South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1885-04-10
r GU n ID .

Sss0 ASS" o8ton AtkCuou, Will
ito floor OF kuotty pine boards secured
to snowy witnesses, the red brick
hearth rejecting back the CLEAN OF
the cracking HICKORY loxs and the
dresser OF gli'tetlhg tins put msthe-
matically straigAt, after the coming
meal-this was the scene upon which
the autumn sun eiowed redly for an
instant through Che narrow window
panes, ere it went down behind bank
Of sIate-colored Clouds in the west
and Miss Jemima Buxford, glanc-
ing up at the clock OH Q little
wooden ehelf between the windowe,
saw that it was halt. past I've o'clock.
'Bless me how the time does go ONT
said Mise Jemima. And it don't seem
as il l accomplished nothin' what with
runnin' arter your everlastin' whims,
Ebenezer
Ebenezsr Bedford, n,s autocratic
SISTERS senior by twenty good years,
looked deprecating up from his cush-
Toned nook in the chimney corner-a
weak, feeble-kneed cid man, with
scanty gray hairs brushed into q meek
little wisp on the top of his head, wa
terry blue eyes and a complexion like
well cured parchment.
q know Pm a deal O. trouble, Je.
mimy, said the old man APOLOGIZE
cally, sbut ! try not to make any moro
than l can help
No. you dent neither = snapped
Jemimy. L hain't no patience with
your old pipe and your everlastin'
smoke, smoke, smokin', till we all
smell like an old barroom, and there
amt a curtain in the house that don't
tell it's own story. l tell you what,
Ebenezer Bux!ord, you've just got to
leave Oft that mise'a5le hatit!'
Ebenezer shrank instinctively at the
hard, cruel tone.
.But--Jemlmy--'
I'm IN earnest, Ebenezer.'
But Ellen Dennison saws
q don't care two snaps O. my finger
what Ellen Dennison says-a pert
mink, just as full % airs and graces as
her mother was afore her, though she
was my own sis err. II Ellen chooses
10 make fuss over you and indulge
you IN every whim, l don't-that's
all there is to it / amt going to
have this smokin' goin on. You've
just got to quitp
Il might as well quit Twin, Jemi-
my. For forty eeven years
Mics Jemimy, however, did not stay
to hear the end of the speech, but burst
out of the room, muttering to herself
sentences OF which the import BODIED
little good.
Gle II be right down vexed, though
thought the spinster, when he know
I've sold them there packets of Vir.
ginny tobacco he brought home on his
last voyage. It's odd man can keep
voyagin' to furrin' parts all his life
and not lay up no money, arter all
But Ebenezer never was savin' like
the rest o the Buxtord's.'
And Jemima went upstairs to rum
mage in an old chest where she kept
Der treasures for hank of mixed yarn
to finish pair of socks she had on
hand.
Old Ebenezer waited patiently by
the kitchen fire the while, until he
heard light footstep on the door
stone without; and his face brighten.
ed as Ellen Dcnnison came in.
She was tall, fresh complexioned
girl. with face which, if not absolute
ly pretty, was pleasing, and light
figure whose grace was patterned al
ter the waving rushes by the river-
side and the tall Young e!ms IN the
meadow below
We'll. uncIep she said, cheerily.
I've been waltin' for you. Elem
the old man whispered, reckoning her
to come close TO hlm 'She-she
won't bring me nc more baccv. and
L hayn't had Whit siEce o'clock
Ellen bit her lip.
I'll bring you come at once, Uncle
Elem
There amt none left IN the tin
bex : went on the old man, OBTAINING
her with a grip of her neat calico dress
You III have to 60 to the p cl<et o blue
paper ia the corner cupboard up stairs
the genuine stuff | brought from
old Virginhy years and years ago,
when warn't the old wreck I am
now Get the top package, Nell
the top one remember
Yes, uncle
And away tripped Ellen, carrying
her lighted candle through the gloomy
entries, like rustic embodiment of
Dawn bearing herald star.
Miss Jemima met her at the head Of
the first flight Of wooden uncarpeted
stairs.
Where are you going, Ellen Den
nisou 2
TO get some tobacco for Uncle
Ebepezer'
There amt none left
'Yes, there is, in the packet ne
brought frem Norfolk in the Lively
Sally