Connecticut western news., 1885-10-21
VOL. XIV.
"It is rather a problem" said Ella Dale. soberly.

and respectable tape. He wonders why can't make my dresses last a little longer, and thinks am extrava- gant in wanting new feather for my old velvet hat. He announces that I use too many raisins and spices, and asks me why I can't raise eggs and poultry to exchange for groceries at the village store. And yet-oh, the inconsistency of menl-he expects me to give bowl of coffee and sand wich, to say nothing of wedges of apple-pie and three cornered bits of cake, to every able-bodied tramp and stout peddIer- woman who comes along" -..#=8 .....-. es Doesn't he make any allowance for 1t in the housekeeping money?' said Ella.
 Mot hei Just look herer' Mrs. Smart opened the drawer of the kitch- en-table "This is where Keep the house-money, which he gives me every week-and he came here twice this morning to get quarter for lame beggar. and to hunt up ten pennies for that same outrageous paper of pinsl'
 And she cast baleful glance at the article, which still lay on the dresser.
 ''This is piracy" said Ella, judicially.
 "It's highway robberyl" declared Mrs. Smart. "And there comes the butcher's-cart, and haven't money enough left from my weeks allow ance to buy single steak. and here it is only Wednesday,"
 Cant you buy on credit?"
 "Neverp' said Mrs. Smart. with spirit. "It's thing that never have done, and that never will dol"
 Ella's brown eyes sparkled, as she shook her head vehemently at the butcher, who was just checking his old horses at the door.
 "Nothing today" said she. "Go onr'
 Mrs. Smart dashed away tear.
 "Give me some of that shelled corn, Ella" said she q suppose I can catch a chicken for dinner"
 Do nothing of the sort, my dear," said Ella Dale.
 But what are we to doY
 "Why, have picked-up dinner, to- be-surep' answered Ella "Just leave me to manage it.''
 "But I'm afraid the deacon won't like it."
 "Well, and if he doesn'tp You don't like the peddler business, do youY re- torted Ella Dale
 At one o'clock the table was all spread, with three huge central plat ters carefully shielded with the covers which were ordinarily brought out only on state occasions, and Mrs Smart and Ella were peeping out of the window, and wondering what kept the deacon so late.
 "There he comes now" said Mrs. Smart. "Good gracious mel and there is Willis Mildmay with himl We never counted on him bringing company to dinner, Ella"
 "What signifies company" said Ella. stoutly maintaining her compos- ure. although her pretty face had turn ed pink all over, like June rose. "Willis Mildmay won't care when he comprehends it all. Willis is sensi- ble man."
 "Come in, MT. Smart-come in, MT. Mildmay," said Mrs. Smart. "You're half an hour late, Ebenezer. Ella and l could not imagine what had become of you"
 Il hope I am not intrudingF' said Mir. Mildmay, looking at Ella Dale as if a glance at her rosy face was all the dinner that he wanted.
 "Oh, not in the leastr' said Mrs. Smart. "Pray sit down. We have but plain dinner to-day; but it is all that my housekeeping allowance would admit"
 ''No apologies, my dear," said Dea- con Smart-"no apologies. Hunger is the best sauce, as we we'll know"
 Aud thereupon they all seated them selves. and the deacon whisked off the big platter covers, with countenance of expectation.
 Hello F said the deacon.
 There, upon the centre plate, lay the eighteen pale-green papers of pins. At the right and left, on smaller plat ters, were arranged the cards of porce- lain buttons and the rolls of tape, while the bottles of machine-oil and packages of -blacking were ar ranged like child's block-house on a side-table, beneath white napkin, by way of dessert.
 Ella Dale burst out laughing. Mrs Smart joined in. Willis Mildmay spurred on by this infectious sound laughed too, although he had not the least idea what he was laughing at The deacon stared as if he had sudden ly become all eyes.
 "Juliana," said he, "what is the meaning of this?"
 "It means, Ebenezer." his wife re- sponded, "that you have spent my housekeeping money for cheap ped, dler's wares, and that Ella and de termined to serve them up to you fol dinner' And what you don't eat, we