The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-05-27
BUYING PUMPKINS.

BUYING PUMPKINS.
It was brilliant October morning.
the grass all sparkling with hoar frost,
the trees waving their red-jewled arms
to the sunshine. and Eliakim Ellis was
driving serenely down Hay Hill.
Il amt poet" thought he, ''but if
Twas, l could write lot of rhymes
about morning like this. Why. its
poetry all the way through. And-eh?
ho-w?-what? Who's thatp''
1t was the Widow Hepsy Hall. stand
ing at the door of her little one-storied
house, and reckoning with her long
lean arms toward him. The farmer
drew his rein.
Hold on, sorrcl!" he apostrophized
to his steed. ''You amt never in a
hurry when 1 want you to be; SO /
calculate you can stand a bit now.
Wall, Mis- Hall. what can / dew for We
this morningP'
i've got some pumpkins that |
want to SELL" said the Widow Hepsy.
'.Drefful likely ones.'
"Pumpkins?'' echoed Eliakim.
Why, bless your soul, Mis- Hall.
pumpkins is dreg in the market jest
now. The pumpkin crop has turned
out powerful good, thank Providence,
and our folks is feeding EN- 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-sendrils and
crimson woodbine leaves that gar
landed the doorway. The tears came
into her dim eyes.
"Then ! may as well give it up said
she. in accents Of despair. For
have nothin' else to sell; and Belindy
had set such store on my comm dow n
this autumn afore cold weather set in. y
..Eh?" said Mr.. Ellis. good-natured-
~, .You was a-goin' down to Be
lindy's, eh?''
Il cant without no money said the
Widow Hepsey Hall. "And l was
sort O. calculatin' on them pumpkins.
The corn hadn't amounted to nothin'
and the wease,s has TUX all the poultry,
and the dried berries widowed that
last dog days weather, and the carpet
weavin' business is awful dull; SO be
what be what to dop"
Cant We put off your visitv' said
Eliakim, thoughtfully Ticking the top
of a cluster of saucy ox-eyed daisies
tina. grew close to his wagon wheels.
..Belindy's little boys got the
Group said Mrs. Hall. lugubriously.
And her husband has fell off scat
fold, and broke his leg. And if ever
I'm wanted there. it's now
81 swami" calculated honest Eliakim.
as he realized what the double meaning
of poverty and misfortune was. .tetch
me them pumpkins; III buy 'em any
how"
''I'll let you have the lot for dol
lar" said the Widow Hepsey, wistfully.
.'They re jest out in the corn-lot."
"Ain't gethered. eh?''
..Bless me! who'ye ! got to gether
emp 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 ex.
ira trouble, when the widow Hepsey
was SO much worse off than himself?
So he alighted, and led Sorrel labori
ously down the stony cart-track toward
the corn-feld, where amid tho har
vested shocks cleaned tho 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 gol
the barn chambers full, and the lots full
and the very cattle won't eat 'em? 81
you gone clean crazy?'
Mrs. Ellis was high-cheek-bOned
red-haired female, with projecting from
teeth, and hard, greenish eyes. lik'
badly colored marbles. She was one
of those who worship gain as the fire
worshipers fall down before the sun
money is money!" was her favorit,
axiom. And Eliakim felt his hear
sink within him, ~ he faced her stern
unpromising gaze.
"They re Jest q few he began.
i fo~utSf chr;l1vv anhooA k;c xrsfn
Tho Waggin is heaped full! And w
a-throwin away Of 'em every day
That's Jest q mans calculatin'!"
jest q few," said Eliakim. hitchinl
desperately on to the first section of hi
speech, that I've brung down here t
sell for Mrs. Hall. There amt much o
any market up that away, you know
Loisy. And" he added to himself
goodness knows how glad I'd be +
sell 'em if had the chance! ain
lynn, nohow!"
Mrs. Ellis gave 2 prodigops sniii
s.Don't yod fetch chat there truck in
side OF the door-yard. 'Liakim!' sal
she, "you Jest dump am on the road
side, and let tho neighpoFs, hogs ca
'em up as quick as they can."
Out MT. ElllS TOOK 6AVAAIdSo Ol u
peddler coming along on tho other sid
Of the street and engaging his hell
meets attention, to smuggle In til
load of pumpkins.
Il won I waste 'cm anyway" said he
III anybody's hogs is to eat EN-, it ma
as VEL be mine"
That afternoon. when he came int
supper, a thing happened which ha
never before befallen him in all hi
married life.
He found the tea-kettle cold, tn
Graham gems unbaked, the table uI
spread, and his wife crying pitsously
.Eh!" said Eliakim. blankly. sWha
in-all-creation's-the matter now
You amt sick, be you, Loisy?'
"Yes, / be-" sobbed Mrs. Ellis
.Heart-sick, 'Liakim. Oh, what hev
donep I've sold them old gray pant
o. yourn to the tin peddler and ncve
remembered how Id put that there huI
dred dollar coupon bond you gave m
to keep in the pocket, because l ca
! cnlated no burglars would take pal