Connecticut western news., 1885-08-05
VOL. XIV.

ed the barreI and prepared to drive the first natl, when the barrel cover slipped, and splash she went-into what?
 It seemed that Giles and Jabe had been there before her, and in getting out some cider barrels, had changed things about in such manner that the barrel of soft soap stood where the pork should stand; and she, in her haste, not noting the change, had mounted the former. .. -,- -...
 "Land O massyl What won't that man do next, I'd like to knowP"
 Making plunge for the top of the barrel she tried to extricate sherself, but each successive attempt proved only a failure.
 "What on,airth's body going to do in this fxP Marthal Martha Annl What can that galbe about that she don't come when call herr Hang ing on the fence, warrant, a-talking to that Tom Ryder. Iwill Tom Ryder the hull lot if I ever git out of herep'
 Just at this moraent Martha came through the hatchway. :.
 "WhereI are you, motherP"
 'Where:be I? should. think you'ds askl Go ask Tom Ryderl Mebbe he'lls tell you-that's all you think, on-and leave me to git along alone"
 'Where are you, motherP I didn't hear you call I was washing the greens"
 "Here be, tell you, in the soap barrel. Where do you s'posep'
 "In the soap barrelp" queried Mary tha One glance was sufficient. Convuls- ed with laughter, she seated herself on stone jar to recover sufficiently to render the needed assistance. '.Martha Ann Stutsonl What do you meanp Haven't I learnt you never to laugh at other folks calami- tiesp And here you be a-laughing right in your mothers face"
 "But, mother, never saw you in a soap barrel before"
 "Taint noways likely you ever will again if git out of this one. Go out into the lot and call your father and Jabe to come here quick as their legs'lll fetch lem. But you needn't tell them what's happened; they'll find that out quick enough when they get here" Martha, once out of her mothers sight, enjoyed another hearty laugh and ran for the men, who, dropping1 their rakes, hastened toward the house. Martha waited at the top of the stairs, trying to compose her countenance before entering the presence of her mother; at least she led the way for Jabe, saying:
 "Mother has met with an accident down here."
 Peering through the darkness, hon. est Jabe exclaimed, on beholding her; mothers situation:
 "How did you get in there?"
 "It's none of your business how came here. Pm here, and have got to be got out some way or uther. Where's your manners, Jabes Hovey, that you'll stand there and laugh at me in this perdickerment? ?"
 "Perdickermenti I should say it was soap barrel, if I was any judge"
 "What if 'tisp Do you think Pm so big fool that I don't know what I've got intoP Martha, where's your father? Why don't he come alongp"
 "He is coming"
 s'Yes, sos Christmas. I s'pose if the house was atire he wouldn't hurry mite quicker"
 "Why, Judy" said MT. Stutson .on entering the cellart "where'on arth be ye, any way?"
 "Where be I? Can't you see noth- ing? Better put on youf specks and look in the soap barrel Wal, I de- clare for itl Eff hain't got to stand here and wait for another to haw-haw and gigglel For my part. don't see nothing to laugh at. What are you thinking on, Giles Stutson, a-standing : there laughing. like that at ineP What l kind of use is 1t for me to learn Mar tha Ann to be respectful when you. , her father, don't show no respect"
 "Come, come, mother, don't Bcold if you could see yourself as we can you'd laugh yourself; you couldn't : help it."
 8 "But how came you to get in there ! Judyp Guess you must got foul ot I that cider barrel"
 8 "Giles, what do you mean a-talkinE 8 so when you know was one of tht d leading wimmin in the temperanc' t cause, and the idee! accusing me righ
 afore my own child of doing sich { l, thing"
 ], "Wal, Miss Stutson, how are yoI @ going to get outp" asked Jabe. d "That's what I'd like to know, Jabe F you get that wash bench around her D so that can have 1t to step on to; an' a you take hold of this side, and Giles F. here, you take t'other, and when yo1 e two hist me up, Martha Ann cal y scrape off the soap. Here, Giles, yo1 t ain't good for nothingl Ye neve