The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-07-11

though she was 80 uncomely, her dress
looked full of smuggling places for chll-
iren's heads, and her large shoulder like
pillow for the forlorn.
''Now, take off your things and be COM
fortable,' she said. - I was afraid you
couldn't come this evening, the weather's
50 raw
81 don't mind the weather. said
Phoebe, "when am asked to supper with
you Here you are shut in princess-like,
| place, the woods outside breathing, and the
kitchen kettle singing Iwish Thorney and
were set up in log-house life"
"How is Thorney!" inquired Mrs. Barker.
"He is we'll He is SO stout and braW-
| ny' She looked at the hearth without
Frightening. lam glad he has muscles.
| anyhow"
''Mr Barker's late tonight" said the
| schoolmaster's wife. "Hic school is so full.
| Hes fitting some Of the young men for col
| lege, and often helps them after hours"
She hung up her guests wraps on deer
antlers. Several doors Of various heights
| opened from this general room. Beyond
one the kitchen showed its FURNISHED stove
and tin vessels; another, STOPPING down.
ward a step, gave entrance to bedroom,
where Mrs Barker's best fnery hung on
the log wall protected BY muslin curtain.
Two more doors just like it probably opened
| on similar state-rooms. But the masters
| library was bolder conception. cast out
| like dormer-Window from the main pile,
| to be entered by pine archway hung with
curtains Of chintZ calico. The shelves were
very full. Rudely carved pyramids Of
pomegranates supported the masters row
Of Greek authors. His study-chair was a
gnarly stump, chopped into shape and cush:
| ioned.
A long clock in cherry case filed one
corner beside the fireplace, its yellow dial
marked in Arabic figures. One iron hand
| pointed to FIVE, and with deliberate, rasping
voice, it told the hour.
Phoebe stood on the hearth to warm her
hands, while Mrs. Barker drew table from
the wall and set up its leaves on extra legs.
The broad boarded floor showed the many
grooves this lable had made in its many
| journeys. The masters wife spread cloth
Of unbleachcd linen, exactly balancing the
ample folds at each table corner, and put
her blue-edged dishes and horn handled
knives and FORKS in array upon IL. Her
talk with her guest was as brisk and con-
slant as the fen leather pat of her foot
steps on the naked floor. She brought jams
and finally scented scake from her store
room. The masters chair was dragged
from his library to preside at the foot Of the
table like throne over two spint-bot:omcd
seats and one wooden chair with gliding on
the back The hostess sewing-rocker stood
near the fire for Phpbe's use.
II told MIR. Baker if he saw your brother
TO ask him to supper along with you"
'.Thorney would be too shy to come,'' said
Phoebe, wistfully.
''You 'psar very different to me,' re-
marked MNs. Baker, candidly, as she set
down the maple sirup in 3 glass dish and
arranged in goblet the silver spoons she
had bought with her own first savings, be-
fore she married Mr.. Barker. Il always
tell girls" said the masters wife, standing
back and admiring them, 1.-The first thing
they ought to do is to get set Of spoons
Take some Of your earnings and buy 'em
whether you're thinking of going to house
keeping or not. Then you have 'em."
''Thorney and can hardly afford silver
! when re set up our house," said Phoebe.