Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-03-02

SWIM
clothes hung out to dry. The ground was
beaten down around these huts, and before
a small low door some dozen of fowls were
picking up the grain thrown them by an old
woman
''Good evening" said the old woman, seeing
us approach. 'Wont you come in and warm
yourselves bit? 1t is fresh tonight"
Louise looked at it all as one looks at
successful painting. We entered. The in
terror was worthy of the exterior. In the
middle of an irregular cabin, full of corners
and recesses, a bright fire was burning on
the ground between four bars of iron, which
kept the frebrands in place and marked the
hearth The flames rose high; the roof was
open in the middle, like the impluvium of
Roman house, and beyond the opening,
through a wide, gaping chimney, through
which the light came down and the smoke
rose one could see the branches of the trees
and the gray sky In the ashes was pot
where something was boiling; and i'll the cor
ners of the cabin, surrounded by materials,
debris, and all sorts of tools, were three men
tone of them little old man, with cheeks
scanned and red like brick, who struck in
turn with their tools. They were father, son,
and son-in-law; and from one years end to
the other, summer and winter, IN this cabin
where we We're, and which served them for a
workshop, they split and resplit the oak logs
About once week the son went to the vii
lage for provisions, and that was all. On
Sunday the entire family played at bowling
under the shade Of the great trees
As we entered they stopped their work, and
each of them, after having bid us good day,
laid down the huge bright Ratchet with
which they were armed, a frightful instru-
ment, like the knife of guillotine furnished
with handle, heavy blade, sharp and
large well made for the execution of oaks,
but of sinister aspect.
Louise seated herself near me on little
bench
eve are interfering with your work, said
I to the old man.
'Thank you, no, sir; we were just going to
eat our supper"
The two young men laid down their blades
and came toward large table, made in q
most primitive way of a plank and four
roughly hewn feet. While they were putting
on the table the small, thick, blue plates the
old woman had occupied herself in getting q
large frying pan and throwing on the fire an
armful of sticks In that scene, so rough and
rude how fine and delicate Louise appeared
to me; so dainty with her long giants de
Suede; her white skirt just lifted a trife, and
her little boots. With her two hands out
stretched she shielded herself from the heat
of the fire, and while chatted with the stave
makers she watched from the corner of her
eyes the butter which was beginning to sput-
ter in the frying pan. Suddenly she rose,
and, taking the handle of the frying pan
from the hands of the old woman, "Let me
help you with your omelet, will you." she
said.
I'M. ;1ol to a,s
and Louise found herself Alone standing in
the attentive attitude of a fisherman holding
his rod at the moment when the bobbing cork
warns him of nibble. The fire frightened
a bit: she fixed her eyes upon the melting
butter. with outstretched arms, biting her
lips in her effort.
cit is a trife heavy for madam" said the
old woman. IT would wager that this is the
first time you ever made an omelet in the
cabin of a wood cutter: is it not, my lady!"
Louise nodded yes without turning her
head
''Ihe eggs! the eggs!' she cried suddenly,
and with such an anxious air that we all
burst out laughing.
'',The eggs! the butter is bubblng up!
Quick, or will not be responsible for the re-
sult.n The old woman hurried to break the
eggs.
''And the herbsl' cried the old man.
s'And the bacon and the salt?" said the
young man.
So everybody began to work; one chopped,
one cut, one pounded, while Louise, with
flushed face, tapped with her feet and called:
''Hurry! come, hurry now!h
At last the sound of much sputtering arose
from the frying pan, and the great work had
begun. We all gathered around the fire,
looking on with much anxiety, for, since
each one had had hand in tie omelet, the
result of the operation interested every one.
The good wife, on her knees near a large
platter, lifted with her knife one corner of
the omelet, which had begun to brown.
MADAME has only to turn it now" she said.
zone quick turn" added the old man.
stWithout too much force,n observed the
young man.
Zone single toss; houp! my child" said L
iii my turn.
eff you speak to me all at once'-
'Hurry, madamel'
eff you speak to me all at once, shall
never dare = Oh, but it's awful heavy"
Gone quick turn!"
"But I can't. It's going to upset. All,
heavensr'
In the heat of the action her hood had fallen
off. She was as rosy as peach, her eyes
shone, and, while fretting over her work, she
laughed merrily from time to time At last,
after O. supreme effort, the frying pan was
turned and the omelet rolled out, a trife
slowly, must confess, on the great platter
which the good wife held for its reception.
Never had omelet better appearance.
~ am sure that the little lady's arms must
be very tired said the old man, cutting large
slices from his round loaf of bread.
''No, not very" said my wife, laughing
good hnmorediv: ''onlv want TO taste my
our omelet."
We seated ourselves at the table, before
the clean plates. On the bottom of mine
strutted a tri-colored cock. When we had
tasted the omelet and the Wine that these
good people gave us, we rose to begin our
walk home again. The sun was setting. and
the wood choppers family came out of the
cabin to bid us good-by and to watch us go.
bn't you want my son to show you the
way?" called the good wife while we were yet
within hearing
1t began to grow dark and damp in the
forest, and little by little we quickened CAR
pace.
"Those people are happy" said Louise to
me after awhile; 'let us go and breakfast
with them tomorrow, shall we? We can take
baby in one basket, and in another great
pate with bottle of good wine. You are
not afraid of getting lost, &c orge?"
''No, my dear, don't be troubled"
''With great pate and a. bottle of good
wine. What is it I see down there's"
cit is nothing, the trunk of a tree"
''The trunk of q tree-the trunk of a treeF
she murmured, land behind us, don't you
hear something's"