Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-08-17


But breakfast had been ready goot
halihour, and after blowing the horn
vigorously twice, she was just on the
point Of going down TO the barn to see
what had happened. when Deacon Croft
appeared in a most woful plight
Little rivulets of milk were running
down his hair, off the end Of his nose,
and meandering slowly along his
sleeves and trousers; he was dripping
wet from head to foot, and the pail was
empty.
ezekiel Croft" cried Aunt Macy,
with uplifted hands, 'what hev you
donep''
well, Mary" said he. looking at
her with moist and milky smile, Il
hain't done very much. but the COW
she's done consid able, and he laughed
heartily.
Eye see, Mary, she amt used to me-
and she kinder objected to my milkin'
her, an / he'd to smooth her down con-
sid'able before she'd let me begin. An
then | took Toms milkin' stool, an l
amt quite so slim as ! was once.
Il felt it kinder teeterin under me
two or three times. but ] thought I'd
set ruther light on it an get through;
but jest as l was goinl to move the pail
on one side, l brought my heit down
pretty solid, an the three legs jest soft
ly spread out, and away went Deacon
Ezekiel Croft fiat on his back, with his
feet hyin' in the air! The COW was SO
scairt at my antics that she kicked up
her heels, too. an, over went the brim-
min pail O. milk, an here | be perfect
ly soaked. Well, Mary, they say't
milk-bath's good for the complexion,
SO you're likely to hev a pretty han.
some husband after this"
Handsome or not, Ezekiel Croft, do
you go an change your clothes this
minute, or you'll have your eath-cold.
Seems as if every thing goes wrong
this morning somehow"
$50 1t does,' said Uncle Ezekiel,
giving a backward glance as he walked
of, and then turning fairly around;
MARY" said he, 'Tve made dis
covery. Toms a pretty handy boy to
have around mornin's )"
81 guess you'd thought so if you'd
seen me picking up wet chips for kim
dlin'-wood," sighed Aunt Mary.
"There! did forget it, after all"
said Uncle Ezekiel, regretfully TON
told me the very last thing to be sure
an not forget Aunt Mary's kindlin
wood. That boy must step round
pretty lively mornin's to getthrough
before school, an Inever thought he |
did any thing either! Don't seem to,
somehow"
At last they gathered around the
breakfast table, an hour late. 1t was
silent, like the supper of the night
before, and other silent meals succeed
ed it.
'1.don't know what in the world L m
goin' to do about the pieces" said
Aunt Mary, complainingly. Tom had
been gone six days. "There's pieces
of pie we've left settin' all down one
of the pantry shelves, and there's that
jar of cookies! It's full yet, and it
don't last any time when Toms home.
He's worth sight to eat up the pieces,
anyway. Beats all how that boy enjoys
eating!''
Seems as though we don't eat any
thing" she said again that evening as
she looked around the supper table dis
The professor had already folded his
napkin, and was looking through his
glasses straight before him with Sc
rious air.
isn't there any thing moro that you
would like" she asked, turning to
him.
THANK you, no." he replied. 81
was just thinking" he added, rather
primly, ''as looked at the empty
place, that nature abhors vacuum,
and it would be rather pleasant to have
Toms merry face opposite me.
"Twould be a great thing for the
cookies and pies, anyway" remarked
Uncle Ezekiel. They're just spilin'
for him, TO say nothin' of the evenin'
chores, and he walked out heavily to
stable the horse, lock up the barn and
split the kindling.
About eight o'clock that evening they
MI gathered in the old-fashioned sit
ting-room, around the cheerful open
fire, for the evening was cool The
professor sat at his own little table,
writing very learned article on THE
Higher Educationj' Aunt Mary was
knitting on warm and cozy-looking
red mitten-not very large one and
Uncle Ezekiel was busy trying to find
put from the columns of the village pa
per which party was going to save the
country in the coming elections
1t was perfectly quiet" and they
we're enjoying peace. Not a sound
broke the silence until cricket think
ng itself alone, came out on the hearth
md chirped little.
There. said Aunt Mary, I'm
to hear something. Seems as
i we're having funeral here now !
ldays"
Uncle Ezekiel looked over the top of {
he paper and caught her furtlvely
Tiping away tear.
Now, now, Mary, that'll never do"
iaid he, soothingly. whats gone
wrong to-day"
"Oh, | don't know what is the mat
er, " she replied. Perhaps Pm nerv-
'us. But it's dreadful lonesome.
Uncle Ezekiel arose. and, laying aside