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

Thirty dollars and twenty-five cents
and I've armed it, mercy knowsn'
Miss Merriweather glanced down a
the little heap of fresh, new green ant
brown bills lying upon the Whitley
secured timetable, in a retrospective
manner.
Jest to think of the patches of tur.
keys I've rose-pampered 'em up like
they was babies, too-an' the piles Of
waller bellfowers and northern spies l We
I've cut and dried, and the yards of do
mestic Pve wove-yes, | do say Eve
armed it good!"
can you orto chuck it straight into
the bank, and it'll draw interest,"
Miss Prue's sister, Mrs. Potter, lit
tie, wilted-looking woman, with a small
nub OF dusty, iaXen hair pinned tightly
at the back of her head, who was manu-
featuring pumpkin preserves in a big
brass kettle, swung over the blaze in the
fireplace, had one single idea of solid
comfort-money at interest.
Blanks amt always SAFE" remarked
Miss Prue, half to herself ; ''an' l don't
see as moneys much use noways eff you
keep it poked in bank always, so you
can't get it eff you want to. reckon I'll
hev some good out'n this, anyhow. Pm
goin' to give "a
"a partyn' screamed Meg Potter, a
bouncing, black-eyed girl, in a red jack
LET, that was watering a thrifty plant that
4I!v.cl}t in an ancient coffee-boiler in the
2nllcheh~-'indow. "Oh, yes, Go Aunt
frue! and rF help YOU to make the
CAKES, and we'll isaVvite those charming
Flashers that have lust come from the
city, and"
No, we won't!' said Miss Prue, de-
clslvely. "Hit amt a-goin' to be no SIGH.
a affair am NN tell YOU once an Tor ar
it's only a.goin TO be a party for poor
folks-them as don't never have no tur-
key or plum puddin'. Pm a-goin' to
scratch roun' in all the highways and by
ways for the poorest and mizzablest, an
make 'em one good mess of frosted
pound-cake, an lemon pies, an boned
turkey, an cranberry jelly, an all SIGH"
"Fudge!' grumbled Meg, humping
her watering-pot down with emphasis,
"that won't be NICE"
''Landy mussey groaned Mrs. Pot
ter, you always was quare, Prue Mer-
riweather; but this here's the cap sheaf.
They'll most likely get sick, an blame
you fer it, an call you names, an your
money'n all be wasted, when you might
save it up. Ef you're afraid of bank
lend it out"
''I'm a-goin' to-" interrupted Miss
Prue. "Whoso giveth to the poor lend
eth to the Lord; Pm a-going to lend this
much to the Lord, anyway"
"'But you won't git no interest, ,
lnourned her sister, string up her pre-
serves with much detection.
II amt afraid of gettin' cheated, no
way" said Miss Prue, drily.
And as there was no hone whateve
OF persuading her to change her mind
her sister and niece were constrained t
make the best of it, and help along wit
the preparations.
Looks like as if you was a-cookir
your weddin' dinner, Prue Merriweatt
err" titterd Miss Jemima Jonquil, az
pearing in the doorway with a purpl
calico apron pinned over her head, an
glancing critically at the row of lemo
and cocoanut pies upon the cupboard
beside which stood great cake studde
with raisins and citron. 81 come to fetc
your pattern back; an seemed like
smelt nutmegs an things here, so con
this way"
Miss Jonquil was chunky and fair, an
had a Notwithstanding manner an
light-gray eyes.
Law men' she continued, gliding il
and Pumping herselfinto arocking-cha
by the fire, "ef it amt this very tie
years ago that you was cookin' up thins
Jest like you are now, cause you lowe
Jim Griggs would be back from Idyll
next day. We all tole you not to put 4
faith in his promisin'-like as not h
wouldn't come, he was always so kee
less but you was jest that headstron
you would fix for him, an hev party
welcome him anyhow. Reckon yo
thought it might be your weddin'-d
he tuck a notion to suggest it-fer
s'pose he hedn't spoke already"
"You needn't bother yourself nor
about whether he he'd or not" said Mi,
Prue, flushing. "He didn' tnever com,
so l reckon you was satisfied"
"Oh, now, Prue l'' said Miss Jemim'
reproachfully, "you know | was awful
sorry when he didn't come, you locke
N so distressed like an | pitied you eve
IA since. Seemed like you thought sue
y heap of jim eff he'd only returned, 70
\ might been Mrs. Griggs all this tinC