The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-12-14
Seltrt Stsrp.
The Widows 5 Pumpkins.

IL was a Drlillant OctODer morn
ing, the grass all sparkling with
hoar frost. the trees waving theil
red-joweled arms to the sunshine
and Eliakim Ellis, was driving Sc
rcnely down Hay Hill.
II amt q poet" thought he, "but
If was / could write a lot of rhymes
about like this. Why, it's poetry
all the way through. And eh?-
how?-what? Who's that?"
1t was the widow Hepsy Hall,
standing at the door of her little
one-storied house, and beckoning
with her long, lean arm toward him,
The farmer drew his rein.
"Hold or, n,sorrel" he apostrophized
his steed; @you amt never in hur-
nv when / want you to be, so i cal
cerlate you can stand still a bit now.
Wal, Miss Hall. what can l do for
We this morning?"
"Tve got some pumpkins that !
want to sell,' said the widow Hepsy.
-'Dreful likely ones"
aPumpkins?" echoed Eliakim,
"Why, bless your soul, Miss Hall,
pumpkins is a dreg in the market
just now. The pumpkin crop has
turned out powerful good, thank
Providence, and our folks is feedin'
'em to the caows."
A shadow Of dire disappointment
crept over the old woman's face, as
she stood there, unconsciously pic
turcsque, against the curly hop ten
drills and crimson woodbine leaves
that garlanded the doorway. The
tears came into her dim eyes.
'Then / may as we'll give it up
said she in accents of despair. "For
/ hain't nothin' else to sell; and Be
Indy had set such store on my com
in down this autumn aforc cold
weather set in"
"Ehs" said Mr.. Ellis, good-natur-
edly. "You was a-goin' down to Be
lindy's, ehy'
Il can't without no money" said
the widow Hepsy Hall. And / was
sort o .calculatin' on them pump.
kins. The corn hain't amounted to
nothjn', and the weasels has tnk all
the poultry, and the dried berries
mildewed that last dog days wealth.
cr, and the carpet-weaven business
is awful dull; SO what be l to do?"
Cant We put off your visitY' said
Eliakim, thoughtfnlly Ticking the
top off cluster of saucy ox-eyed
daisies that grew close to his wagon
wheels.
"Bclindy's little boys got the
Group said Mrs. Hall, lugubrious.
". "And her husband has fell of
q scaffold and broke his leg. And
IT ever I'm wanted there, it's now
Il swan calculated honest Ella
kim, as he realized what the double
meaning of poverty and misfortune
was. .Fetch me them pumpkins;
I'll buy 'em anyhow"
.I'll let you have the lot for a dol
lar said the widow Hepsy, wistful-
". They're jest out in the cor
ner lot"
"Ain't gathered, eh?"
"Bless me! who've / got to gather
'em'" reproachtully retorted Mrs
Hall-aand not soul about tn.
place, and me with that crick in my
back"
Eliakim Ellis heart smote him
Who Was he, to complain of little
extra trouble, when the widow Hep
sy was so much worse off than him
self.
So he alighted and led Sorrel la
,boriously down the stony cart track
toward the corn field, where, amit
the harvested shocks, cleaned the
iruddy gold of pumpkins innumcra-
lble.
"Pumpkinsr' screamed Mrs. Ell
lis. when her husband drove init
the dooryard Mt noon. pumpkins
Why, Eliakim Ellis, what on eartl
are You bringing pumpkins here for
Amt we got the barn-chamber'
full, and the lots full, and the very
cattle won't eat 'em? Be you clear
gone crazyy
Mrs. Ellis was a high-cheek-bon
ed female, with projecting from
teeth, and hard, greenish eyes, lik'
badly colored marbles. She was ont
of those who worship gain as th'
rc-worshippcrs far down before th'