The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-16
[All rights reserved
THE EASTER EGGS.
A STORY OF LOVE, POETRY AND
PROSE.
BEING z CHRONICLE OF The DUTCH FORK.
BY DR.. 0. Is. MAYER, SR.
III.-PROSE.

the reformation of Poetry, was passed
off by him in deep meditation. He
had now his letter written (it was III
poetry, too, and he resolved to deliver
it that very night with his own hand
to Becky, as we'll as the Easter egg.
He had also selected and memorized, ,
from little treatise on letter writing,
several elegant and pertinent sentences
which he intended as preliminary to
the phraseology to be used in ''axin
Bekky eff she would have him."
About sunset David dismounted at
the gate of Mr.. Jacob Bright.
Good evenin' to you, Davy: my boy:
how goes it with you?" asked the old
man, advancing with extended hand
to greet his visitor.
Pm doin' as we'll as common, Mr..
Bright" replied the young man, chow
do you do, yourself?'
'Middlin', Dave, only middlin'," re-
turned Mr.. Bright.
They proceeded into the house, where
Bekky wassitting alta window, sewing.
"Gocd evenin' at you, Miss Bekky,"
was Dawes salutation as be entered
the large hall, or common room.
"Wy howdy, Dave" exclaimed Bek-
ky, with a lovely little intonatior of
surprise III seeing him, although she
had been Watching him from the point
where he came into the main road that
passes her home until he dismounted
at the gate.
Gentle evasion, thou artless servant
of modest love, when and where dost
thou assume the name of hypocrisy
and become the guileful slave of i'm
pudent hate!
''Take cheer, and make yourself at
home" insisted the old man.
Mrs. Bright came in at this moment
and gave David hearty welcome.
''Do, Bekky, 60 and git somethin'
nice for supper;-git it for Dave" said
she to her daughter.
Bekky jumped up, and giving David
a look that made him speechless for
fifteen minutes afterwards, went into
the kitchen to superintend the prepara-
tion of supper. Mr.. Bright meanwhile
engaged his visitor in conversation
upon agricultural topics in the course
of which he expressed his opinion that
it was very dry, to which David an
swered that he was of the same opinion
and that "truck was suterin' for want
of rain" Mrs. Bright enquired into
the condition Of his mothers garden,
and observed that it was 'utterally
impossible to set out plants ontil it
rained.n
In three quarters of an hour, Bekky
had supper ready, and they all seated
themselves around the table.
''Say grace, Dave" whispered Bek-
ky, bestowing upon her lover look
bewitchingly beseeching.
They bend their heads reverently
toward, and David, for himself and the
family whose guest he is, gives thanks
to the Almighty Provider of the uni
verse for his bounty, in the following
words:
"Almighty God, these blessings are
thy gifts; may they be enjoyed with
sense of thy love unto US and all man
kind. Amen"
These words he had long ago learned
from the Lutheran Hymn Book used
at st. Johns Church, and had re-
peated them at his fathers table from
his earliest boyhood; and Bekky was
aware of it,-having heard bis sister
Teener speak Of it.
For the first time since the foot and
stirrup adventure at the church, David
felt an inclination to eat; and to the
qualification of the kiud-hearted old
people, who judged the state of per-
sons health by the quantity Of food
eaten, he drank two cups Of coffee, and
ate five watfles, and the half of a
broiled fowl, not to mention saucer
OF preserved ounces, which Mrs.
Bright declared were made by Bekky's
own hands.
After supper, Dave and Bekky began
singing hymns, from the same hymn
book. The old folks listened with much
delight for nearly an hour, and then
~ nf
dcowsiness.
II Glare, mammy," cried Bekky.
with most dutiful solicitude, lyon and
daddy will fall out'n yourcheers toreck-
ly. Do go to bed"
Upon this admonltion, Mrs. Bright
gave her husband good shake and
said: Come, old man, let's go to bed"
After stretching and writhing with
their arms, and gaping aud yawning
with their jaws until apparently all the
Joints in their bodies were dislocated,
they betook themselves to their bed III
the far end Of the apartment and soon
gave evidence Of profound slulnber by
going through all the cadences of snor-
ing from the sound of j pot boiling to
that of saving gourd.
David Snutted the candle, and drew
his chair close up to Bekky's.
Heres somethin' purity I have
brought you, but you mustn't look at it
outel YOU go to- your room, ;" said David,
drawing a small calico bag, very awk-
wariy made, from under bis vest, and
placing it in Bekky's lap.
Il declare, if it amt Easter egg
she cried, as she took the bag in her
hand; 'but l won't look at it tel go
to bed