The Forrest City times., 1891-02-06

&A les, bread and but ter, and honey. Then one oI the girls took down a conch shell from nail, and going to the door, blew long, fine, free blast that showed there was no weakness of lungs in her ample chest.
 Then the children came out of the forest ol corn. out oi the crick, out garden. inc men shut up their jack knives. and surrounded the horse-trough to souse their faces Tn the cold, hard water, and in a few moments the table was filled with n merry crowd, and n row of wlstlul- eyed youngsters circled the kitchen wall, where they stood first on one leg and then on the other, in impa- tient hunger.
 They come to their feed fir all the world jest ike the pigs when y holler \ 'poo--eel' See em scootl' laughed Mrs Gray. every wrinkle on her face shining with delight. "Nowpitch in, Mrs. smith she said. presiding over the table You know these men critters. They'll eat every grain ot 1t. II veh give em chance. l swan, they're made O India rubber, their stomaehs IS. know it.
 "Haf to eat To work. said Bill, gnawiug Il cob. with swift, circular motion that. riyaled n corn-sheller in results.
 "More like workin' to eat" put in one of the girls. with n giggle. More cath work with you
 You needn't say anything, Net. Anyone thatl eat seven ears"
 Il didn't. no such thing. You piled yonr cohs on my plate"
 'That'll do to tell Ed. Narney. It won't go down here, where we know ych."
 Good land Eat all yeh wantl They's plenty more in the tiel's, but Ican't afford to giv. you young 'uns ten. The tea is for us women-tolks, and specially fr Mis- Smith an Bill's wife. We're agoin' to tell for tunes by it.
 One by one the men filled up and UtoNCu ksths iuh obc oN ohE NHU children shipped into their places, and by two O'clock the women alone remained around the debris-covcred table. slipping their tea and telling fortunes.
 As they got well down to the grounds in the cup, they shook them with a circular motion in the hand, and then turned them bottom side-up quickly in the saucer, then twirled them three or four times one way, and three or four times the other, during n breathless pause. Then Mrs. Gray lifted the cup, and, gazing in t with profound gravity, pronounced the impending iate.
 It must be admitted that to n critical observer, she had abundant preparn ntion for hltring close to the mark: as when she told the girls that somebody was coming" 1t Is n man" she went on gravely. He is cross-eyed--"
 ''Oh. YOU husl!"
 ''He has red hair. and is death on billed corn and hot biscuit ]"
 The others shrieked with delight.
 "But he's goin' to get the mitten. that red headed ieller is. for l see u feller comin' up behind him"
 "Oh, femme see, lemmo see. cried Nettie.
 "keep ofT." said the priestess with lofty gesture. His bair is black. He don't cut so much, and he works more"
 Tho girls exploded in shrick of laughter, and pounded their sister on the back.
 At last came Mrs. Smiths turn, and she was trembling with excite ment ns Mrs. Gray again 'composctl her jolly face to what she considered n proper solemnity Of expression.
 Somebody is comin' to you," she said. after iong pauss. Hos got n musket on his back He's q soldier. He's almost here See?'
 She pointed attwolittle tea stems, which termed inint suggestion of q man with n musket on his back. He had climbed nearly to the edge of the cup. Mrs. Smith grew pale with ex citemeut. She tremblei SO she could hardly hold the cup in her hand as she gaxed into 1t.
 'It's Ed" cried the old woman. "He's on the way home. Heavens an earthl There he is nowv' She turned and waved her hand out to- ward the road. They rushed to the door. and looked where she pointed
 A man in blue coat. with musk. ct on his back, was toiling slowly up the hill on the sun-bright, dusty road, toiling slowly, with bent head hall hidden by Il heavy knapsack. So tired it seemed that walking was indeed proc ess of falling. Soeager to get home he would not stop. would not look aside. but plodded on. amid the cries of the locusts, the welcome of the crickets. and the rus tie of the yellow wheat. Getting back to Gods country and his wis and babiesi