The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-12-04

was, could write a lot of rhymes about
Ike this. Why, it's poetry all the way
- And-eh f--how7--what7
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 Sorrel!' he apostrophized
his steed. you amt never in a hurry,
when 1 want you to be, so I calcerate
you can stand still a bit now. Wal,
Mis- Hall, what can dew for ye this
morning?'
I've got some pumpkins that want
to sell, said the Widow Hepsy. 'Drefful
likely ones.
'Puumpkins?' echoed Eliakim. why
bless you soul, Mis- Hall, pumpkins is
a dreg in the market, just now. The
pumpkin crop has turned out powerful
good, thank Providence, and our folks
is feedin' 'em to the caows.'
A shadow of dire disappointment
crept over the old woman's face, as she
stood there, unconsciously picturesque,
against the curly hop-tendrils and GRIM
son woodbine leaves that garlanded the
doorway. The tears came into her dim
eyes.
Then I may as we'll give it up said
she, in accents of despair. For I hain't
nothin' else to sell; and Belindy had
set such store on my comm down this
autumn afore cold weather set in
'Eh?' said Mr.. Ellis; good-natured-
ly. you was a-goin' down to Belindy's,
Il can't without no money said the
Widow Hepsy Hall. 'And was sort
O. calculatin' on them pumpkins. The
corn hain't amounted to nothin', and
the weasels has TUX all the poultry, and
the dried berries mildewed that last dog
days weather, and the carpet-weaven'
business is awful dull; so what be l to
do7'
Cant ye put off your visit?' said
Eliakim, thoughtfully ficking the top
off cluster of saucy ox-eyed daisies,
that grew close to his wagon wheels.
'Belindy's little boys got the Group
said Mrs. Hall, lugubriously. 'And her
HUSBAND i,ao fell a % se~GoId and brol.o
his leg. And if ever I'm wanted there,
it's now
Il swami calculated honest Eliakim,
as he realized what the double meaning
of poverty and misfortune was. Fetch
me them pumpkins; I'll buy 'em any
how
sI'll let you have the lot for dollar
said the Widow Hepsy, wistfully.
They're jest out in the corner lot
'Ain't gethered, eh7'
'Bless me who've I got to gether
'em?' reproachfully retorted Mrs. Hall
-'and not soul about the place, and
me with that crick in my back
Eliakim Ellis heart smote him. Who
was he, to complain of little extra
trouble, when the Widow Hepsey was
so much worse off than himself?
So he alighted, and led Sorrel labor
iously down the stony cart track toward
the corn field, where, amid the harvest
ed shocks, cleaned the ruddy gold of
pumpkins innumerable. !.
'Pumpkins!' screamed Mrs. Ellis,
when her husband drove into the door
yard at noon. Pumpkins! Why, Ella
kim Ellis, what on earth are you bring
ing pumpkins here for? Amt we got
the barn-chambers full, and the lots full,
and the very cattle won't eat 'em? Be
you clean gone crazy?'
Mrs. Ellis was a high-cheek- boned
female, with projecting front teeth, and
hard, greenish eyes, like badly-colored
marbles. She was one of those who
worship gain as the fre-worshippers far
down before thesun. 'Moneyis money!
was her favorite axiom. And Eliakim
felt his heart sink within him as he faced
her stern, uncompromising gaze.
They're jest few-'he began.
sAfew!' shrilly echoed his wife. 'The
waggin is heaped FULL And we "a
throwin' of 'em away every day! That's
Jest mans calculatin'
'Jest few said Eliakim, hitching
desperately on the first section of his
speech, 'that I've brung down here to
sci for Mrs. Hall. There amt mucn
market up that-a-way, you know, Lolsy.
'And,' he added to himself, goodness
knows how glad I'd be to sell 'em if |
had the chance! I Iain't lyin', nohow !
Mrs. Ellis gave prodigious sniff.
Don't you fetch that there truck in.
side of the door-yard, 'Liakim! said
she. Jest dump 'em on the roadside
and let the neighbors' hogs eat 'em up
as quick as they can!
But Mr.. Ellis took advantage of a tin
peddler coming along on the other side
of the street, and engaging his help
meets attention, to smuggle in the load
of pumpkins.
Il won't waste 'em anyway said he.
IF anybody's hogs, is to eat 'em, it may
as we'll be mine
That afternoon, when he came in to
supper, thing happened which had
never before befallen him in all his mar