Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-09-04
Isabel shook her smooth. silky head.

the air!" sighed she.
Deacon Prout received the three girls
with stiff civility, told them that they
were welcome, and put each OF them in
charge of some one particular depart
ment of Buckeye Farm.
Isabel was to be housekeeper, Hester
dairymaid, and Mamie to take charge of
the poultry.
''But, UNCLE" protested Isabel, "we
don't know anything about poultry rals-
ing nor cooking nor butter making"
81 want to know" said the deacon,
"what sort O. way hev ye been brung
ups
''If you have piano, suggested Nan
ME, 81 have particularly studied Chopin
and Schumann."
81 can sketch quite accurately from
nature, " remarked Isabel.
"And l." said Hester valiantIy, shave
had a poem accepted by the Aboriginal
Magazine"
Deacon Prout rolled his cold gray eyes
from one to another of the speakers.
"All that amt nothin' practical" said
he. ~ hain>t no use here for music, nor
picters, nor poetry"
And he stalked over to the barn, leav-
ing his three nieces looking despairingly
at one another.
maliciously chuckled as she clattered
among the pots and pans, for the factory
engagement didn't begin until next
week.
81 guess l shan't be out of situation
long" said she, to herself. "There amt
nothin' solid nor substantial about these
gals"
Isabel proceeded straight to the gen.
eral store 10 the village, and bought
cookery book. Hester and Mamie went
into the nearest house, and took counsel
with the tutelary Genius there upon the
subject Of COWS and Bramah Pootra
fowls.
"You see," said they, to Mrs. Squire
SedleYs great amusement, "we've'got to
vindicate ourselves"
"What's this?" said the deacon, COM
ing in to dinner the second day, and
shifting in savory and unusual odor.
"Creamed chicken, uncle, "said Isabel,
"and spaghette, smothered in tomato
sauce"
"Jemima she generally fried the fowls
IN a pan," observed the deacon, "and
cooked the macaroni without a fu1rin
dressin'. But I don't deny that this ERE
is proper good. A mince pie-this time
O. year! l amt asleep or dreaming, be
Isabel laughed gleefully out.
"Oh, uncle, how readily you fell into
the trap!" said she. ''It's made of
crackers and raisins and vinegar. I 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" 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.
"Well, I DECLARE" said he, elf that
ain It annie Laurie! Who's that sing
ina And where did she git the PLAINLY
forty2"
Isabel came out with half-wiped tea
saucer in her hand.
otis our Mani" said she, triumphant
ly. Hasn't she got a sweet soprano
voice? The piano? 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 some
thing to practice on. Mr.. Sedley is
quite enthusiastic about her musical
abilities"
"Humph!" said the deacon. elbow
much do the trustees calculate to pay2"
GA hundred and fifty dollars year,"
Isabel answered. "Aud Nan can clothe
herself nicely out of that sum, seeing
that we all cut and make our own ward
robes"
"Humph!" again commented the
deacon. 81 wonder if she can play this
ere tune9 My father used to sing it
when I was boy"
And he began to whistle, after some
what awkward fashion.
"Oh," cried Isabel, "that's Original
Bank! Of course she can play it-and
sing it, too"
And within five minutes the deacon,
leaving his forgotten pipe on the piazza
rail, was listening to the old refrain Of
his youth, with round tear-drop on
either cheek.
'sIt does sound good!" said he. 81
declare I can most see father a-settin' by
the harth of the old log cabin a-singin'
it and stampin' his foot to keep time, an
y u