Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-10-20


inside of tho door-yard, 'Lialml" said
she. "Jest dump 'em on the roadside
and let the ncighbors' hogs eat 'em up
as quick as they can!"
But Mr.. Ellis took advantage Of tin
pcddler coming along on the other side
of the street, and engaging his help
meets attention, to smuggle in the load
of pumpkins,
81 won't waste 'em anyway" said he.
'If anybody's hogs is to cat 'em, it may
as well be mine"
That afternoon, when he came in to
supper, thing happened which had
never before befallen him in all his mar
ricd life.
He found the tea-kcttle cold, the Gra-
ham gems unbakcd, the table unsprcad
and his wife crying piteously.
"Eh" said EIiakim, blankly. "Whot
mall -creation's- the matter nowa You
amt sick, be you, Loisy"
eyes, l bel" sobbed Mrs. Ellis.
"Heartsick, Liakim. Oh, what heO I
doncl I've sold them old gray pants
o'yourn to the tin pcddlcr, and never re-
mcmbcred how I'd put that there hundred
dollar coupon bond you gave me to keep,
in the pocket, because l calculated no
burglars would take a pair dragged old
panst. Oh, dear! oh, dearl"
For ono minute Eliakim Ellis stood
silent. A hundred dollars was
hundred dollars to this hard working
man, who could only save and scrape by
Titles.
But he looked at Louisa's pale, woe.
begonc face, and his great, tender heart
rose up within him like the pillows of
the sea.
"Don't fret, Loisy, my gal" he said,
chcerfully. ut was only an accident.
'Tain't wuth frcttin' about" And he
bent down and kissed her forchcad--a rare
occurrence in their undemonstrativ
household. EVEN go to work and make
it up as fast as possible, my dear"
ooh, 'Liakim!" sobbcd the good wife,
81 don't deserve you should be so good
to me. Pm a cross, sco.din' creetur,
and"
"Tut. tut, tutw goodhumorcdly inter-
ruppcd her husband. "Gucss l amt
goin' to hev my wife abused this away"
"And Pm sorry l spoke so short about
them pumpkins" added Louisa, dole
fully.
Mr.. Ellis whistcd under his breath.
He was almost disposed now, to regret
that he had paid out that dollar for the
Widow Hcpsy's pumpkins.
'IIowever it's DONE" he said to him
self, "and it can't be undonc. Loisy'd
best be left in the dark, l guess, about
it,"
lie was alertly kindling the fire, while
Mrs. Ellis moved sadly about, making pre-
parations for the evening meal, when
there was lively tattoo, played by
very energetic pair of knucklcs on tho
door outside.
"Come inl" shouted he.
And who should make his appearance
but the tin-pcddler himself.
'1Icllo, squire" said he. "Guess
there's been mistake somewhere.
amt buyin' up Government coupon
bonds. Pm in the tin trade. found
this ERE in your old pockets. So J. al
lowed it was best to bring it back right
away"
lie held out the folded slip of parch-
ment. Eliakim looked oddly at it.
"Fctch on Diogcncs and his lantcrn!"
said he, 81 calc'lato hcro's the honest
man at last"
"Get out" said the tin-pcddlcr. "a
don't want none o your four-syllabed
fun pokcd at me. But l tell you what I
dew want. Them there pumpkins that
you was cartin' in when l exchanged a
saucepan and two dippcrs for them gray
pants with your good lady, rll give you
five cents apiece for EN-"
"Donew cried Farmer Ellis, joyfully.
''Thero's to be big dinner up to
staplescs HILL" went on the n-peddler.
"And they're goin' to bake two hundred
pumpkins-pics, and all the pork and
beans that's to be had. And there's
goin' to be corner in pumpkins. Pvc
got my wagon out here, so guess we'll
load up right away"
And thus the hundrcd-dollar coupon
bond was returned, all safe and sound
by the tin-pcddlcr, who, was as honest
as he was shrcwd, and the Widow
Hcpsy Halls pumpkins were satisfacto.
rily marketed. So much so, indeed, that
Eliaklm even purchased out of the
profits snufr-coored mcrino gown,
which he left at the widows door the
very next time he drove past.
''Its pity she can't share moro O.
the good luck, said he.
Mrs. Hall found the gown, neatly
wrapped in paper, at he door when she
came home from cranbcrrying in the
swamp, and she never knew where it
came from. But she made it up, and
wore it to her daughter Beinda's in the
city.
But honest Eliakim has not yet told
Louisa, his wife, that he bought Widow
Hcpsy's pumpkins, and paid dollar for
them in good hard cash.
ut amt best to tell women every.
thngw said hc.-Hc'ea Forrest G,aoes.