The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1889-11-29
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riage, John and his wife In the little
vehicle of his own. She looked very
beautiful, and her dress was perfect.
Her sisters-in-law had not dlsdained to
make sort OF rival toilet and Mrs.
Parmalee was very grand, but John
felt that he was left out in the cold,
and Rosa was rather pale and silent;
but they all warmed up little when
they entered the hall.
A sort Of proscenium surrounded the
stage at the end OF the great. room.
Vines clambered over 1t, water played
amongst rock work, and pots and tubs
Of rare plants filed in the foreground.
A miracle OF the scene painters art
arose at the back of the stage, where
the sun was setting over distant mount
aims, and in the midst stood Pomona
amidst wealth OF the fruits of all
countries, while at her feet lay Yam
kee pumpkin--a veritable miracle--so
large, so flawless, so golden, so perfect,
that it was the object on which all eyes
fingered. Itdwarfed every other pump
kin ever seen by the Oldest farmer
present
Ali the tables were loaded down.
however, and the Parmalee exhibit
looked we'll. People walked and
talked, and the band played. and at last
appeared upon the stage the figures OF
three sages who were to bestow the
prizes.
Smiths a1d Joneses, Williamses and
Browns, in turn grew happy. The
Widow Watkins almost tainted when
she received the first prize for onions.
and the new member, who was wild
over, whispered words Of comfort
Farmer Pagindarm thought the COM
mittee unjust because they overlooked
the merits of his "Jackson-whites,"
but Mr.. Parmalee received honors for
his Katharine pears with calmness-
he was used to it.
Johns grapes were ouly third best.
His mother felt it to be a Judgment
and was proud that her tea roses were
successful.
One after another the names OF the
successful were called, but as yet no
mention was made OF the great pump
kin. Whose was itP There was o
nause: the band PLAYED Yankee
Doodle;" a calcium light was turned
on the pumpkin; the orator waved his
hand toward it; all were attentive.
Next to pork and BEANS" began
the speaker, "our National dish is
pie. suppose nobody here
can deny that this pumpkin now before
us is the finest they ever saw. 1t is
almost miraculous. 1t is the first ex-
hibit Of its exhibitor, and / am proud
to announce that she is the wife Of one
OF our most esteemed young residents.
1t is in the family to get prizes at our
annual fairs, and she seems to have
got hold OF the secret. Mrs. John
Parmalee, | have pleasure in Offering
to you the first prize for pumpkins.
John, bring her up to get it You've
got first-class farmers wife, and no
The Parmalee family sat motionless,
their faces slowly turning pink. That
was the result of Rosa's sly gardening,
then. Her conservatory her Gar
den of Eden" had produced that
mighty pumpkin. There she was on
Johns arm, with her beautiful little
lace all pale with excitement; and here
she came back again with the medal in
ler hand, and she stood before her
and looked into her
ayes.
"You can't think l don't take an in.
crest in farming after that, mamma"
'he whispered. Tell me ! am going |
% be good farmers VILE"
And there and then the elder Mrs.
Parmalee kissed her, and said:
I'm proud Of you, my dear"
As for John, he wanted TO cry. He
Snew the miserable coldness of the
past year was over.
So 1t was. The girls called him
lack again, his aunt petted him. his
mother made him little turnover pies.
md knitted wristlets for him. The
girls appealed to him as authority in
vi things. The miraculous pumpkin
lad healed the family wounds. They
adopted Rose as a favorite sister and
laughter, But this year the Parmalee
amily are not so much interested in
he Agricultural Fair as usual They
wish, from the depths Of their souls,
hat there was baby fair in the coun-
Y instead, For assuredly, II there
we're, Rosa's boy, little Jack, though