Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-10-24

4 blue yarn DefOre tine nfe Nnen ne cstin
in. She greeted him not without
shadow of suspicion.
Had he come like a spy into the enc
niy's quarters3
IL hope thee is well, Friend Anas
tasia, " said he. II have brought thet
a Jar of my daughters wild plum sauce
Perhaps it may tempt thy appetite"
Anastasia Akerly colored.
Il amt of no consequence, said she,
"Idunno as care so much about sweet
things. Only there used to grow a
wild plum bush on the hills at home,
and mother used to boil the plums
with molasses. They were drefful
sour, but there was flavor about 'em
haint never since tasted. And when
Mary Moore told how good Leah's was,
kind o. notioned I'd like a taste o.
'en. But Leah said she hadn't none to
spare"
Leah was mistaken" said Friend
Decker ''In our home there is always
something to spare for an old frieno
like thee"
81 didn't know that you looked on
me as friend" she said sharply.
''Thee ought to have been certain of
that.
"There were ugly things said about
the way the Lennox property was man
aged, said Miss AkerlY.
Nothing was said by me, Friend
Anastasia," observed the Quaker.
"And as far as in me lies am anxious
to be at peace with all the world"
"Humph" said the old woman.
"Well. there amt no use making up to
me; my will was drawn up long ago,
and Moses Sawyer is my heir"
"Thee is welcome to do as thee likes
with thy own," said Friend Decker
calmly, setting down the jar of wild
plum preserves and glancing wistfully
toward the cushioned armchair by the
fire, for his limbs were enfeebled by
age, and he had walked considerable
distance.
But Miss Akerly did not ask him to
sit down and rest, so lie took fresh
grip of his lSnotty cane and started on
his homeward tramp.
Good morning to thee, Friend Anas-
tasia," to which the old lady only re-
sponded with an articulated grunt.
But when lie was out of sight she un-
screwed the lid of the jar, and with an
old silver spoon, worn thin with long
usage, she tasted the sweetness of its
contents.
Jest like them mother used to boil
down with molasses when was gal"
said She II could most fancy was a
gal ag'in, in the old plum time, a-cuttin'
across the lots with my sun bonnet
hitched on by one string and the red
dog caperin' at my heels. Waal, wal
1t don't seem like was close on to
seventy years of age"
Miss Anastasia had some of the wild
plum sauce with her scanty dinner. 1t
gives it relish. She ate some more
with bread and cheese for her supper.
81 never did taste nothin' that went
TO the right spot like them plums, " said
she. 1T amt cause they're relishin'.
It's cause they make me feel like was
out in Wisconsin, with the sassafras
leaves turnin' yaller and the wind
blowin' in my face"
Leah did not know until neighbor's
boy brought back the jar neatly
wrapped in a newspaper what a treat
she had afforded her neighbor
what is it, Willie" she asked the
boy.
Its the jar that had the wild plum
sass in it," said Willie. Miss Akerly
says she's much obliged, and she gave
me a ginger cookey for bringing it back,
she did"
Father" said Leah reproachfully
To the old man, this is thy doings.
Thee is always thinking of some one
else"
1T has done me more good than il l
had eaten it myself, Leah, said Friend
Decker apologetically.
Leah ran to him and gave him hug
''Thee is an old darling, father, said
she; ''and thee makes ne ashamed of
my own temper sometimes"
She put the jar on the top shelf of
the little pantry, and never thought
anything more about il till one day
when she wanted jar 10 put some
fresh eranberries in. She. was in a
hurry, for Miss Anastasia Akerly was TO
be buried that afternoon. She died as
she had lived, sitting alone before the
lire, and this was the day they had ap-
pointed for her funeral.
Friend Decker had expressed a desire
10 attend the obsequies of the kins-
woman who had been 50 little to him,
and Leah was hurrylng through her
work SO that she might brush the well
worn suit and take much needed
stitch in the coarse wOrSted gloves.
As she tore on the newspaper wrap
pings she stopped suddenly.
Father, she cried, ''here Is piece
Of thick. yellowish paper rolled up aud
put inside this jar that came from
Friend AnastaslaG What does thee
suppose Il isl Father, Il Is willw
She ran eagerly with Il 20 Friend
Decker He looked duhiously AZ the
outside.
Thee Is right Leah" said he.
sQd AnastasiA's heart was soitened
pS This is doubtless the viii
Qned-wlll In favor OF Moses
; 9he has sent ID 10 us 20 de'
- dauahfaf. nay.s - lOah