The Opelousas courier., 1891-10-10

maliciously chuckled as she c~lattere'
among the pots and pans, for the factor.
engagement didn't begin until mex
week.
81 guess l shan't be Out of a ~situatio
long," said she, to herself. ssThere ain
nothin' solid nor substantial about thes
gals
Isabel proceeded straight to the gen
eral store ia the village, aud bought
cookery book. Hester and Mamie wen
into the nearest house, and took counse
with the t~utelary genius there upon the
sUbject Of cows and Bramah Pootrs
fowls.
"You see," said they, to Mrs. Squire
SedleY's great amusement, "we've got to
yindicate ourselves"
"What's this?" said the deacon, com
ing in to dinner the second day, and
shifting in a savory and unusual odor.
.Creamed chicken, uncle, ''said Isabel,
land spaghetti, smothered in tomato
sauce
"Jemima she generally fried the fowls
in a pan," observed the deacon, sand
cooked the macaroni without a fuIrin
dressin'. But I don't deny that this ERE
Is proper good. A mince pie-this time
o. year! ! amt asleep or dreaming, be
I2o
Isabel laughed gleefully out.
"Oh, uncle, how readily you fell into
the trap!n said she. ttIt's made of
crackers and raisins and vinegar. 1 got
the recipe out of my new cook book.
Isn't it delicious2"
Old Jemmima sat by, frowning.
81 amt one to believe in ~new-fangled
trash,n said she.
And nothing would induce her to take
a piece of the deceitful pie.
The deacon was lighting his pipe for
an afterdinner smoke on the back piazza,
when the soft sound Of an old fashioned
ballad, accompanied by the piano, reached
his ears.
aWell, I declare, " said he, sif that
amt Annie Laurield Who's that sing
in'2 And where did she git the PLAINLY
forty"
Isabel came out with a half-wiped tea
saucer in her hand.
tsIt's our Nan!' said she, triumphant
ly. Hasn't she got a sweet soprano
yoice2 The piano2 Why, Joe sedley
brought it over this morning. Nan is
to play the organ in church and lead the
choir, and Of course she must have
thing to practice on. Mr.. Sedley is
quite enthusiastic about her musical
Abilities
aHumphr said the deacon. elbow
much do the trustees calculate to pay2"
"a hundred and fifty dollars a year,"
Isabel answered. "And Nan can clothe
herself nicely out of that sum, seeing
that We all cut aud make our W ward
robes
.Humphln again commented the
deacon. II wondes if she can play this
;ere tune2 My father used to sing it
when ] was a boy"
And he began to whistle, after a some
what awkward fashion.
ssOh,n cried Isabel, ssthat's tBrignal
Bankl' OF course she can play it--and
sing it, tool"
And within five minutes the deacon,
leaving his forgotten pipe On the piazza
rail, was listening to the old refrain of
his youth, with a round tear-drop on
either cheek.
sit does sound goodp' said he. 81
declare I can most see father a-settin' by
the h'arth of the old log cabin a-singin'
it and stampin' his footto keep time, an
mother rockin' Johns wooden cradle op-
posite.n
The sNew York girls reputation
grew and spread. In a few days she came
to the deacon.
sUncle,n said she, ssJemima CONT
get along at the factory. She's too old
to put up with new ways. Now I've
thought Of a plan. Do you object to my
hiring her TO look after the chickens and
turkey-poults, while | give music lessons
instead2 I a afford to pay her, and
make quite a margin of profits besides
ssWell, lido say FORT said Deacon
Prout, styou seem to have a pretty fair
idea o. business. y
Isabel's cooking became dainter and
more toothsome with every day. Hes
ter distinguished herself in the dairy.
Old Jeminfa toiled silently In the poul.
try yard, and acknowledged to herself
that them tsNew York gals had more
ability than they had received credit for.
And at the months end Deacon Prout
found himself in a quandary.
81 dunno which o. the three to keep
said he. 81 like 'em all SO well / don't
know how to make asch'ice, The house
wouldn't seem like itself without Mans
music; and that picter Of the big north
medder that Isabel painted and hung on
the best room wall is more material than
natur' itself. And the story that Hetty
made up about my gran ther scrimmage
with the Pequeechee Indians and had
printed IL the paper, it does excel ev-
ervthing!n
aWell, uncle said Mamie, that same
evening, (which of US is to stay2n
aUncle is going to draw lots, = sug-
gested Isabel. aSee, he's got three
slips Of paper, with three names written
On them. and his old silk hat for a bal
lot-boxl Pretty soon we shall know
orr fatel.,
Deacon Prout rose, balanced his spec
tacles on the top. of his head, and
knocked the old silk hat off the table.
81 don't care said he. 81 amt
goin' TO draw lots at all.
Are We all to 90 aWaya'' said Nan
ME.
mol bawled the deacon. sYou're
all to stay-eyery one of ye. There
ain a gal IN the lot as / can make up