The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-01-27

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"Jest d few" said EIiakim, bitch
ing desperately OH the first SECTION
OF his speech, "tEiat I've brnng
down here to sell for Mrs. Hall.
There nin't much market up that
Away, son knnw, Loisyg
"Apd,p he added to himself,
ssgoo,lpess Knows how glaaaIti 10
to sellsgem i'll had the chanceI /
aiH't u lyi1, nohow!5
Mrs. Ellis gave prodigious shif,
| S0oi't sou fetch that there truck
I Inside the doOfyard, 'Liakinrw said
she. jest dump 'em on the road
side and let the neighbors' hogs eat
'em up as quick as they can.n
| Bot Mr.. Ellis took advantage of
a tin peddler on the other side of
the street aIld engaging his help
mates attention, to smnggle iu the
load Of pumpkins.
~ won't waste 'em, Anyway"
SAID he. eff anybody's hogs is to
eat 'em, it may as well be miue.p
That afternoon when be came to
supper d thing happened'which had
never before bsfallen him in his
married life.
He found the tea-kettle cold, the
graham gems unbaked, tue table
nnspread aud bis yifecryiug bitters
ly.
och y said Eliakim blankly.
"What in all'creation's the matter
now. You ain't sick, be you, Lois
sy ~
"Yes, l beE' sobbcd Mrs. Ellis.
"Heartsick, 'Liakim. Oh, what
hev | doneg I've sold them old
gray pants o yeurn to the tin ped.
dler, and never remembered how
I'd put that there 800 coupon bond
you gave ms to keep in the pocket,
because l calculated that no bur
glar would take a pair O. ragged old
pants. Oh, dear! oh, dearl'
For one minute Eliakim Ellis
stood silent. A hundred dollars
was hundred dollars to this hard
working man who could only save
aud scrape by Titles.
But he looked at Louisa's pale,
woe-begone face, and his great,
tender heart rose up within him
like the bIllows of the sea.
"Don't fret, Loisy, my gall" be
said, cheerfully. "Tain't wuth
frettin' about Aud he bent down
ana kissed her forehead-a rare Oc-
currence in their undemonstrative
household. Well go to work and
make 1t up as fast as possible, my
dear"
"Oh, 'Llakim," sobbed the poor
wife, 81 don't deserve you should
be so good to me. I'm a cross,
scoldIng creetur, and"
'.Tut, tut, tut" good humoredly
interrupted her husband. "Guess
l AMT goin' to hev my wife abused
this way"
"And Pm sorry spoke so short
about them pumpkins" added Lou
isa, doletully.
Mr.. Ellis whistled under his
breath. He was almost disposed
now to regret that he had paid out
that dollar for the Widow Hepsy's
pumpkins.
"However, it's done," he said TO
himself, "and it can't be undOne.
Loisy'd best be left in the dark, ]
guess, about it."
He was alertly kindling the FIRE,
while Mrs. Ellis moved sadly about
making preparations for the eve
ming meal, when there was q lively
tattoo played by a very energetic
pair of knuokles on the door out.
side.
"Come In p shouted be.
And who should make his APP
pearance but the tin peddler HIM
self.
"HeIla, Squire r. said he, "guess
there's been a mistake somewhere.
I aim buyini mp government cou.
pcn bonds. Pm in the tin trade. |
found this 'ere in your old pockets.
So | allowed it was best to bring 1t
back right away%
BE held out the faded slip OF
parchment. EIiakim looked oddly
atit.
"Fetch on Diogenes and bis liant
eruw said he. 81 calc'late here's
the hoDest man at last u
uGet out n said the peddler. 81
dou't want none o. your four-sylla-
bled fun poked at me. But l tell
you what dew want. Them there
pumpkins that you were cartin' ID
when exchanged saucepan and
two dippers for them gray pants
with your good lady; I'll give yOT
. Eve cents apiece for 'em.'
aDoue n cried Farmer Ellis, JOY
fully.
"There's to be a big dinner up 4
: Stapleses Hill," went on the III
, peddler. "And they're gOiu'
! bake two hundred pumpkin piei
and all the pork aud beans that's I
be had. Aud there's goin' 70 be
corner in pumpkins. I've got NJ
: wagon out here, so | guess We
T load up right away.n
Q Aud thus the hundred dollar COZ
. non bond was returned, all safe an
5 sound. by the IN peddler, who va
D as honest as be was shrewd, an
. the Widow Hepsy Halls pumpkin
2 we're salisfacfaflE marketed. >
much so, indetd, that Ellaklm eve
!. purchased out Of the profits snaf
}. coIorcd merino goFn, which be lel