Connecticut western news., 1886-10-27
The Widows Pumpkins.

It was brilliant October morning, the grass all sparkling with hoar frost, the trees waving their red-jeweled arms to the sunshine, and Eliakim Ellis was driving serenely down Hay Hill.
 q ain't poet" thought he, "but if l was, I could write a lot of rhymes about like this. Why, it's poetry all the way through. And-eh2-howa-- whati Who's that2"
 It was the Widow Hepsy Hall, stand ing at the door of her little one-storied house, and beckoning with her long, lean arms toward him. The farmer drew his rein.
 '''Hold on Sorrelr he apostrophized his stced. ''You ain't never in hurry, when want you to be, so calcerlatc you can stand still bit now. Wal, Mis- Hall, what can dew for ye this morn ingfn
 Pve got some pumpkins that I want to sell, :" said the Widow Hepsy. '.Drefful likely ones."
 ''Fumpkins2" echoed Eliakim. s'Why, bless you soul, Mis- Hall, pumpkins is dreg in the market, just now. The pumpkin crop has turned out powerful good, thank Providence, and our folks is feedin' lem to the caows."
 Ashadow ofdire disappointment crept over the old woman's face, as she stood there, unconsciously picturesque, against the curly hop-tendrils and crimson wood bine leaves that garlandcd the doorway. The tears came into her dim eyes.
 ''Then may as we'll give it up," said she, in accents of dispalr. 'sFor hain't nothin' else to sell; and Belindy had set such store on my comin' down this autumn afore cold weather set in."
 .'Eh2" said Mir. Ellis; good -naturedly. sseYou was a-goin' down down to Belin- dy's chi"
 Il can't without no money" said the Widow Hepsy Hall. "And I was sort O calculatin' on them pumpkins. The corn hain't amounted to nothin', and the weasels has tuk all the poultry, and the dried berries mildewed that last dog days weather, and the carpet-weaven' business is awful dull; so what be I to dor'
 s'Can't ye put off your visit?" said Eliakim, thoughtfully aicking the top off cluster of saucy ox-eyed daisies, that grew close to his wagon wheels.
 'Belindy's little boys got the croup," said Mrs. Hall, lugubriously. "And her husband has fell off scaffold and broke his leg. And If ever Pm wanted there, it's now"
 sI swan p ejaculated honest Eliakim, as he realized what the double meaning of poverty and misfortune was. ''Fetch me them pumpkins; I'll buy lem any how.n
 let you have the lot for dollar, ) said the Widow Hepsy, wistfully. They're jest out in the corner lot"
 "Ain't gethered, eha"
 'sBless me! who've I got to gcther 'em?' responsibility retorted Mrs. Hall-"an6 not a soul about the place, and me with that crick in my back" :,
 Eliakim Ellis heart smote him. Wht was he, to complain of little extra trouble, when the Widow Hepsy was s' much worse off than himself2
 So he alighted, and led Sorrel labor ipusly down the stony cart track toward
 A corn field, where, amid the harvested shocks, gleamed the ruddy gold of pump 6ns innumerable.
 'Pumpkinsr' screamed Mrs. Ellis when her husband drove into the door yard at noon. ''Pumpkinsl Why, Ella kim Ellis, what on earth are you bring ing pumpkins here for2 Amt we got tn barn-chambers full, and the lots full, ant the very cattle won't eat 'em2 Be yo clean gone crazyf'
 Mrs. Ellis was q high-cheek bone female, with projecting front teeth, an hard, greenish eyes, like badly colore marbles. She was one of those wh worship gain as the fire worshippers ia down before the sun. 'Money money~ was her favorite axiom. An, Eliakim felt his heart sink within hir as he faced her stern, uncompromisin gaze.
 s'They're jest few" he began.
 "A fewr' shrilly echoed his wife 'sThe waggin is heaped full! And W a-throwin' of lem away every day That's jest mans calculatin'p'
 "Jest few" said Eliakim, hitchin desperately on the first section of h speech, '+hat rve brung down here sell for Mrs. Hall. There ain't mue market up that-a-way, you knov Loisy.
 s.And," he added to himself, 'tgood nsss knows how glad I'd be to sell e If I hed tho chancel ain't yin, nc
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