The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-06-10
which the old lady only responded with

SCTcWto Iue ti0 Va tAo yes't ".N, "AA W.
old silver spoon, worn thin by long usage,
she tasted the tart sweetness of its con-
tents.
"Jest exactly like them mother used
to boil down with molasses when I was
a gall" said she. II could most fancy
I was a gal ag'in in wild-plum time, a.
cuttin' across the lots with my sun-bon-
net hitched on by one string, and the red
dog a-capcrin' at my heels. Wal, wal
it don't seem like l was close on seventy
year old!"
Miss Anastasia had some of the wild
plum sauce with her scanty dinner. 1t
gave it o relish. She ate some more,
with bread and cheese for her tea.
81 never did taste nothin' that went
to the right spot like them wild-plums, u
said she. 1T amt that they're relshin'
it is because they make one feel like ]
was gal ag'in out in Wisconsin, with
the sassafras leaves turnin' yaller, and
the wind BLOWN in my face"
Leah did not know, until nejghbor's
child brought back the jar neatly
wrapped in m old newspaper, what a
treat she had unwittingly afforded her
neighbor. =,
;'It's the jar that had wild-plum sass
in it" said Willie; land Miss Akerly
she says she's much obliged-and she
give me ginger cookey fur bringing it
back, she did,"
"Father," said Leah, turning reproach.
fully to the old man, "this is thy doingsl
Thee is always thinking of some one
else."
1T has done me more good than if
had eaten it myself, Leah, said Friend
Decker apologctically.
Leah ran to him and gave him hug.
Thee is an old darling, father" said
she, "and thee makes me ashamed OF my
own temper, sometimes"
And she put the jar on the top shelf OF
the little pantry, and never thought any
thing more of it until one day, when she
wanted jar to put some stewed cram
berries in.
She was in hurry, for Miss Anastasia
Akcrly was to be buried that afternoon.
She had died as strangely as she had
sitting alone before her fre-and
this was the day appointed for her
funeral.
Friend Decker had expressed desire
to attend the obscquies of the kins.
woman who had been so little to him,
and Leah was hurrying through her
work, so that she might brush his we'll
worn suit and take much-needed stitch
or two in his coarse worsted gloves.
AS she tore off the newspaper wrap
pings, she stopped suddenly.
"Father," cried she, ''hcre is a piece
of thick, yellowish paper rolled up and
put inside this jar that came from Friend
Anastasia's What does thee suppose it
ISL Father, father, it is will"
She ron eagerly with it to Friend
Decker. He looked obviously at the
outside.
"Thee is right, Leah" said he:
'sFriend Anastasia's heart has softened
toward us. This is doubtless the will
she meutioned-th the will in favor OF
Moses Sawyer. She has sent it to US to
destroy. Nay, daughter-nay," as Leah
eagerly caught it up and hastened to.
ward the fire, "give it to me. 1t is not
for US to make or meddle- If Friend
Anastasia wished the will destroyed she
should have done it herself. I shall
take it back to Friend johnson, the ex.
ecutor."
"Father," cried Leah, "thee never
would give back the will?"
"Does thee think it would be right
and honorable thing to destroy it,
Leah2'
'If she wanted us to do so, fathe.3''
"But we have no right to presume any.
thing of tho sort, daughter" reasoned
Friend Decker. buttoning it up under
his coat. may, nay! do not fret" Fol
Leah, overcome by the sudden blaze OF
hope, the after blackness of despair, had
burst into flood of tears. '1twill be
we'll with us-nevcr fear"
Judge Johnson, the great man OF the
ncighborhcod, received the paper with
some surprise.
"Dcccmber the 6th," he read. "Hum
--na! this is the latest document she has
executed. Oh, yes, remember it very
we'll! Idrew ii up myself. But why
did YOU bring it here, Friend Decker7"
The old man briefly explained the cir
cumstances.
"Old people arc apt to be capricious, u
said he. "Doubtlcss the trifling matter
of the plum. sauce pleased her. and she
sought to reward us. But I should
never take base advantage of Friend
Moses by burning the will"
"But why in the name OF common
sense should you burn it?" said Judge
johnson. care you in the habit of hav.
ing estates left to you every day, that
YOU dispose of them so rcadily3"
IL don't think that quite understand
thee, Friend Johnson" said Decker.
But Lcah's face frightened like rose.
81 see! I sccr' she cried. "Father,
Friend Anastasia has done right, late
though it be. She has willcd the Len
nox farm to thce!"
And Leah spoke truly. The dead
woman had wrought tardy reparation
in her last days. and Friend Decker and
his daughter had at last legal possession
of what should long ago have been theil
own.
No amount of reasoning or remon'
STRANGE had availed with Miss Akerly,
but one of those sudden touches 3'strik
ing the electric chain wherewith we're
darkly bound," which sway the sou
with disproportionatc force, had induced
her to perform an act of justice at last
And the jar of wild plums, with lts
train of associations, had been the mos
eloquent special pleading of all!-HsIsr