The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-05-24
TALK ON P0SSUM RIDGE.

L n LIN ON UDDU vi NlltTH,
Possum Ridge society had no social dis
tinctions to speak of, and though the
members of the wealthier families may
have held their noses just amite elevated
over their less fortunate neighbors, what
ever there is in the way of amusement,
be it corn husking, log rolling. wool pick
ing, hog killing or quilting, everybody
was eligible to attend, from the post
master 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 Tommie around to invite the neigh
Dor women to a wool picking on the NOR
row, they all gladly accepted aud came,
for Mrs. Hawkins was an estimable lady,
well worthy of assistance; and, besides,
they all knew that she made 1t point to
serve an excellent dinner on such oc-
casions.
When the hands of Hawkins old clock
pointed to the hour of 10 at least thirty
women were seated around Hawkins
best 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 Ia state Of considerable agitation
regarding the new teacher who had late
ly come to "take up" the summer school,
and who was boarding down at the Wild
ow Martins. The widow Martin was
herself comparatively new conner, and
though she and Jane, her 16-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
eral hours consideration in committees
of the whole.
''Hev any NV ye ever seen the new
teacher Surilda Smith asked in sharp
voice, when there came little lul in the
hum of conversation.
{. +~'s yes," Partheny Perkins replied.
"He passes rlKlfs'Dy V,ss house every day
an once he said good mornin' to me-
and Partheny tossed her head up with
the air Of one who knows she has a great
advantage, and duly appreciates its i'm
portance. The others acknowledged, by
their looks and actions, that they realized
Partheny's advantage over themselves
and were willing to accord her the posi-
Of honor, though they did envy her sc
much good fortune,
"They say he's rale handsome, " Surilda
went on, ''an' dresses up to beat any
thing
Eyes, he is good lookin', Parthena ad
mitted, "an' he does wear mighty gooC
clothes, but | don't think he nigh Sc
han'some as my cousin Lige, who clerk
in the store over at the Forks, an know
he don't wear nigh as good clothes"
"They say" put in Tllda Brown, SOU
4 tempered, sharp nosed maiden lady O
!. doubtful age, ''that he is mighty swee
to Jane Martin, though why he should b,
Is more than kin tell, when there air 81
many young ladies as would make bette
wiyes" and Miss Tilda showed unmis
takably, by her manner of expression
that she considered herself the most eligi
BILE young lady on the Ridge.
"Well, they may say what they please
said Sally Huff, who was the mother o
two daughters who had been long tim
on the matrimonial market with no tax
ers. "They may say what they please
but I'll warrant that teacher never mar
ries Jane Martin"
81 think Mis- Huff's right" said Sur
+ Ida, san eff he is payin' her any ten
+. tions, he's jist a-doin' Of il to make foe
of her sThat's my erpinion, anyhow, al
u don't think time II gainsay it"
81 dar' say not, S'rildy. It's plain t
my mind that Q young man, hevin' ha
ther advantages he's had, wouldn't go t
payin' serious attentions to gal no NOR
likely nor Jane, when they's so many al
erroun' here, that he might take his pic
an choice"
PaTthenas little black eyes snapped i
way that said she meant more than sh
e spoke, for she was a manageable vic
ow, and looked with no great favor o
n the ancient maidens who came In as r
walls. Tilda Brown understood PaFtht
mas meaning, and Strengthening up wit
q an air OF offended dignity she snappe
Il back,
can it might be added that if none c
the young ladies didn't come up to hi
standard he might go further, an find
widder TO his hkin."
=, "Now, come" commanded Surilds
N 'twe haln't a-goin' to have no bad feelin
u stirred up ermong us, 30 you two had a
is we'll quiet down No matter who th
I'd teacher may or may not marry, it's plai
- to me that he don't never intend I
marry Jane Martin, an that he's lei
makiR' q fool Of her, an It ought not
be allowed"
elm O. your min, Surilda," Mr.
er Hawkins said, coming In with batch {
ne dough in her hands, to have word
S' the talk. "Only last night as Absalol
was comm home from the mill he se'
the teacher an Jane a-pnomenadin'
the orchard, an she was a-holdin' to h
, arm, an a-smilin' In his face jest as lovi
as could be. Then ne sees them stol
an the tesaher breaks off come app
nd blossoms an fastens them In her hal
nd an then he stoops an kisses her. Al
he ihe didn't seem TO mind it one bit. bu
" ust laughed at it, 'stid a haulin' of al
p llappin him over, rs she ought TO
done,
Up went thirty pairs Of hands an
thirty mouths calculated, "Oh,"
"Wal, lt amt no more'n 'spected
Parthena said, when she had sufficient
'r recovered from the terrible shock TO
able 10 speak. "It's dretful state
wo things an shouldn't never be allowed
blsSl go on,
ne That it shouldn't, said Tilda, ''fsr