The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-11-21
ABl0AILs TEAPOT

fornsno Of Donniing ''old gray" fol
the deacon uas not corpulent. aud tb'
msre notwithstanding ber antiquity, hst
retained peryerse habit Of "vecring ronnt
aft" whenever she recognized any ones 10
teniioa OF getting into the saddle.
II ~ss clear. crisp su,umn morning
more than hiiy years ago. and though
neither speaker couId lay sny claim "a
beauty. still they unconsciously added ,
touch OF pieiuresqueness to avery charm
log scene. The rambling. low rooied farm
house Vas shadowed by huge over hang
ing elms: the helds and woods we're rich
10 autunnal gold; and winding away into
the distance was the Ssco river shrouded
10 besotifying mist which both revealed
and bid its rocky course. very much ~
the mist Of time soften and enhance Ia
our eyes the rugged life Of our forefAthers
who dwelt along its banks.
At last the deacon 10 spite OF the mares
remonstrances. being firmly seated 10 the
saddle. turned and shed oil the compla.
cepcy Of his forid countensnce upon the
figure In the doorway.
She was little. wiry woman with au
alert. eIpectant look peculiar to many
small animals which gives them an express
sion half aggressive. half pathetic, and
which seems to mean that, the rest OF
creation beng so much better equipped,
one moment eii the defensive might prove
disastrous.
Didn't want notbiu' in tsown. did yehi
asked the deacon.
Notbin' much. she answered. cept il do
seem pity for little Mstildy not to bev
. new woolen bunnit for meeting, when
We bev got such sight OF fresh eggs
Can't make bunnit outen eggs ken
yeb1 queried Lisbs with sy winks
Lsl deakinl exclaimed Miss Pettisrew
reproacbfully, smiling in spite OF herself
as IT we're, then adding seriously; Yeh
couldn't carry some with yeh and bother
barteriDg oy 'em for red yarn. 'spose
could yeb2
Don't know why couldn't, be replied
continuing the conversation in negatives.
AT this she flew into the house aud out
s9sin, bringing basket Of eggs. which
she had all ready. aud began fastening
them on the saddle.
Want Dothiu elsei asked the deacon
meanwhile:
Wssl, yes, there be too. she answered.
driven at last into an affirmative. Aour old
Britannia ware teapot has got hole in the
bottom and leaks like riddle.
/ want to kuowl ejaculsted Lisha, which
ives the nesrestghe ever came to surprise
Guess you had better git another bout
the same kind, they do last most amaziu'.
That's sol assented he, and then with
that lack OF ceremony Characteristic OF
the unadulteiated Yankee. he started alb
ruptly off down the road
Abigail Petiigrew stood still until he
had disappeared around turn. and then
re.entered the house with sigh.
Ounces were stewipg 10 the kitchen and
filling the house with delicious fragrance
cream was to be gathered on the milk
pans in the cool cellar; then there was al
ways sweeping to be done, and dinner to
be gotten ready by The time the "hands"
came in and little Matilda came home
from school. The "bound out help" was
. stupid creature. rud all the responsible
ity fell on Abigail.
Lishs Snifiiu was realizing this more
every day. aud as be rode away that N orn.
ing he was soliloquizing after his mega tive
fashion: AiDt no particular reason wb
not far ez can see.
As for Abigail, she had never been SO
happy before in her life, and her sigh was
for the future. the near future, when she
would be obliged to go away from it all.
There bad been a time whom the Petit
Crews had be-, n well.to. do. but both her
parents and their possession had passed
away very early in Abiesll's career. and al
mos, az far back as sbe cor,d ,ememhe,
her younger brother and sister had been
left entirely TO her care and her needle.
and her keen little wits had needed ali
their sbsrpness and activity 10 meet the
demsn upon them.
II Al IA
had struggled through ell manner Of child
ish ailments with them. bad scolded and
spanked according TO her liahts. and
worked for and worried over them till
they grew up-s process for which she
ber.elf had never found time.
Al last when the brother had been duIy
appreniiced to . trade in . neigbboring
TO rn, and Hetty. the sister. was eighteen |