellar, not excepting
some raisins, a pot Of jam, and q
piece Of nice dried beef. There was
bread, too; and cake; and big roast
Of beef mince pie; and some pick
les, it was hard for the girls to let
alone. Some people gave wood, and
Deacon Swami, who lived two miles
away on the turnpike, sent q whole
load. He also sent some maple
sugar, a bag of chicken feed, a dozen
hens, and almost the smartest rooster
that ever crowed. No one, except
the Deacon, gave very much; but
the smaller boys had to work like
beavers to get all the things to the
little house on their sleds. The older
bays sawed and split most Of the
wood, and piled it near the back
dl0r and thev cleaned ont the he.