The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
Pretty
been blacked fur q week. Pretty
house -keepin' that!

been Olacked 1ur Weehs AAo''S
house-keepin' that!
"When I told Jake Min Smith was
a-comin' to spend the day ne
was the pleasedest fellow you
ever see. He begin to talk about what
q nice girl she was: how there want no
nonsense about her. Min was to come
a-Thursday. That day Jake wore col
lar to work an didn't put on no overalls,
but I didn't say nothing. Min come
over about nine o'clock all dressed to
kill. made b'lieve to be in a great
luster. I said you'd been in an took
most all my better, so had to churn
that day, an I'd promised Jake pot'ple
fur dinner, an didn't know which way
to turn. Min, she up and said, Let me
make the pot-pie for you, Mrs Quigley:
That was Just what was a-6shin' fur. 1
was a-goin' to ask her to do it, If she
hadn't offered, so I said 'twould help
me sight if she'd do it. Cause
want a-goin' to have that pot-pie good.
Jake, he was a-runnin' to the house fur
something or nuther all mornin'; it beat
all what sight of business he had at
the house, Him an Min KEEP up a
terrible laughin' an jokin'. Jake amt
much of hand to joke 'cept when he's
mighty pleased about something, SO l
see he was pretty fur gone. Once when
him an Min wss a-goin' it pretty high, l
slipped into the pantry an emptied all
the baking powder out of the box an
put some -four in"
"That was bright ideal"
Mrs. Quigley winked one eye know
ingly, and continued:
"When it come time to make the
dumpiings got Min all the things. 1
see her throwin' in the baking powder;
she was bound to have them dumplin's
light. Pete (my husband) want home
that day, so at twelve o'clock Jake came
to the house alone. ! heard him an Min
a talkin' about the pot pie: what if it
shouldn't be good2 Min was sayin'.
THAT amt possible, said Jake, a-look-
in as soft as melted butter.
"Well, we are all sot down to the
table, an took the cover off'n the pot
pie. declare fort I never see such
dumplin's in all my ife!"
"They surpassed your widest hopes,
eh?"
"They was the awfullest dumplin's,"
replied Mrs. Quigley. "Why they was
that tough you couldn't get your fork
through 'em. helped Min, an declare
I pitied the poor girl; she looked as If
she'd like to sink through the floor.
Then I,helped Jake he took bite, an l
see him a.lookin' around fur some place
to put it. At last he swallowed it. !
didn't have much else fur dinner that day
a-purpose, an guess that was the first
time Jake Quigley, or any one else, ever
got up from my table hungry. When
Jake started to 60 to work be said:
"You needn't wait supper for me,
mother, I've got to take load of hay
over to Spring Holler. Then ! know'd
it was all up with poor Min. Min didn't
stay long after dinner. told her not
to be in q hurry, but she seemed in
terrible hurry" said Mrs. Quigley, inno-
Gently. $50 ;.
"And your carpet is safe" said I, ris-
ing to 60.
"And Jake, too, fur yet awhile, any
way" she replied, tossing her head de-
family. .,
As wended my way homeward with
my butter, I mused on the witness OF
mothers, and thought Mrs. Quigley's
ruse might be of use to other mothers
anxious for the welfare of their sons and
their carpet.-The Epoch.