The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21

uld lIt thS hSiEhbSAS N'SSoS Wv VIA w
as quick as they camp
But Mr.. Ellis took advantage of tin
peddler coming along on the other side
of the street, and engaging his help
meets attention, to smuggle in the load
of pumpkins,
81 won't waste 'em anyway" said he.
'If anybody's hogs is to eat 'em, it may
as we'll be mine."
That afternoon, when he came in to
supper, thing happened which had
never before befallen him in all his mar
ried life.
He found the tea-kcttle cold, the Gra-
ham gems unbaked, the table unspread
and his wife crying piteously.
"Ehw said Eliakim, blankly. "What
in-all-creation the matter now2 You
amt sick, be you, LoisyG'
eyes, I bel" sobbed Mrs. Ellis.
"Heartsick, Liakim. Oh, what heo I
donc9 I've sold them old gray pants
o'yourn to the tin pcddler, and never re-
membered how I'd put that there hundred
dollar coupon bond you gave me to keep,
in the pocket, because 1 calculated no
burglars would take pair dragged old
panst. Oh, dear! oh, dearw
For one minute Eliakim Ellis stood
silent. A hundred dollars was a
hundred dollars to this hard-working
man, who could only save and scrape by
Titles.
But he looked at Louisa's pale, woc-
begonc face, and his great, tender heart
rose up within him like the pillows of
the sea.
"Don't fret, Loisy, my GAL" he said,
cheerfully. 'It was only an accident.
'Tain't wuth frcttim' about" And he
bent down and kissed her forehead--a rare
occurrence in their undcmonstrativc
household. "Wc'll 60 to work and make
it up as fast as possible, my dear"
ooh, 'Liakim" sobbcd the good wife,
II don't deserve you should be so good
TO me. Pm cross, scoldin' creetur,
and"
"Tut. tut, tut" goodhumoredly inter-
rupped her husband. "Gucss l amt
goin' to hey my wife abused this away"
"And Pm sorry spoke so short about
them pumpkins" added Louisa, dole
fully.
Mr. Ellis whistled under his breath.
He was almost disposed now, to regret
that he had paid out that dollar for the
Widow Hcpsy's pumpkins.
'Howevcr, it's DONE" he said to HIM
self, "and it can't be undone. Loisy'd
best be left in the dark, l guess, about
| it,"
He was alertly kindling the fire, while
Mrs. Ellis moved sadly about, making pre-
parations for the evening meal, when
there was a lively tattoo, played by a
very energetic pair of knucklcs on the
door outside.
"Come mp shouted he.
And who should make his appearance
but the tin-peddler himself.
'1Icilo, squirrel" said he. "Guess
there's been mistake somewhere.
amt buyin' up Government coupon
bonds. Pm in the tin trade. found
this 'erc in your old pockets. So J. al.
lowed it was best to bring it back right
away"
He held out the folded slip of parch,
ment. Eliakim looked oddly at it.
"Fctch on Diogcncs and his lantern 7!
said he, 81 calc'atc here's the honest
man at last!"
"Get outl" said the tin-peddler. l
don't want none o your four-syllablcd
fun poked at me. But tell you what
dew want. Them there pumpkins that
you was cartin' in when l exchanged {
saucepan and two dippcrs for them gray
pants with your good lady, I'll give yet
five cents apiece for 'cm."
Ozone" cried Farmer Ellis, joyfully.
"There's to be big dinner up tt
Staplcses HILL" went on the tin-peddler
"And they're goin to bake two hundred
pumpkins-pies, and all the pork and
beans that's to he had. And there
goin' to be corner in pumpkins. Pvt
got my wagon out here, so l guess wei
load up right away"
And thus the hundred dollar coupon
bond was returned, all safe and sound
by the tin-pcddler, who, was as homes
as he was shrcwd, and the Widow
Hepsy Halls pumpkins were satisfacto
rily marketed. So much so, indeed, tina
Eliaklm even purchased cut of tn
profits snuff -colored mcrino gown
which he left at the widows door tn
very next time he drove past.
''It's pity she can't share more {
the good luck" said he.
: Mrs. Hall found the gown, ncatl,
wrapped in paper, at he door when sh
came home from cranberrying in tn
l swamp, and she never knew where
came from. But she made it up, an
l wore it to her daughter Belinda's in tn
| city.
But honest Eliakim has not yet tol
, Louisa, his wife, that he bought Wido'
r Hcpsy's pumpkins, and paid dollar fc
them in good hard cash.
I at amt best to tell women every
, thingm said hc.-Uelea Forrest Graoes
Quicker Than Wall Street.
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