Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-05-16
ACCOMAC c. H. Va SATURDAY, MAY Is 1885,

1t was humble home, but it was
her own. And John came home tc
it every night, with Il face as cheer
full as the dawn.
~ wish 1t was a palace, puss, fol-
your Sake" said he.
81 couldn't be happier, John, if it
was" Meta brightly answered.
"And you don't mind yonr Cous-
in Briggs passing you in the street,
without speaking to you!"
Not in the least, if you don't
mind Deacon Perkins returning
your letters unopened"
ale is an il.tempered old crab,"
said John, with q hearty laugh.
"And she" merrlly retorted Meta,
sis a venomouS old gossip"
While the public opinion Of Vel
low Plains unanimously condemned
Mr.. and Mrs. Perkins to the poor
house in the course of a brief time.
3 ssHeshasn't cent Of capital"
said one neighbour.
"Buys bakers bread, and makes
her pie-crust with butter instead o.
drippin's," said Mrs. Briggs. "Did
any one ever hear of such shiftleSs-
neSss l, for one, wash my hands Of
theln.n
Until, one day, Deacon Perkins
died sitting in his chair, with his
spectacles on his nose.
"Well go to the funeral, Meta"
said John to his wife. "Of course
he has left all his money to the
Gattawooche Indian Mission, as
he always said he would. But he
was my uncle, after ALL"
every WELL" said Meta. "We'Il
60"
All the neighborlood was there,
of course. The richest man in Vel
low Plains did not depart this life
every day. But every one looked
coldly upon the .'oung couple as
they entered, and Mrs. Briggs stu
ulOuSlS cNdtlCu JutAI'
When the burial ceremonies
were over, Mr.. Briggs sided up to-.
the lawyer, Il tat man, with Il shin
ing bald head and a white nous
tlcle.
Its about the mortgage, Squire
Coytc,D said he. "rliat one that
Deacon Perkins had OH our farm.
l do hope the Gattawooche In
dams WON'T DC particular about
takin' it up jest yet, because times
is hard, and | ain't nowadays pre-
pared. The interest Is Il little be-
hind, to be sure, but"
"yhat have the Gattawooche In
dams got to do with it," said the
squire, crispiy.
WHY, they're the heirs, folks
tell me-" said Mr.. Briggs, uneasiIy
twirling his thumbs.
"Not at ALL" said Mr.. Coyte.-I
'The Gattawooche Indian will WAS
destroyed long ago; and Mr.. Per.
kins never made another. The
heir TO all the property, i Is the next
Public 6jp'lIlliiji ySIl ilII!iu us ffhi5a
ly as only public opinion can do,
when this piece Of news became
bruited abroad.
Everybody discovered all of a
sudden that they had always synl-
pathlzed with the dear young cou-
ple-that John Perkins Was no
bile fellow. and his wife Meta one OF
the salt of the earth.
And Mrs. Briggs came humbly to
the red brick mansion on the bill to
see Meta, and beg her to in'erced ,
with her husband i'll their behalf.
"About the mortgage" sad she,
"that Deacon Perkins had on our
farm. It's over due, and Briggs
hasn't been as regular with the III
terest It's | could have wished; but
L do hope, Meta, he won't be hard
with uS!'
It was bitter pill for Mrs.
Briggs to swallow, but Meta did
not exult over her fallen foe.
"Or course he will not be hard
with you, Cousin Briggs" said she,
kindly. care we not relations?
And now you must sit down aud
have cup of tea with us, and
john will send the box-wagon down
for Your husband to come and
spend the evening""
The tears came into MIS-. Briggs
Il do feel sort o. faint" SAID she.
~ never slept none last night,
thinkln' what would become OF us
if the old home was took away
But I'm all rightnow, Meta, thanks
to you!"
And she said, when she got home
to her fireside:
"If ever Goals of fire was heaped
on "a human head, Meta Perkins
heaped 'en Oh mine this day"
"She's IL good gall" said Farmer
Briggs-s,l good gal!"-Helen For
rest Graves.
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