Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-05-22

tasia, )" said he. 81 have brought thee a
jar OF my daughters wild-plum sauce.
Perhaps it may tempt thy appetite"
Anastasia Akerly colored.
at amt of no consequence, said she.
II dunno as | care so much about sweet
things. Only there used to grow wild
plum brush on the hills at home, and
mother used to boil the plums with mo-
lasses. They was dretful sour, but there
was flavor about 'em l hain't never
tasted since. And when Mary More told
how good Leah's was, kind o. notioned
l should like taste of 'em. But Leah
said she hadn't none to spare.n
Leah was mistaken" said Friend
Decker, "In our house there is always
something to spare for an old friend like
theen
Anastasia's yellow, old face was oddly
mottled with crimson for a moment.
81 didn't know that you looked on me
as friend !" said she, sharply
''Thee ought to have been certain of
that"
"There was ugly things said about the
way the Lennox property was managed"
said Miss AkerIy.
"Nothing was said by me, Friend
Anastasia," observed the Quaker. "And
as far as in me lies, am anxious to be
at peace with all the world"
"Humph" said the old woman.
''Well, there amt no use maxim up to
me. My will was drawed up long ago;
and Moses Sawyer is my heir"
"Thce is welcome to do as thee likes
with thy own," said Friend Decker,
calmly, setting down the jar of wild
plum preserves, and glancing wistfully
toward the cushioned arm chair by the
fire, for his limbs were enfeebled by age,
and he had walked a considerable dis
tance.
But Miss Akerly did not ask him to
sit down and rest, so he took fresh grip
of his knotty cane, and started on the
homeward tramp, with genial Good
morning to thee, Friend Anastasia!" to
which the old lady only responded with
an inarticulate grunt.
But when he was out of sight, she un-
screwed the lid of the jar, end, with an
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 l was
a gal," said she. 81 could most fancy
l was 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-caperin' at my heels. Wal, wal |!
it don't seem like was close on seventy
year oldm
Miss Anastasia had some of the wild
plum sauce with her scanty dinner. 1t
gave it 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-pIums, 4"
said she. at amt that they're reishin' :;
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 neighbours
child brought back the jar neatly
wrapped in an old newspaper, what a
treat she had unwittingly afforded her
neighbor.
"What is it, Willie?" she said to the
boy.
''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 doings
Thee is always thinking of some one
else."
"It has done me more good than if I
had eaten it myself, Leah" said Friend
Decker, apologetically.
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
Akerly was to be buried that afternoon.
She had died as strangely as she had
lived-sitting alone before her tire-and
this was the day appointed for her
funeral.
Friend Decker had expressed desire
to attend the obsequies 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, "here is piece
of thick, yellowish paper rolled up and
put inside this jar that came from Friend
Anastasia's! What does thee suppose il
is9 Father, father, it is willw
She ran eagerly with it to Friend
Decker. He looked obviously at the
outside.
"Thee is right, Leah" said he.
"Friend Anastasia's heart has softened
toward us. This is doubtless the will
she mentioned - the will in favor oi
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 moi
for us to make or meddle If Friend
Anastasia wished the will destroyed she
should have done it herself. l shall
take it back to Friend Johnson, the ex
ecutor."
"Father," cried Leah, ''thee nevel
would give back the will9"
"Does thee think it would be right
and honorable thing to destroy it
Leah2"
eff she wanted us to do so, father9'
"But we have no right to presume any
thing of the sort, daughter" reasoned
Friend Decker. buttoning it up unde
his coat. NAY, nay! do not fret" Fo
Leah, overcome by the sudden blaze o.
hope, the after blackness of despair, hat