The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-05-28

I-buJ SakoS ne must De married long
ago an l s'pose you don't expect ever
to be nothing but an old maid nowW
/ Miss Jonquill, being fully six months
f! younger than Miss AIerriweather, and
! could afford this fling.
81 don't expect nothing only what
Providence sends, ,, said Miss Prue, COM
posedly, setting plate of cranberry
tarts in the window to cool. -.
"A great fire roared in Miss Merri-
weather's parlor next day upon the
andirons, whose glittering brass heads
( flashed back the light in broken glints,
and the strange guests were soon assem-
oled, enjoying the novelty and exchang-
ing greetings, comments and criticisms.
Dear mel ~ said an old lady in lin
sey shawl, who earned scanty living
by knitting socks for the village store,
''if there amt Jane Higgs, that washes
Tor them rough miners-and looking as
ii she thought she was as good as any
body!"
And just see old Daddy Skifkins,
with his wall-eyes and bristles! know
he'll spoil my appetite" remarked Mrs.
Baker, who was almost helpless with
dropsy. II do think he might have had
sense enough to have staid away-the
old ape!'
But Daddy Skif1ins, far from suspect
ing himself of being an object of aversion,
was bent on making himself agreeable
to all, and trotted about from the fire to
nations of-"Crackey, what a hunkey
fire! She's an angel, Miss Prue is!
There's a turkey bigger'n wash-tub
Bless her heart don't it jest make
teller feel like going to church? What
cake Amt it screamer! =" etc., until
Mrs. Baker requested him to shut his
mouth and not make fool of himself
Miss Prue felt that she had an ample
reward in the happiness she had the
means of bestowing upon these poor
creatures, into whose lives so few such
CLEANS as this had fallen.
eff people would only seek happiness
in this manner they would find it
she thought.
Meg, who was helping her aunt set
the table, found the affair rather an in
teresting experiment. and even Mrs.
Potter conceded that lending to the |
Lord was not bad investment.
Miss Merriweather was just finishing
of her table arrangements with great |
glass dish of Florida oranges, when old |
Daddy Skifkins came skipping out, in |
much excitement.
Miss Prue," he exclaimed, "there's
| teller outside says KANT he come in,
cause. it's a-snowin' powerful? AM
Mrs. Baker an Granny Larkins says he
hain't come in; but it seems kinder
ough on teller to not hev no place to
20, an I reckon he amt; an"
~+.Of course he can come in," said
Mss Prue, settling the last orange.
sWait-I'll let him in myself"
n, ro a1G ,SS ,as dS9qp All atfd an5led
with SNOW, walked in.
'Prue !" exclaimed deep voice, just |
4 little tremulous.
And, without further notice, the tall |
and saucy stranger gave Miss Prue a
very snowy hug.
"Jim-Jim Griggs-is it really you?''
cried Miss Prue, returning the hug, in
the face of all the guests, who had
trooped into the hall, with Mrs. Potter
and Meg close behind.
''It's Jim Griggs and nobody else !"
returned the stranger, cheerily." "And
every year for the past ten it's been my
intention to come home on this very day
OF this very month, because it's the an
niversary of that day promised to come,
when got all but killed in smash up,
and robbed afterward; and when l got
into travelling condition, come back 1
wouldn't, with never cent, when had
made a fortune; and vowed VOW not
to come till l had it back-which I've
done at last-and to come this night
when | did. Letters we poor wretches
couldn't send oftener than once in six
months, and they mostly went astray-
all the mail agent didn't put in his
pocket for safe keeping-so / wouldn't
risk it, not being any hand to write,
| anyway, and / always said next year III
go sure. | knew you'd wait for me,
Prue, my darling, and here you are,
with everything and everybody, to well
come back the prodigal''
Mr.. Griggs finished his explanation
before the bounteous fire, with Daddy
| Skifkins revolving around him in a per-
feet ecstacy, and everybody talking at
| once.
Miss Prue took the opportunity to in
dulge in a thankful little cry behind the
dining-room door, But it somehow hap
pened that while the guests were enjoy
ing their banquet-for which Mrs.
Bakers appetite was not found to be
seriously impaired by Daddy Skifkins'
presence-Nr. Griggs persuaded Miss
Prue to take little walk with him as
far as the minister's residence.
Pears like it was her weddin' dinner
she was a-cookin', after ALL said Miss
Jonquil, when she heard the news.
"But, law sakesp' she added, with a
litter, "twern't a cry stylish affair.
wouldn't have no SIGH weddin' -
Which remark did not trouble the
late Miss Merriweather in the least.
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