The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-12-02

Mary burst into tears. She sat down
on the edge of the wheelbarrow and hid
her head in her mothers apron like
child.
ooh, mother who has done thisi"
she cried. "Who can have becn so
wicked--so crucl2"
"It's the boys, Pm afraid" said Mrs.
Hay. "Don't fret, daughter -don'tl
It's done, and it can't be helped"
"Thc boys never served us SO BEFORE"
said Mary between her sobs. eyes,
mother you are right. 1t can't be helped,
Lctu go home. There is an end of the
subscription money now"
Slowly. and sadly the two women
toiled back up the hill with tho wheel
barrow and the basket. Mr.. Hay, just
returned from the harvest field, heard
their story with amazement.
'It's the first time that ever tree of
mine was robbed" said he. II didn't
know as we had such boys in this neigh
borhood, But, look, here, Polly, don't
cry" laying his broad brown hand,
soothingly on his daughters shoulder.
"Its always darkest just before daylight.
Here's five dollat gold piece that Mrs.
Blake paid me for'the hay in the up
medder. ! was going to take it toward
the taxes, but I gues, taxes can wait"
"No, Father said Mary, "our just
debts are our just debts. l oughn't to
touch this money"
"Squinchcs, ch," said Luke Larrabce,
who had come in with the stone pitcher
for gallon of Mrs. Hays cider vinegar.
"Squinches is mighty scuss this season.
see Mrs. Biggard's folks doin' up a
sight on 'cm when was over there this
morning. Mrs. Biggard she's dredful
churchy, you know, and, the parson
he'd said he was partial to preserved
squinches; and there was she and Ruey
and Almiry tuckerin' in like all poss-
essed to get 'em done. Says /:
"'Why, whar did ye git all them 'cre
squinches7
''Says she:
"T bought 'em of boy at the door"
"Says i:
emo, yc didn't, Elccta Biggari; ye
got 'em last night oatcn Farmer Hays
sidc-hill squinch orchard, clus' to the
Railroad says Il "cause seen you and
Rucy a-carryin' the clothes basket be-
tween yo1, cram jam full o'big, yallcr
squinchcs.'
"And so Ibid, FOR our COW she got
outen the field and wandered quite a
ways down the railroad, and was a.
huntin' Of her by moonlight, when l
seen 'cm from behind them sassafras
bushes down by the track. Wal, you
should have seen her turn rcdder than
the big bell-peppers out in the garden
patch. Says she:
"What an if did2p says she. MARY
Lay she give 'cm to me-
"'Oh,' says I, that's horse Of
another color says I.
"But now it appears, with his shabby,
gray eyebrows slightly elevated, chat
yc didn't give 'em to her, hcy2r
Mary and her mother looked blankly
at each other The good father
chucklcd.
"Thcm ounces was worth five dollars
at the very least" said he. 81 guess,
Polly, if l was you, I'd collect the
money!"
The ladies of the fund committee
were at Mrs. Biggard's house that after
noon.
A good many faithful and devout
sisters were present, and some Of the
brotherhood as well.
Mr.. Mildmay sauntered in toward tea.
time, and was thanking Zeruiah and
Almira Biggard for the beautiful jars Of
preserved ounces which had found
their way to the rcctory, when Mrs.
Biggard's shrill voice sounded above
the hum of G neral discourse.
''Now that the minister is here, there
amt no reason we shouldn't render in
our accounts" she cacked. "And Pm
happy to say that every lady in the
parish has given something to the Ebot
Indian Fund except Miss Mary Hay"
Mr.. Mildmay bit his lip. Zsruiah cas-
down her white-lashed eyes. Almirs
giggled family.
Ma is SO frank spoken" said she.
II scarcely think" observed Mr.
Mildmay, 'that there was any necessity
10, particuliarizing in such matter a
this"
81 hain't no patience with NEAR
folks" said Mrs. Biggard, speaking il
a stage-aside.
But Mary Hay had risen calmly VI
from her seat among the younger ladies
: "Neithcr have J." said she. 'Ant
so propose to subscribe to the fund tn,
} five dollars which Mrs. Biggard is gcins
to pay me-"
, She moved easily and GRACEFUL.
toward the lady Of the house, and hell
out her haad with an air Of cain
expectancy.
''Me2' cried Mrs. Biggard. "Goir
. to pay you five dollars! guess the ga
is crazy! What should pay you iiv
9 dollars forl'
, For the ounces" said Many. enj ,yin
the sudden panic which turned III
. matronly, rubicund face to the color Q
r badly risen dough--'thc gunocs whic
you bought of us last night and forge
< to pay for"