The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-01

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Can't you put off your visit? said Ella
kim. thoughtfully flicking the top off a
cluster of saucy ox-eye daisies that grew
close to his wagon wheels,
Beindy's little boys got the Group,
said Mrs, Hall, lugubriously. And her
husband has fell off scaffold and broke
his.eg, An if ever Pm wanted there
its now.
swan! CALCULATED honest EIiakim. 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 dollar,
said the Widow Hepsy wistfully. They
are out in the corner lot.
Amt gathered, eh?
Bless me! whoye l got to gather'm?
reproachfulIy retorted Mrs. Hall-and
not soul about the place, and me with
that crick in my back.
Eliakim Ellis's heart smOte him. Who
was he to complain of a little extra
trouble. when the Widow Hepsy was so
much worse off than himself?
So he alighled and led Sorrel labor
ously down the stony cart track toward
the corn field, where, amid the harvest
ed shocks, cleaned the ruddy gold of
pumpkins innumerable.
n
Pumpkins! screamed Mrs. Ellis, when
her husband drove into the door yard at
noon. Pumpkins Why, Eliakim Ellis,
what on earth are you bringing pump
kins here for; Amt we got the barn
champer full, and the lots full and the
very cattle wont eat 'em. Be you clean
gone crazy!
Mrs Ellis was high cheek boned fa-
male, with projecting front teeth and
hard greenish eyes like badly colored
marbles. She was one of those who wor
shipped gain as the fire worshippers fell
down before the sun. Money is money
was her favorite axiom. And Eliakim
felt his heart sink within him as he fac
ed her stern, Incorporating gaze.
They're Just few he began.
A few, shrily echoed his wife. The
waggin Is heaped full. And we athrow
in of 'em away every day. That's jest a
mans calcuatin'.
Jest a few. said Elakim, hitching des
perately on the first section of his speech,
that I've brung down here to sell for
Mrs. Hall There amt much market up
that away, you know, Loisy.
And, he added to himself, goodness
knows how glad Id be to sell 'em if
had the chance. amt lyin', nohow,
Mrs. Ellis gave prodigious sniff.
Don't you fetch that there truck in
side of the door yard, 'Liakim, said she.
Jest dump 'em on the road side and let
the neighbor's hogs eat EN- up as quick
as they can.
But Mr.. Ellis took advantage of tin
peddler coming along on the other side
of the street and engaging his helpmeet's
attention. to smuggle in the load of
pumpkins.
won't waste 'em anyway, said he. II
anybody's hogs is to eat 'em, it may as
well be mine.
That afternoon when he came in to
supper a thing happened which had
hever before befallen him in his married
life,
He found the lea kettle cold, the gra-
ham gems unbaked, the table unspread
his wife crying piteously.
Eh! said Eliakim blankly. What in al
creation 8 the matter now: You ain
sick, be you, Loisy?
Yes. be, sobbed Mrs. Ellis. Hear
sick, 'Liakim. Oh, what hey done? I've
sold them old gray pants o yourn to tht
tin peddler and meyer remembered how
I'd put that there hundred dollar coupon
bond you gave me to keep in the pocket
because | calculated no burglars woulC
take pair of ragged old pants. Oh dear
oh, dear!
For one minute Eiakim stood silent
| A hnnHrnA 1Allaru hundred Il al
lars to this hard working man, whit
could only save and scrape by Titles.
But he looked at Loulsa's pale, woe
begone face, and his great tender hear
rose up within him like the billows o
the sea,
Don't fret, Loisy, my gal, he sal,
cheerfully. 1t was only an accident
'Tain't wuth frettin' about. And he ben
down and kissed her forehead-a rar
occurrence in their undemonstrativ,
household. Well go to work and max
il up as fast as possible, my dear.
Oh, 'Liakim, sobbed the poor wife.
don't deserve you should be so good t
me, I'm a cross, scolding creetur
and
Tut. tut, tut, good naturedly inter
rupted her husband. Guess | amt goir
to hey my wife abused this way.
And I'm sorry | spoke so short abou
them pumpkins, added Louise, dole
fully.
= Mr. Ellis whistled under his breath
He was almost disposed now to rsgre
that he had paid out that dollar for th
Widow Hepsy's pumpkins.
However, it's done. he said to himsel
and it can't be undone. Loisy'd best b
left in the dark. guess, about it.
lie was elertly kindling the fire, Will
= Mrs. Ellis moved sadly about MAXIM
preparations for the evening meal, whei
there was lively tattoo, played by
very energetic pair of knuckles, an tn
door outside.
Come in, shouted he,
And who should make his appearanc
but the TIN psddler himself.
Hello, squire, said he, Guess there
been mistake somewhere. amt buy
in up government coupon bonds. In
in the tin trade. found this ere IN you
old pockets, So allowed it was best L
bring it back right away.
lie held out the folded slip OF parch
ment. Eliakim looked oddly at il.
Fetch on Diogenes and his lantern
said he. l calculate here's the homes
man at last.
Get out, said the peddler, don't wan
none O. your four-syllabled fun poket
at me. But tell you what dew want
Them there pumpkins that you wa
, cartin' in when exchanged a sauce pal
and two dippers for them gray pant
with your good lady. I'll give you fiv
cents piece for EN-.
/ Done, cried Farmer Ellis joyfully.
2 There's to be big dinner up to Sta
e pies Hill, went on the pedder. An
. they're goin' to bake two hundre
pumpkin pies, aud all the pork an