Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-04-05
THE DBACON'S GIRLS.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
II never saw any one alter so much i
my life, " said Gran ther Allen. ether
wasn't : prctticr girl than Deborah Hal
ali the country through, ten years ago
and now look at hcrl"
Gran'ther Allen was smoking his pip,
out on the porch, where the morning
glories, trained to strings, made a pret,
ty stencihng of light and shade on the
floor.
His wife, hearty old woman, with a
complexion like rosy spitzenbcrg ap-
pie, had just come to the door.
The Aliens kept the postoffice, but
here in Pumpkintown the mail-coach
passed through only twice a week. and
the Thursday letters were all sortei
over and dealt out to their owners long
ago.
On the other side of the wide, maple
shaded read stretched the we'll painted
fences and thrifty out buildings of the
Hubbard Farm, and it was of Mrs Elias
Hubbard, the deacon's second wife. that
Gran ther Allen spoke.
II reckon said Mrs. Allen, "that
she has pretty hard scramble of it.
Deacon Hubbard he don't ielieve in
keeping no hired help, and them three
step-darters, | sort o. reckon they amt
easy TO manage"
.Milly amt bad hearted observed
Gran'ther Allen.
No, and no more amt Abby; and
little Esther she loves Mrs. Hubbard as
if she had been her own mother. But
the deacon he squeez cverJ cent afore
he pays it out. If Deborah was hired
help, she'd get wages, but l guess she
don't see the color Of much money as
things is now"
While the old postmaster and his wife
were thus discussing the private Affairs
of the handsome, white painted fam
house opposite, the dwcllers therein were
greatly rejoicing over certain piece of
luck which had befalen them, in the
shape of bequest froma certain ancient
grand-uncle, who seemed to have over
looked the necessity for dying until
now.
He had left fifty dollars each to Milli-
cent, Abigail and Esther Hubbard and
each was discussing how she should
spend this financial windfaIl.
'Better put it in the savings bank,
gals, said Deacon Hubbard, sagely.
'But it was left to us to spend as we
pleased, father" pleaded Abigail,
handsome, red-cheeked girl, with very
black hair and eyes of the shallow, gilt
tering ebon of a glass bead Il should
so like a crimson cashmere gown"
''No, Abby, no, said Millicent,
whose style Of beauty was decidedly that
of Tltian's Fornar ma. "a gown in
deed, to be worn out and doue with
Now is the chance, if ever, for
piano
"A-pianor Abby uttered the
words with gasp. "But fifty dollars
wouldn't buy a piano."
"a hundred and fifty would go far
toward it on the instalment plan, and
out of the egg and butter and straw
berry money we could easily manage the
rest, . explained Millicent.
The deacon stroked his chin thought
fully. In his estimation piano was
the most frivolous of all things, yet
there was something in Milly's business
like way of putting the question that
gratifed his paternal instincts.
"The girl knows what she's talking
about" he said to himself.
"Oh, Milly, wouldn't that be splen-
did9 ecstatically cried out Abby, dane
ing up and down. "Where would you
buy it-at Downes' store2'
..'No, I'd send direct to Bridge
port, said Millicent, who was evidently
the master spirit Of the two. .Downes
would have less variety, and he'd charge
more into the bargain. viii write TO-
night if you think best, Abby"
"But what does Esther say2"
esther will say just as we do, of
course"
Esther Hubbard, the youngest and
quictest 1ol the three, was busy in pairing
apples for certain favorite pudding of
the deacon's.
Her eyes were cast down, her cheeks
flushed.
NO. she sand, in low voice, Il
can't join in the piaao. project, girls.
I'm very sorry, but-Tve speus my
money"
Deacon Hubbard dropped his news.
paper, aud stared over the tops Of his
spseEacis gEEszsssss:. gEEszsss., 80 s.