Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-03-18

differed from her neighbors in any
way, except in making better bread, pies,
cake, ETC., in having the proud distinc-
tion of getting her washing on the line
every Monday morning when her neigh
bors have only advanced to the point of
washing up the breakfast dishes; and in
understanding all matters appertaining
TO housekeeping better than any of them.
In these things, Mrs. Quigley modestly
acknowledges she does excel; but if any
one were to say to her: "Mrs. Quigley,
you arc moralist, "a philosopher, satirist
and strategIst, she would Indignantly
deny being any one of these things.
That she would not have the slightest
notion as to the meaning Of the words
would only make her denial more en-
phatic. In appearance, Mrs. Quigley is
tall and stout, with ruddy face, and
hair streaked with gray; her eyes are
bright and dark. In front, her form is
what is commonly called short wasted,
here her apron band reaches Its highest
point, it descends as 1t encrcles her
ample waist, and slopes off in a beautiful
bow in the back.
The other day l went over to Mrs.
Quigley's to buy some butter. Mrs.
Quigley makes the best butter in the
country. but she doesn't like to sell it
to any but a regular customer. l am
not regular customer; Mrs. Quigley
has had all her customers for years.
won't say lam waiting for one of them
TO die, but should like to get my but
ter Of Mrs. Quigley.
snow, you've come fur more Of my
butter, amt you," she SAid, as 1 ap-
peared before her, dish in hand.
1 had my diplomatic speech all pre-
pared, so l began:
"You know, Mrs. Quigley, can't get
any butter like yours in town. Mrs.
Brooke and the Doctor are coming to
tea. They always have such good but
ter; you wouldn't want me to disgrace
myself by giving them the stuff that
comes from the store" Mrs. Quigey
had great contempt for "store butter"
"There's others has just as good but
ter as mine. You're only consatey, 4"
said Mrs. Quigley, looking highly graf
fled.
l disclaimed any tendency toward
"consatiness' so vehmently that Mrs.
Quigley weakened, as she always did.
YOU'D talk anybody over; how much
'ud you wantl' she asked.
"As much as you car spare" l re.
piled.
81 couldn't give you more'n two
pound" she said, taking the dish, aud
disappearing in the cellarway.
While she was gone l sat looking
around the shining kitchen, thinking
what an awful amount of work it must
be to keep everything in the required
state of polish.
"There's a good two pound" said
Mrs. Quigley coming into the kitchen,
and holding the butter up to my admir-
ing eyes.
"Thank you ever so much" said I,
gratefully.
Mrs. Quigley set the butter on the ia
bic. She always puts it on the table
instead of hsnding it to me, in order to
make me stay and talk with her awhile.
"I've great mind to tell you some
thing" she said, looking at me with
twinkling eyes and waiting to be urged.
''Please do" said /, all attention.
"Course you'd never tell?"
swore eternal secrecy, and Mrs. Quig-
ley proceeded:
"Well, you know Jake has been a-run-
MIN after Min Smith"
''Is it possible1" l said, seeing was
expected to be scandalzed.
''Yes; and of all shiftIess folks them
Smiths is the shiftlessest. I want
a-goin' to work an slave to get this home
fur Jake, and then have that Min Smith
s-settin in my parIOr, a-weariD' out my