Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-10-14

ont aggravating my cough
And under his arm he carried a neat
parcel.
Old Anastasia Ackerly was winding
yarn before the fire when he came in.
See greeted him not without shadow
Of suspicion.
Had he come like spy into the ene-
my's quarters ?
Il hope thee is well, Friend Anastas-
ia said he. Il have brought thee a
jar of my daughters will ll-plum sauce.
Perhaps it may tempt thy appetite
Auastasia AcKerly colored.
1t amt of no consequence, said
she. Il 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
molass es. They was dretful sour. and
there was a flavor about 'em l hain't
never tasted since. And when Mary
Moore told me how good Leah's was,
kind of notioned | should like taste
of 'em, but Leah said she hadn't none
to spare
Leah was mistaken said Friend
Decker. In our house there is always
something to spare for an old friend
like thee =
Anastasia's yellow, old face was odd
ly mottled with crimson for a moment.
L didn't know that you looked on
me as a friend y said she, SHARPLY.
Thee ought to have been certain of
that
There was ugly things said about
how the Lennox property was manag-
ed,' said Miss Akerly.
Nothing was said by me, Friend
Anastasia,' observed the Quaker.
And as far as in me lies, am anxious
to be at peace with the world
'Humph y said the old woman.
well, there amt no use maxim up 10
me now. My will was drawn up long
ago, and Moses Sawyer is my heir
Thee is welcome to do as thee likes
with thy own,' said friend Decker,
calmly, setting down the jar of wild
plum preserves, and glancing wistfally
toward the cushioned arm chair by the
fire, for his limbs were enfeebled by
age, and he had walk considerable
distance.
But Miss Akerly did not ask him to
ST. down and rest, so he took fresh
grip of his knotty cane, aud started on
homeward tramp, with a cheerful,
Good morning TO thee Friend Anas-
tasia 10 70 which tie old lady respond
ed with an inarticulate gruut.
But when he was out of sight she un-
screwed the lid OF the jar, and. with an
old silver spoon, worn thin by long
usage, she tasted the tart sweetness Of
It's contents.
Just exactly like them mother used
to boil down with molasses when was
a gal, said she. Il could most fancy
l was gal ag'in in wild plum time, a.
cuttin' acr oss the lots with my sun-
bonnet hitched on by one string, and
the red dog caperin' at my heels.
Wal. wal it don't seem like l was
close on seventy years old 20
Miss Anastasia had some of the wild &.
plum sauce with her scanty dinner
1t gave it relish. She ate some NOR e
with bread and cheese for her tea.
Il never did taste nothin' that went
to the right spot like them wild plums, ,
said she. 1T amt because they rel
ishin' it's because they make one feel
like I was a gal ag'in out in Wiscon-
sin, with the sassafras leaves turnin'
yaller, and the wind blown in my
face
Leah did not know, until neigh
boris child brought back the jar, neatly
wrapped in an old newspaper, what a
treat she had unwittingly afforded her
neighbor.
What is it, Willie p she said to the
boy.
IT'S the jar that had wild. plum sass
in it, said Willie 'and Miss Akerly
she says she's much obliged-and she
give me ginger cookey for bringing it
back, she did,
Father said Leah, turning re-
proachfully to the old man, this is thy
doings +! Thee is always thinking of
some one else.'
1T has done me more good than if 1
had eaten it myself, Leah, said Friend
Decker, apologetically.
Leah ran to him and gave him a
hug.
Thee is old darling, father said
she 'and thee makes me ashamed of
my own temper, some:imes.'
And she put the jar on the top shelf
of the little pantry, and never thought
anything more of it until one day. when
she wanted jar to put some stewed
cranberries in.
She was in hurry, for Miss Anas-
tasia Akerly was to be buried that af-
ternOon