Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-12-30
FRIEND RUTH'S PREJUDICE.
ny HELEN FOREST GRAVES,

bright blue eyes again, to make sure
that she was certainly and indubita-
bly, wide awake.
mo, Aunt Ruth" said she, al am
not dreaming. Read the letter thy
self"
And Aunt Ruth, setting her specta-
Giles across her nose, took the folded
| paper from Patience's hand and slow
| ~ spelled out the words which, heard
from other lips, had such fabulous
/ sound.
Yes, it was true. Guarded about
with legal phrases, there was the in
telligence that she. Ruth Plumb, who
wove rag-carpets for a livelihood, and
contentedly ate mush and milk when
she could not get beef and potatoes,
was landed proprietress now of a
farm up in Rhode Island, which had
belonged to one Ezra Nutting, a third
or fourth cousin whom she had never
seen.
Little Patience looked at the elder
woman.
Aunt Ruth" said she, isn't thee
going out TO see it? And mayn't go
with thee?"
"Thee may go with me, little Pay"
said Miss Plumb, smiling; "but as for
going out to see it, railway journeys
cost money, and when we 60 we shall
stay"
"Will thee live there, Aunt RUTH"
cried Patience. with sparkling eyes.
Miss Plumb looked pathetically
around the little chamber, whose one
window was bedimmed by monster
| back wall.
81 have always longed for a country
home, Patience" she said. Thee has
always lived in the city; thee does not
know how person feels who has once
| stood on the hills and heard the free
wind roaring through the pine trees. B"
So the loom was stopped, and the
| little cupboard door locked, and the
| two women went to Nebasset, near
| which rocky Iomontory, on the edge
OF the sound, was situated the Nut
ting estate. Not much of an estate,
after all. A rqueer little brown house,
! like discolored mushroom, a huddle
of barns, and q stone cellar hewn into
the rocky side OF a beetling hill. in
which were arranged rows OF barrels
! on sort of stone shelf
Miss Plumb peered inquiringly at
| these barrels as, escorted by David
Lorn, n handsome sunburned young
giant who occupied the next farm she
went over the property for the first
| time.
What are these, Friend David?n
she asked doubtfully.
Guess likely they'er cider" SAID
David Lorn. "Cld Nutting, he made
the best cider for twenty miles
around
"Cider" repeated Miss Plumb.
Didn't you know that this was
famous cider farm?"said David.
didn't you see the orchard of apple
trees on the hill2" $780,
ayes, / saw Them" said Miss Plumb,
"but / did not realize their meaning.
/ think, Friend David, thee may pull
out the corks-
'Bungs, we call 'em," gently correct
ed Lorn.
"Bungs, il thee prefers that title,
and let the baIeful fluid flow away. l
am preiudiced with an exceeding pre-
| judice against Intoxicating liquors."
There amt no harm in cider" pro-
tested David Lorn.
"'Touch not, taste not, handle mott"
said Miss Plumb, firmly. Gas to the
apple orchard. it is not for me TO criti-
else the kindly fruits of the earth, but
/ could wish that they had been pas
ture fields or potato patches, or some
| thing less deleterlous than they are"
She walked quietly on. David Lorn
was opening his mouth to demonstrate,
when Patience gently beckoned him to
| desist.
"My Grandfather Plumb died of de-
| lirium tremens," she whispered.
aunt Ruth cannot forget that. Thee
will have to let her have her own
way"
David Lorn whistled low whistle.
"But anyhow" said he, "there'li
be deal of good vinegar lost il all
| this runs to waste. | say, Miss
Plumb"
81 would prefer thee to call me
Friend Ruth" said the old lady mild
ly.
at sounds pretty familiar, don't
| it?" apprehensively observed David.
"But il you say so, so it shall be. |
say, Friend Ruth, if I'll 60 bail that
this ere shan't none of it be used for
nothin' but vinegar to be sold by the
gallon, would you let me hev it at
market price? It's wicked sin to
waste the Lords good gifts"
Thee is not so far wrong, Friend
David" said Miss Plumb. eyes /
think1 may trust thee"
It'll make a iirst-chop, vinegar"
observed David, scientifically testing
| it with straw.
Little Patience was delighted with
the poultry yard and COW house. A
sturdy, shaggy pony. who shook his
head at them over the railing of his
stall, was duly admired; and then Da-
vid lighted n fire in the big, black
throated chimney of the old farm
| house.
'It's cold weather, even if the fust
/ hard frosts haven tcome yet, said he.
"And the house needs airin' up An
| guess Miss Plumb-Friend Ruth, /
:nean--you and Friend Patience here
had better come over and sleep at our
house tonight, il you don't want to
catch cold To-morrer the housell
be in better livin' order. And my sis
ter Calphurnia'll be proper glad to see
YOU
1t CHANGED that between repairs,
airing and adding to tie arrears of
furniture, Friend Ruth and her niece re-
manned at the Lorn homestead for
week, during which time Miss Calphur-
MIA, began, under Friend Ruth's direc-
tions, TO weave n new rag carpet, and
mapped out a crazy quilt as designat.
| ed by little Patience.
/ David Lorn. who, in his way. was
no contemplate carpenter, made a
strong kitchen table for the strangers,
put a corner cupboard in the living
room, and screwed up hooks, shelves,
and brackets innumerable, here, there,
and everywhere, TO suit Patience's
fancy in the old house.
"But after all" said the little
| Quakeress, '.it isn't as pleasant at
Nutting farm. shut in by all those
crooked apple trees, as it is here. |
wish we were going to live here.
81 wish so, too, with all my hearth
cried hospitable Calahurnia. Don't
you, David?Y