Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-15

lie found the iea-kettle cold. the
graham gems unbaked. the table UNI
spread. his wife crying piieously.
"Eh!' sand Eliakim. blankly. "What
in all creation the matter now? You
amt sick. be you. LoisyP'
Eyes. | ber' sobbed Mrs. Ellis.
''Heartsck. 'Liakim. On. what hov
donep I've sold them old gray pants
o yourn TO the tin peddler, and never
remembered how I'd put that there
hundred-dollar coupon bond YOU gave
me TO keep. in the pocket because
calculated no burglars would take "A
pair o ragged old pants. Oh, dear!
oh. dear!"
For one minute Eliakim Ellis stood
silent A hundred dollars was hun
dred dollars to this hard working man,
who could only save and scrape by
Titles.
But he looked at Louisa's pale. Woe
BECOME face. and his great, tender heart
rose up within him like the pillows of
the sea.
''Don' fret. Lolsy. my gal" he sad.
cheerfully. 1t was only an accident
faint with frettin' about And he
bent down and kissed her fcrehead-a
rare occurance in their undemonstra-
tive household. well go to work
and make it up as fast as possible. my
dear
"Oh. 'Liakim," sobbed the poor
wife. ii don't deserve you should be so
good to me. I'm cross, scoldin
creetur. and
Tut tut. tut - good humoredly in
terrupted her husband Guess | ain t
goin' to hev my wife abused in this
away"
"And I'm sorry | spoke so short
about them pumpkins, added Louisa,
dolefully.
Mr.. Ellis whisted under his bre ath.
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, land it can't be undone.
Loisy' best TO be left in the dark,
guess about it.
He was alcrtly kindl.ng the fire,
while Mrs. Ellis moved sadly about
making preparations for the evening
meal. when there was "A lively tattoo.
played by very energetic pair of
knuckleS on the door ont side.
'tOmc IN! shouted he.
And who should make his appear
ance but the tin-peddler him self
"Hellow. squirrel said he Guess
there's been II mistake somewhere |
amt buvin' up government coupon
bonds | m IN the Tin trade. | found
In ere in your old pockets. SO |
allowed it was best 10 bring i back
right awav.'
lie held out the folded slip of parch-
ment. Eiakim looked oddly ut it.
'fetch on ID ogcnes and II ) lanternw
said he II calc'late here's the honest
man at last''
''Get ouH said the pcddler. II
don't want none o YOUR four-syllabled
fun poked at me. But | tell you what
] dew want Them there pumpkins
that you was cartn' in when | ex-
changed "A sauce pan and two dippers
for them gray pants with your good
lady. L II give YOU five cents apiece for
'em.
Done" cried Farmer Ellis. joyfully.
There to be a big dinner up to Sta
plescs Hill. went on the tin peddler.
"Aud they re goin' TO bake two hun
dred pumpkin pies. and all the pork
and beans that TO be- bad And there 5
Gon' TO be corner in pumpkins. I've
got my wagon out here, SO | guess
We'll load up right away"
And thus the hundred dollar coupon
bond was returned. all safe and sound.
by the tin-pcddler who was as honest
As he was shrewd. and the Widow
Hepsy Hall pumpkins were satisfac-
torily marketed. So much so, indeed.
that Eliakim even purchased out of
the profits snuif-colored mer mo
gown, VIII ch he left at the widow :
door the very next time he drove
past.
''lts n pity she can't share more o
the good luck. p" sad he.
Mrs. Hall found the gown. neatly
wrapped in paper. at the door when
she came home from cranberrring in
in the swamp, and she never knew
where it came from. Bat she made it
mp. and wore ii TO her daughter Be-
linda's in the city.
But honest Eliakim has not yet told
Louisa his wife. that he bought
Widow Heps,'s pumpkins. and
paid dollar for them in good. hard
cash
1T ain best to tell women every
thing" said he.-HeIeH Forrest