The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-09
llIllI| Gf';si9le
MISS BECKY'S HELP"
John Brewster's Revolt, and What
Game Of It.
lOriginaLl

[OriginaEl
= - UNRISE in that
.S%4N loveliest part OF
q MLLM Vermont - the
ENSIyIIE)k l valley of tn e
.yt4zSsRN Lamoi1le.
wv The old War
49, ner farm, all
~ S overshot wit b
J. : |. !. !. !. !.
z 49, lances of light
ABiN ri and fiecks of
"a TzG W. shadow, W a S
4xEttI~ picturesque be-
N.,-//EIN1SJ + yond its wont
MRRY7fMKfI VI on this Jun e
.rfAMWhP6 "a XVI morning. The
HN~ - brick mansion,
built in colonial
DAYS, had an unusually hospitable and
Kindly look, for the double doors of the
hail were set wide open to admit the
fresh morning air, and in the graveled
path. which led through the deep flower
garden to the gate, vas huge house
dog, jumping about, wagging his tail,
and occasionally giving playful bark
I'm his excitement over gray squirrel
which had but now scampered up the
trunk of an elm tree
Miss Becky, the spinster mistress
and owner of the place, had been early
astir The milk was skinned, the pans
were washed and scalded and were now
reposing slantwise ON a bench outside,
ready to catch the morning sun. The
beds had been thrown open and the
doors set ajar for the tonic influence
of morning air, and Miss Becky herself,
arrayed In fresh calico with generous
gingham apron, the embodiment of
neatness, was seated at the kitchen
table. preparing rhubarb for pies.
Her 1.-THE fingers peeled the pink
stalks rapidly. The milk would soon
be in, and breakfast must be ready, and
this is baking day, and there are six
hungry haymazers to cook for. No
time to lose.
While she was squirting her haste
with these thoughts, Eli Burge, the
hired man. came in. He was a huge,
loose-jointed fellow, clad in blue jeans,
overalls and frock, and placed on the
back of his head was coarse straw
hat with enormously wide brim.
"Well, Flip" Intercepted Miss
Becky.
81 como to say Abner's gone. The
men hectored him so bout not keepin'
up he got mad, and cleared out"
'T'm sorry, for he could rake after,
and you need more help instead Of
less"
Eyes MON, the grass in the long
medder, ev'ry spear ont, is jest suf-
FIRM to be cut, but I've got a man
wu'th two of Abner-John Brewster
We know he's a master hand with the
scythe-"
'tJohn Brewster exclaimed the
spinster Now, Eli, I'm not going to
be so unneighborly as to hire John
away from his father in haying time!
His place is at home"
"Wall, it's us or farther on. Johns
started out for himself, for surel He's
twenty-five years old, an ought to be
his own man by now, and / guess it's
all right They told him he must do
as they said bout Mercy Lawrence or
leave, an so he's left"
"Mercy Lawrence, she that taught
school here last summer? What about
her?" sharply demanded Miss Becky.
"Wall, John an hers made up to git
merried, n his stepmother's bound to
shev it t they amt nobody for John but
iAlminy Briggs"
''Alminy Briggsl Humph!' shifted
the spinster. well, if they've turned
him off, and he wants work, there is
certainly enough of it here. But mind,
Eli. we neither NEEDLE nor make in the
neighbors' affairs My duty's plain
to mind my own business"
wall, guess mine is, tew, jist now.
I've got to milk that ERE blamed kick