The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-02-22
The Widows Pumpkins.

j
the sunshine-and Eliakim Ellis was
driving serenely down Hay Hill.
81 amt poet" thought he, d" but
if l was l could write lot of rhymes
about this. Why, it's poetry all the
way through. And-eh? how?-what?
Who's that?'
1t was the Widow Hepsy Hall, stand
ing at the door of her little one-storied
house and reckoning with her long,
lean arms toward him. The farmer
drew his rein.
"Hold on, Sorrel'' he apostrophized
his steed. "You amt never in hurry
when | want you to be, so l calkerlate
you can stand still bit now. Wal,
Mis- Hall, what can l dew for We this
morning?'
GIVE got some pumpkins that /
want to SELL" said the Widow Hepsy.
"Drefful likely ones"
Pumpkins?" exclaimed Eliakm
Why, bless your soul, Mis- Hall !,
pumpkins is dreg in the market just
now. The pumpkin crop has turned
out powerful good, thank providence,
and our folks is feedin' them to the
cows"
A shadow of dire disappointment
crept over the old woman's face, as she
stood there, unconsciously picturesque,
against the curly hop-tendrils and
crimson woodbine leaves that garlanded
the doorway. The tears came into her
dim eyes.
"Then may as well give it up"
said she, in accents of despair, g for
| hain't nothing else to sell; and Be-
Indy had set such store on my comm
down this autumn afore cold weather
set in"
"Eh?" said Mr.. Ellis, good-naturedly.
"You was a goin' down to Belindy's,
eh?"
" l can't without no money!" said
the Widow Hepsey Hall. " And was
sort of calculatin' on them pumpkins.
The corn hasn't amounted to nothin',
and the dried berries widowed that
last dog-days weather, and the carpet
weavin' business is awful dull, so what
be l to do?"
Cant you put off your visit" said
Eliakim, thoughtfully Ticking the top
off cluster of saucy oX-eyed daisies
that grew close to his wagon wheels.
Belindy's little boys got the Group"
said Mrs. Hall, lugubriously. "And
her husband has fell off scaffold and
broke his leg. And if ever I'm wanted
there, it's now"
"Iswan" calculated honest Eliakim,
as he realized what the double meaning
of pOverty and misfortune was. " Fetch
me them pumpkins; I'll buy 'em, any
how"
"Pll let you have the lot for dol
lar" said the Widow Hepsy, wistfully
"Thev are out in the corner lot"
I" Amt gathered, ehP'
"Bless ME! who've got to gather mp"
reproachfully retorted Mrs. Hall" and
not soul about the place, and me with
that crick in my back"
Eiakim Ellis heart smote him.
Who was he, to complain of little
extra trouble, when the Widow Hepsy
was so much worse off than himself?
So he alighted and led Sorrel labori-
ously down the stony cart-track toward
the corn-feld, where, amid the har-
vested shocks, cleaned the ruddy gold
of pumpkins innumerable.
Pumpkins?" screamed Mrs. Ellis,
when her husband drove into the door
yard at noon. Pumpkins Why,
bringing pumpkins here for? Amt we
got the barn-chamber full, and the lots
full, and the very cattle won't eat 'em?
Be you clean gone crazy?"
Mrs. Ellis was high-cheek- boned
female, with projecting front teeth and
hard greenish eyes, like badly colored
marbles. She was one of those who
worshiped gain as the fire worshipers
fell down before the sun. Money is
money!" was her favorite axiom. And
Eliakim felt his heart sink within him
as he faced her stern, uncompromising
gaze.
"They're jest few" he began
GA few!" shrilly echoed his wife
"The Vaughn is heaped FULL And We
athrowing of 'em away every day
That's Jest mans calcuiatin'l"
jest few" said Elakim, hitchine
desperately on the first section of his
speech, "that I've brung down here
to sell for Mrs. Hall. There aim
much market up Hathaway, you know
Loisy."
4" And" he added to himself, good
ness knows how glad I'd be to sell ZEN
if l had the chance! amt lynn, no
how"
Mrs. Ellis gave prodigious sniff.
"Don't you fetch that there true
inside of the door-yard, 'Liakim! " SAT-
she. "Jest dump 'em on the roadside
and let the neighbors' hogs eat 'em ul
as quickly as they can
But Mr.. Ellis took advantage of tin
peddler coming along on the other sid
of the street and, engaging his help
meets attention, to smuggle in the LOAF
of pumpkins.
81 won't waste 'em, anyway" sal
he. elf anybody's hogs is to eat lei
it may as well be mine"
That afternoon when he came in t
supper thing happened which ha
never before befallen him in his MAJ
ried life.
He found the tea-kettle cold, tn
graham gems unbaked, the table III
spread, his wife crying piteously.
"Eh! "said Eliakim, blankly. "Wht
in all creations the matter now? 70
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