The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-01-11

Sarah and Tom, and the babes, and Dun
ham and Susan-most everybody" said
Uncle Aaron, sweeping out his arm COM
prehensively.
s'Yes," said the woman, "we'll come-but
tell Sarah not to expect much from me.
I'm tuckered out now, and hain't had no
time to do my own sewing"
'That's all right" said Uncle Aaron;
''tell Tom to bring his fiddle with him."
eyes, nodded Mrs. Ellery, lifting her
head for moment, she'll fetch it''
"Come Oh, Jacob" said his father, but as
hestrooe off he stopped long enough to dropa
lump of sugar into the laps of the pink calico
mites, who received this gift from the clouds
without a CLEAN of thankfulness. One of
them, indeed, inspected hers very closely,
at which Uncle Aaron smiled and said:
''She's wise I'm, she is.''
The two trudged along, crossing the long
stretches of distance that lay between the
various houses, with scarcely a break in
their silence; and yet that walk was not
lonely or void one, either to the father
Or to the son. The man saw more than the
boy, had lived more-had felt more-but
there was that in the lad of comprehension
bysympathy that's the next best thing to ex-
perience and knowledge. And then the man,
although a great man, was half dumb him
self, not having the gift OF expression, SO he
did not speak words that went beyond the
boys understanding.
at last every body had been asked that
they wished to ask to come that night to
he"qulltin'." Finally they came back to
their original starting-point-th old log
house upon the ledge Of the mountain.
swell, mother" said Uncle Aaron, 'sthey
be all comm, so do yer cleverest to-day.
Hncp r)a oNS M, era have rar2,,
''Count 'e1n," said Aunt Kate, pounding
into batch Of bread vigorously; ''all Of
'em's on the shelves thar"
A few moments of silence, wherein Aunt
Kate went on kneading up the loaves, and
Uncle Aaron, with puckered-up brow and
much head-work kept murmuring low:
"That's thirteen, fourteen, ffteen-I tell
you, mother. there's fifteen all told, countin'
in them two ere tin ones you bought O. Che
peddler. What'n we do? There bees moren
that a -comin'."
s'They will have to wait their turn, then,"
said Aunt Kate, cutting that knot Of the
difficulty with a single stroke. ''That
makes no differ. We're not supposed to
keep chiney store"
The superior air OF wisdom with which
his wife said this was not without its ef-
feet upon Uncle Aaron. He felt a sudden
hulnbling estimate Of himself that he had
often felt before in the presence of his
wife's practical remedy for an embarrass-
ing situation. He stood big and awkward,
rubbing his cheek with one hand. 'Reckon
I'll go and fetch in some Of them ears of
dried corn, Wen want 'em tonight" he
said, after vainly searching around for
something that he could do to help along
the approaching celebration.
Z Gntn i,,c (NrrS fo1rf f,Sa
big chimney" SAID his wife, ''we hain't got
any"
GAN right" answered Uncle Aaron,
cheerfuNy, s'that's more in my line -Ill
fetch 'em," and picking up his hat off the
floor, where he had thrown it, he went out.
Aunt Kate went on pounding the bread,
with a smile upon her face.
CHAPTER IL
BY half-past three in che afternoon ali
was in readiness to receive the company.
The ''store stove' shone with a brightness
that did honor to Aunt Rates muscle, and
still little later the children's rosy faces
were bright through the same cause.
Big logs burned and cracked in the great
chimney; the wooden. shelves gllttered
bright with polished tins; the box bed in
the corner had on it's best sunflower
spread, and Aunt Kate herself, resplen~
dent in solferino-colored merino, stood in
the center of her room, looking about her
with pride. A large quilting frame resting
upon four upright logs stood over at the
east side of the room. The first to arrive
was Mother Bansom, noted for being the
"best auilter'' for miles around. Her well
come was cordial
ssGive me your bonnet. Cold weather for
spring. SittEar," said Aunt Kate.
Mother Ransom's wrinl1led face looked
gray and old after her bonnet was off. Her
long, bony hands kept moving restlessly in
herlap for moment, and then from the
depths of big calico bag she brought forth
quilting needle and her thimble.
ooh, take yer tirne," said Aunt Kate,
generously.
sgd rather begin to once't," said her
guest, walking over toward the quilting
frame.
Aunt Kate smiled, well pleased, and
looked on with admiration as this acknowl.
edged expert turned over the calico spreads
with nimtle fingers.
Chow many have yer?' she asked.
weighing the punches of gray cotton wad-
ding.
s:Thar's ten rolls down here, but thar's
more up thar (pointing to the loft over
head If we need 'em. Aaron's q good pro-
vider.'
'.Be thankful he's your man and no one
elses, then,' said Mother Bansom.
81 be-" said Aunt Kate, nodding her head
proudly.
Very shortly all the women folks began
to arrive. All went to work Immediately
upon coming in, and they sewed and tied
and worked on the quilts until about seven
o'clock Then, just as the more indus
trious ones were beginning to weary with
work, nd the idle ones were growing tired
from not working, and all were wishing for
supper time to come, suddenly outside was
heard the sound of a fiddle.
ssThats Tom!' cried several at once
''Just hear hlml"
In accompaniment to the fiddle came out
the words IN clear, strong voice:
lisa d, pretty Polly, will you marry met
Oh no, no, dear sir, that can never be-
For never shall be happy til Billy I sect
TIL go to some tallors, Til hasten away,
TIL dress myself up in some young mans
array:
I'll dress myself up so neat and SO trim,
And I'll go and TIL fight Great Britain's
K.ngi
A 41,or ~ .oor, "a a q 81 tho don. ruaa on.