The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-09-29
Pear Preserves.

Oub uluCI ohO VI DluO tiC
landscape stretched away to the purple
mountains. The forests were flaming
with autumnal fires. The trees looked
as if they might be the fambeaux with
which nature intended to ignite the
whole world in hazy, funeral pyre.
In the orchard lay heaps of ruddy
and golden apples and delicious pears,
waiting the approach of the farmer
and his sons. Such a fruitful year had
seldom been seen at the Adams farm.
Hay, grain and vegetables had been
freely harvested; BURBERRY, blackberry
and raspberry bushes had been full of
their luscious boards, and the garden
strawberry beds had furnished an I'M
precedented supply. When these were
canned and the ounce marmalade made
and the peaches preserved and all safely
put away in the cellar, Mrs. Adams still
found the pears demanding her atten-
ton. Monday found her very busy.
Washing must not be put off and the
fruit must be preserved or canned
Immediately.
81 cannot do everything" she said to
her husband. Wont you just step
over and get Aunt Janna to wash for
me to-day?'
Old Janna Smith was the village
washerwoman; a poor, freckled-faced,
kindly soul, who had neither kith nor
kin between her lonely life and the
poor-house.
Scrub, rub, rubl She stood outside
Mrs. Adams kitchen door in the mel
low sunshine, rubbing away in good
earnest, stopping now and then to
glance over the autumn landscape or to
watch the ox-team winding down the
long stretch of road. to the orchard.
The sunshine had already found re-
pose in her heart, for over the foamy
tubs she hummed line of an old song.
Inside the kitchen Mrs. Adams and
her daughter Nellie were deeply in the
mysteries of preserving pears. Baby
Ben sat upon the floor contentedly
munching an apple and building a
block-house.
eve must cut up these bruised
ones" said Mrs. Adams to Nellie.
"The Bartletts, if free from specks,
may be pared, leaving the stems on
to give them a better flavor. That
lower part of the stem is more acid
than the pulp of the pear. We will
can the whole"
The work was finished at last and
Aunt Janna had gone home. Nellie
came down after dinner in a clean
dress and apron and went to the work
basket in the kitchen. After a mo-
ment's search she turned to her mother
with frightend face, "Why, mamma,
have you seen my rings? took them
off before / began on the pears. / was
in hurry and so didn't stop to go up
stairs, but slipped them into the work
basket"
Mrs. Adams did not respond. She
went to the basket and turned its con.
tents inside out; then she searched the
kitchen carefully, and finally the whole
house, but the rings were gone.
"Where coulh you have put them
Nellie?' she sighed, in despair "I'nl
afraid you were careless"
I" l am sure put them in the basket
mamma" the girl replied.
"Oh! mamma, you don't suppose
Nellie paused.
"Aunt Janna?" asked Mrs. Adams
81 can hardly think that of her, though
she is poor. Most likely baby has taker
them and lost them"
"But Bonnie says not, mamma.
have questioned him and he does no
seem to know anything about it."
Yes, and 50 have T." assented Mrs
Adams, " but baby memory is shor
sometimes"
"What if" Nellie began again.
Well, what?"
" What if baby had taken them GU
of the basket and left them lying wher
Aunt Janna could appropriate them?"
81 cannot think it of her." SAT-
Mrs. Adams. "And, Nellie, mind yov
do not breathe a word of suspicion
about her to any one
The three missing rings-a plain band
a class ring and small diamond-wer
at length given over for lost.
At first no one outside the famil
knew of it, but schoolmate drew fror
Nellie the circumstances attending tn
loss and Aunt Janna's character sui
fered in consequence. Little or n
work was given her and no one kne'
how she kept herself alive in her colo
cherries attic. No one heard her a
she prayed to God to keep her from tn
poor-house; and she went cold, an
often hungry, to pay for the garre
room she occupied In one point sh
was spared-she knew nothing of tn
SANDER that had stopped people fror
giving her work.
SO she lived on until Christina
There was not penny in her purse, an
she decided over her solitary dinner {
bread and water, eaten in bed fC
warmth, to apply to the town authorize
on the morrow for admission to tn
poor-house.
At the Adams farmhouse plentifl
table was spread. The mother an
daughter were flying about putting @
few finishing touches. One thing ha
been forgotten.
Run down stairs, Nellie" Gale
Mrs. Adams, " and get a jar of tho'
nice Bartlett pears. We will have the
cor dessert"