New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-03
THAT CAROLINY GAL.
~. DAILY TAKES THE PLEDGE.

Mrs. Abiah Jacobs mounted in chair
before the open door Of her " chiny closet She
was cropping with her hand in the darkness oil
the upper Shelf seeking to find the row OF bot
ties which held her supply of spirituous liquors
for sickness" She had three bottles, each
holding a pint One held whiskcy, one brandy,
and one cherry rum, the latter made every year
from the best Jamaica rum, and wild cherries
from the tree that grew in the lane.
That's what we all say. Mis- Jacobs respond
ed the neighbor She was waiting with thin
blue teacup in which to carry home some cherry
rum for her daughter, who was supposed TO have
been too free in her use of cucumbers which had
been sliced and allowed TO become 1abby. AS
the mother said, in her Impotence, that she
didn't know hut twas good 'nough for D'rindy
10 have touch of chOery modulus, if she was d
mineter to chaw down them withered cow
cumbers Jest as they were trying TO can buckle
berries, too"
The widow Jacobs did not reply TO the remark,
and the woman repeated, That's what we all
say"
Now Mrs Jacobs turned round so suddenly on
her chair that she had to catch at a shelf to keep
herself from falling.
What do you all say?7 she asked sharply.
D'rindy's mother covered somewhat, but she
replied bravely:
that Carolny gal. Mis- Winslow was telln' only
Yesterday that she was expectn TO live 10 the
day when you'd send Daily 10 the poorhouse.
"She won't, then; not. If she lastss Ions S
Methuselah did," said the wilder 'Bijah. grow
ing very red in the face as she spoke. :" Not but
what she is trial and do git out of patience
with her she added more mildly. " Bun |
d'know what We can expect Of critter brought
up on White Crow Mounting, down in Caroliny.
She amt had the privileges that Miss Winsow s
suit under all her life. We can't all he Mis-
Winslows, you know"
The whitening sarcasm of the last remark al
most made the woman with the blue teacHp
tremble as she heard il.
Mrs. Jacobs laborously dismOunted from the
chair changed its position little, then aboriously
mounted it again, and this time she put her hand
on the of pint bottles, which it seemed to her
had been put in the wrong corner.
Here they be, she said I'll give ye stiff
dose of the cherry, Mis- Wiley, so as to bring
D'rndy right out of it
When the liquid poured out it seemed 10
both women to be very pale.
Il d'know why it should look so,' said the
widow. Jest sup at it m see how it tastes.
Mrs. Wiley "supped" at it, and hesitated TO
speak Finally she said il was "ruther fiat. some
how; but mebby twas her notion"
Mrs Jacob put the cup 10 her lips and withdrew
It suddenly.
faint your notion, she said crisply; ats fat
rs rags. / declare"
She took the bottle Of whiskey and Of brandy
and held each TO the light. II did not seem to
either of the women that they were of the proper
color.
Mrs Wiley was beginning TO enjoy the sltua-
ton But she drew long face and said:
And your liquors always so good Strange,
amt it? You don't poways think, do you now
that"
She did not finish her sentence, for in the open
doorway, leading from the woodshed, appeared
the figure of Daily.
The child had her stockings and shoes in her
hand. while her feet and quite extent Of slim
lec were caked with half-dry, black meadow mud
Her straw shaker bonnet" hung by its strings
on her back Her light hair was curling with
perspiration. and her face had good deal OF
meadow mud smooched" on it. One arm held
closely pressed TO her large quantity oil sweet
fag-root, its broad green leaves hanging down ana
dripping Close to her bare feet was the hound
pnppy which Mr.. Winslow had given her, ana
which Mrs Winslow had tried to take away lie
also was dripping with muddy water
Daily had opened her lips 10 syeak, and her
whole aspect was one of happy eagerness when
her eyes caught sight of the three bottles, which
were standing in a row on the table.
She shrank as suddenly and markedly as
sensitive plant shrlnks before rude hands.
DAILY said Mrs. Jacobs, come here
There was an instant's hesitation before the girl
replied, without stirring from her position:
Il low ! amt gwine ter move, nor ter tell you
uns nary word till that ole oman goes
She sat down in a dingy heap on the scrubbed
floor. She let the fagroot fall that she might
the better hug the puppy, which immediately cTept
into her lap with a small, boysh whine. he
girls face seemed 10 harden behind its mask OF
mud.
The wilder Biah felt her heart sink at the
same time that an overwhelming and yearning
love filed it. This love, awakened by Daily, made
Mrs. Jacobs seem strange TO herself She had
nebulous kind Of consciousness that it was
taking the edges of her character in way.
And, in spite of all her common sense-and no
woman ever had more of that article-thc affection
she gave the poor waif from the Carolina noun
tains appeared to her To be the same emotion
that had been gathering all these years for the
daughter who had never been born. Altogether
Daily had awakened in this elderly Yankee woman
glow and a sense of new vividness in life which
confused while it eXharated. She told herself
nearly every day that she sposed she should
git her bearin's fore long"
IL March when Daily had been seen at the
Jacobs gate in the too large plaid cloak and with
the rain in drops on her beautiful hair and eye
lashes bearing that letter from Mrs Leandcr
And now it was July, and the widow had not got
her bearns yet, and seemed as far from that
state as ever.
When Mrs Wiley heard the childs reply she
grasped the blue teacup tightly in the hardened
fingers of her right hand. She smiled, and she
tossed her head. Was she going 10 be called
old woman by that little viper from down
South?
She marched to the door. There she paused