Middletown transcript., 1886-03-12
the working-point, but displayed
usually a masterlv inactivity.

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Shortly after his instalment there
appeared upon the scene little girl
with her kinky hair tied up with white
strings, and q brevity of skirt which
amply display a pair of long and very
thin black legs.
"Who is that child, HenryP' in
quired Nina
"Dat's de daughter of my wife,
replied Henry, darkly.
Hubby seemed to eye Prudy Anas-
tine-for this was the intruder's name
with strong disfavor, and occa-
sionally flung pot-lids and rolling
pins at her in moments Of excitement.
But Prudy Anastine developed
staying power equal to that of her
father. ~ Ila
The picking began with great en-
thusiasm. Teddy rode over to Arden,
the neighboring village, and hunted
up some nice little jars, and it was
not long before Nina and Helen were
gazing proudly upon their handiwork.
Very pretty the pearly little onions
looked, with one baby red pepper in
their nlidstA-"just fora touch of col
| or" as Nina said. Sl' @-
Henry took q deep interest in the
matter. but was gfieved that they
ehould have begun at the wrong time.
"Lemme' press it on your nemor-s
andum, Miss Hellum," he urged, "dat
dey'll spile, shore. eff you make EN- in
de dark O de moon. Dey'fl spile-
dat1s what dey's gwine do"
Hubby onbent sufficiently to say
that she had always aliked picklin'
nightly" finding, no doubt con-
genial element in the vinegar and red
pepper.
She even burst into song in voice
suggestive of the hooting owl, the
ditty having wild refrain of.
"oh, go along, an don'tyou bodder mel"
"Huldy is actually singing a love
song," announced Nina.
Glove song, indeed p retorted
Teddy. "That's all you know about
it. It's a hymn, and. that exhorta-
ton is addressed to The Evil one--a
sort of Retro, me, sathanas..'"
Prudy Anastine, after being rehabi-
litated, had been engaged to look after
Baby Jack. Something of the sort
had become necessary, since he had
been rescued from the preserving ket-
tie smelling strongly of onions.
aYou don't seem to like Henry"
remarked Nina to Hubby one day.
"No,'m, I don't. Henery makes
Pout like he's pore, but Henery's what
you call misery. Yes. At his house
he's got chairs, an tables, an bureaus,
an ole buggy wheels, an saddles, an
brides, an eight wash-stands. Eight
wash-standsl" she repeated, with great
bitterness. "What goods his wash
stands go'n' to do him when Judgment
day comes? Kin he take 'em with
him ? No."
The picture of Henry's difficult
ascent to heaven, weighed down by
eight wash-stands, was too much for
Nina's gravity.
Henry, however, was always sooth-
ing in his demeanor toward Hubby.
When he wished to be particularly
ingratiating he addressed her as "gal,"
a tribute to her youthful and bloom
ing appearance.
"Cl'ar out o hyeh, Henery Turnip-
seed" she replied, in response to some
Of his civilities. GAIL what's roun'
dis hyeh vase"-by this poetic image
she meant the stove-"i is mine, an I
don't want no sech as you a-talkin' to
me-"
Henery retired, soliloquizing, in an
injured tone: "Ain't I always b'long-
ed to starchy folks, what wore starchy
clothes, an eat starchy vittles2 An
now Huldy she makes out like dat'ere
ole Kitchens too good for me-"
A few sample jars of pickles had
been sent to New Orleans grocer,
and after a season Of suspense. Helen
received letter of approval and an
order for more. Every one lent
helping hand, even Nettie, who with
striking originality tried to make
brine with white sugar instead Of salt.
After this she was begged to desist.
But Helep's ambition did not stop
at pickles. She added TO her list a
Jelly made of the great fragrant Sib-
erian ounce, SO firm ard dry that it
could be cut like guava, and was in
finitely less insipid. This was packed
in boxes prettily decorated by Nina,
and labelled Lin-Pao"-the precious.
Then they made preserves of the wild
plum, with its tart. delicious flavor,
that shone through its lucent syrup
like crimson globes.
In the course of time Huldy's man.
ner toward Henry appeared to soften,
and her employers were quite thunder
struck to learn that she and Henery
had once been man and wife, and that
Prudy Anastine was their child. The
eight wasb-stands had been the bone