Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-11-01
TALK ON POSSUM RIDGE.

Possum Ridge society had no social dis
tinctions to speak of, and though the
members of the wealthiest families may
have had their noses justa mite elevated
over their less fortunate neighbors, what
ever there was in the way of amuse-
ment, be it corn husking, log rolling,
wool picking, hog killing or quilting,
everybody was eligible to attend, from
the postmaster and his wife down to
Sam Gilley and his wife.
So it followed, as a matter of course,
that when one day Mrs. Hawkins sent
little Tommy around to invite the neigh
Dor women to wool picking on the
morrow they all gladly accepted and
came, for Mrs Hawkins was an estimable
'ady, we'll worthy of assistance, and, be-
sides, they all knew that she made it a
point to serve an excellent dinner on
such occasions.
When the hands of Hawkins old clock
pointed to the hour of 10 at least 80
women were seated around Hawkins
hest room, all busily engaged in picking
burrs out of the wool and faults out of
other peoples characters. Of course
such important matters and branches
of industry as garden and soap making
and early chicken Matching were dis
cussed and disposed of the first thing,
after which came items of neighboring
news and gossip.
Just at that time the Ridge people
were in a state of considerable agitation
regarding the new teacher who had lately
come to take up" the country school
and was boarding down at the Widow
Martins. The Widow Martin was her.
self a comparatively new conner and
though she and Jane, her IS year old
daughter, had been the theme of conver-
sation at two or three of these social
gatherings, they had not been entirely
disposed of, and were still good for sew
cral hours consideration in committees
of the whole.
"Hev any Nv ye ever seen the new
teacher?" Surilda Smith asked in a
sharp voice, when there came a little
lull in the hum of conversation.
Law, yes, Partheny Perkins replied.
"He passes right by our house every day,
an once he said good mornin' to me, I"
and Partheny tossed her head up with
the air of one who knows she has great
advantage and duly appreciates its inn
portance. The others acknowledged by
their looks and actions that they realized
Partheny's advantage over themselves,
and were willing to accord her the post
of honor, though they did envy her so
much good fortune.
"They say he's rale han'some, 1"
Surilda went on, IAN dresses up to beat
anything"
"Yes, he is good lookin'," Partheny
admitted, IAN he does wear mighty
good clothes, but don't think he is nigh
80 handsome as my cousin Lige, who
clerks in the store over at the Forks, an
know he don't wear nigh as good
clothes
"They say" put in Tilda Brown, a
sour tempered sharp nosed maiden lady
of doubtful age, that he is mighty sweet
to Jane Martin, though why he should
be is more than kin tell, when there air
so many young ladies as would make
better wives" and Miss Tilda showed
unmistakably, by her manner of express
sion, that she considered herself the most
eligible young lady on the ridge.
"Well, they may say what they please.
said Sally Huff, who was the mother of
two daughters, who had been long
time on the matrimonial market with
no takers. "They may say what they
please, but I'll warrant that teacher
never marries Jane Martin.
II think Mis- Huff's right" said Sur
Ida, "an' if he is payin' her any 'tentions,
he's just a-doin' of it to make a fool of
her. That's my erpinion, anyway, and
I don't think time'u gainsay it. "
II dar' say not, Sridly. It's plain to
my mind that young man, havin' had
ther advantages he's had, wouldn't 60 to
payin' serious attentions to gal no more
likely nor Jane, when they's so likely,
not that he might take his pick an
choice.
Partheny's little black eyes snapped in a
way that said she meant more than she
spoke, for she was amarriageable widow,
and looked with no great favor on tho
ancient maidens who came in as rivals.
Tilda Brown understood Partheney's 3
meaning, and, Strengthening up with an
air of offended dignity, she snapped
back:
"An' it might be added that if none of
the young ladies didn't come up to his
standard he might go further, an find a
widder to his likin'."
"Now, come" commanded Surilda;
1--WE hain't going to have no bad feelin's
stirred up ermong us, SO you two had as
we'll quiet down. No matter who the
teacher may or may not marry, it's plain
to me he don't never intend to marry
Jane Martin, an that he's jest maxim a
fool of her, an it ought not to be al
lowed.
"I'm O your min, Surilda, Mrs. Haw-
kins said, coming in with a batch OF
dough in her hands, to have word in
the talk. "Only last night as Absalom
was comm home from the mill he sees
the teacher an Jane a-promenadin' in
the orchard, and she was a-holdin' to
his arm an a-smilin' in his face jest as
l., l~r~ Il,