Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-05-26
BUYING PUMPKINS.

house, and reckoning with her long
lean arms toward him. The farmer
drew his rein.
Hold on, sorrel!' he apostrophized
to his steed. s'You amt never in a
hurry when I want you to be; so I
calculate you can stand a bit now.
Wall, Mis- Hall, what can dew for ye
this morning?''
1--WE got some pumpkins that l
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 'em 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-tendrils and
crimson woodbine leaves that gar
landed the doorway. The tears came
into her dim eyes.
''Then I may as we'll give it up" said
she, in accents Of despair. 'For l
have nothin' else to sell: and Belindy
had set such store on my comm down
this autumn afore cold weather set in. -
':Ehp" said Mr.. Ellis, good-natured-
ly, "You was a-goin' down to Be-
lindy's, eh?'
II can't without no money! said the
Widow Hepsey Hall. "And 1 was
sort O. calculatin' on them pumpkins.
The corn hadn't amounted to nothin' ,
and the wcase!s has tux all the poultry,
and the dried berries widowed that
last dog-days weather, and the carpet
weavin' business is awful dull; 50 be
what be what to do?'
"Can't ye put off your vjsit!'' said
Eliakim. thoughtfully Ticking the top
! off a cluster of saucy ox-eyed daisies
that grew close to his wagon wheels.
"Belindy's little boys got the
Group" said Mrs. Hall, lugubriously.
''And her husband has fell off a scat
fold, and broke his leg. And if ever
I'm wanted there, it's now
II swami" calculated honest Eliakin>,
as he realized what the double meaning
of poverty and misfortune was. sketch
me them pumpkins; I'll 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've / got to gether
'cm?' reproachfully retorted Mrs. Hall
and not a 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 the har-
vested shocks cleaned the ruddy gold
of pumpkins innumeraole.
''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 got
the barn chambers full, and the lots full,
and the very cattle won't eat emp Be
you gone clean crazy?''
Mrs. Ellis was high-cheek-boned,
red-haired female, with projecting front
teeth, and hard, greenish eyes, like
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 favorite
axiom And Eliakim felt his heart
sink within him, AZ he faced her stern.
unpromising gaze.
They're jest few" he began.
"a few!' shrilly echoed his wife.
THE Vaughn is heaped full! And we
a-throwin' away of 'em every day!
That's jest q mans calcylatin'!''
jest few" said Eliakim, hitching
desperately on to the first section of his
speech, ''tbat I've brung down here to
sell for Mrs. Hall. There amt much of
any market up that away, you know,
Loisy. And" he added to himself,
goodness knows how glad I'd be to
sell 'em if had the chance! I amt
lynn, nohow!''
Mrs. Ellis gave prodigous sniff.
''Don't you fetch that there truck in
side of the door-yard. 'Liakim!'' said
she, ''you jest dump EN- ON the road
side, and let the neighbors' hogs cat
'em up as quick as they can!''
But Mr.. Ellis took advantage of a tin
peddler coming along on the other side
of the street and engaging his help
meets attention, to smuggle in the
load of pumpkins.
Il won't waste 'cm anyway" said he,
IF anybody's hogs is to eat 'em, it may
as we'll be NINE"
That afternoon, when he came into
supper, a thing happened which had
never before befallen him in all his
married life.
He found the tea-kettle cold, the
Graham gems unbaked, the table un-
spread, and his wife crying piteously.
.Eh!'' said Eliakim, blankly. "What
in-all-creation' srthe matter now?
1Ou Au sicA, NC YOU, LOlsy:
Eyes, ] be-" sobbed Mrs. Ellis.
.'Heart-sick, 'Liakim, Oh, what hev l
donee I've sold them old gray pants
O. .yourn to the tin peddler and never
remembered how I'd put that there hun
dred dollar coupon bond you gave me
to keep in the pocket, because cal
culated no burglars would take pair
o. ragged old pants. Oh DEAR Oh
dearl'
For one minute Eliakim Ellis stood