The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-05-12
INTERESTING STORY.
FRIEND RUTH'S PREJUDICE.

| FRIEND RUfH'S PREJUDICE.
"a farm ! seventy acresi All of our
own? Is thee sure, Patience, that thee isn't
ireamings"
Little Patience Plumb winked her bright
blue eyes again and again, to make sure that
she was certainly and individually wide
awake.
NO, Aunt Ruth, said she, 81 am no.
dreaming. Read the letter for theeself"
And Aunt Ruth, settling her spectacles
across the bridge of her nose, took the fold
ed paper from Patience's hand and slowly
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 intelligence that
she, Ruth Plumb, who wove rag carpets for
livelihood, and contentedly ate mush and
milk when she could not get beef and pota-
toes, was landed proprietress now of
farm up in Rhode Island, which had be
lohged to one Ezra Nutting, third o,
fourth cousin whom abe had never seen.
Little Patience looked eagerly at the elder
woman.
g Aunt Ruth" said she, g isn't thee going
out to see IL ?--nnd 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 go we shall stay
VIII thee live there, Aunt Ruth % cried
Patience, with sparkling eyes.
Miss Plumb looked pathetically around
the little chamber, whose one window was
bedimmed by q monster back-wall
~ have always longed for country
home, Pay she said. Thee has always
lived In the city thee does not know how
person feels who has once stood ON the
bills and heard the free wind roaring
through the pine-trees."
cupboard door locked, and the two women
went to Nabasset, near which rocky pro-
montory, on the edge Of the sound, was
situated the Nutting estate.
Not much Of an estate, after all. queer
little brown house, like o discolored mush
room, huddle Of barns, and stone cellar
hewn into the rocky side of beetling hill,
in which were arranged rows of barrels ON q
sort Of stone shelf.
Miss Plumb peered inquiringly OF these
barrels, as, escorted by one David Lorn,
handsome, sun-burned young giant who
occupied the next farm, she went over the
property for the first time.
"What are these, Friend David ?" she
psked, a little doubtfully.
"Guess likely they're cider" said David
Lorn. Old Nutting, he made the best
cider for twenty miles around"
T" Cider I" repeated Miss Plumb.
Didn't you know that this was famous
cider farm 2" said David. Didn't you see
the orchards Of apple-trees up on the hill ~
Eyes, I saw them," said Miss Plumb,
I" bat / did not realize their meaning.
think, Friend David, thee may pull out the
corks--"
Bungs, we call EN-" gently corrected
Lorn.
Bungs, If thee prefers that title, and lei
the. baleful fluid flow away. am prejudiced
with an exceeding prejudice against intox'-
,ating liquors."
There amt no harm in cider" pleaded
David Lorn.
Touch not--taste not--handle not = I"
said Miss Plumb, firmly. "As to the apple
orchard, it is not for me to criticise Il e
kindly fruits of the earth, but could wish
that they had been pasture-felds or potato
patches, or something less deleterious thar
they are."
She walked quietly on.
David Lorn was just opening mis- moutl
70 remonstrate, when Patience gently beck.
oned him TO desist.
my Grandfather Plumb died of delirium
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, "thsre'll be Q
deal of good vinegar lost II all this runs to
waste say, Miss Plumb-"
81 would prefer thee TO call me Friend
Ruth, " said the old lady, mildly.
" 1t sounds pretty familiar, don't it ?" ap-
prehensiveiy observed David. But If you
| say So 30 1t shall be. say, Friend Ruth
| II I'll go bail this ERE shan't none of It b.
used for nothin' but vinegar to be sold by
the gallon, would you let me hev Il at
market price? Ifs wicked sin to WASTE
the Lords good gifts.n
" Thee is not 90 far wrong, Friend David, /"
said Miss Plumb. " Yes, 1 think may
| trust thee.n
"ItTf make frst-chop vinegar, p observed
David, scientifically testing ii with straw.
Little Patience was delighted with tina
poultry-yard and cow-house--a sturdy,
shaggy pony, who shook his head at them
over the railing Of his stall, was duly admir-
sd--and then David lighted . fire In the big,
black throated chimney Of the old farm
house, and blew It into blaze.
+" It's cold weather, even ef the fust hard
frosts haven't come yet" said he. "And
the house needs airin' up. An guess, Misl
Plumb Friend Ruth, I mean-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 house,ll
be in better Twin order. And my sister
Calphurnia'n be proper glad TO see you."
Il CHANGED that between repairs, airing
and adding TO the arrears Of fu,uiture,
Friend Ruth and her niece remained ct the
Lorn homestead for week, during which
| time Miss Calphurnia began, under Friend
Ruth's directions, to weave new rag carpet
and mapped out crazy-quilt, as designed