The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-28
THE WEDDING PRESENT.


ions as has ever taken the trouble for US,
D, old woman?"
Mrs. Knott, who might have formed no
lad model for the Witch Of EndOr, as she
ent over the FIRE Of sticks in her red hood,
rom which escaped gray elf-locks innumer-
bic, uttered a significant snort which might
nave been construed iuto almost any mean-
nc.
what dye s'pose they expect to get out
If Us now ?" asked tie cid man.
He's your own sisters son, Hezekiah."
aid his wife.
sisters sons amt different from other
'Olks. as / knows on" said HeZekah, sue
:inctly. land this is selfish world"
'Aln't many people selfisher than you
nd l be" observed Priscilla. his wife.
Butt beats newly they should waste
Lcent postage stamp on askln' you and me
O come and eat dinner with 'em-me as Is
jnly IN the rag business, and you as Is only
nv wife" said tie old man.
Mrs Knott had just Blown the fire into a
,laze. and now leaned back in her chair sat
SIZED with the result Of her efforts
IT'S just possible they wanted to see Us,
he suggested.
Tell that to the Marines" was her hus-
Iand's comment.
There was no denying that the different
members of the Knott family had been
gnrely scandalized when HeZekiah boldly
lOugbt a horse and cart and went into the
az and bottle business, instead Of preaching
he gospel ike his elder brother, or accept
Bg clerkship IN village store Ike the
Younger one.
81 hadn't brains like Bill, nor capital,
Ike john" said the black sheep Of the
Kuott family. "And / always liked being
tie open air. And, arter all, there amt
20 much difference between seliin' wares
nut Of q Vaughn and handin' EN- over a
sounter."
The Baptist minister gaZed steadfastly the
other way when the sounding Of sundTy
bells announced the coming of tie peddleTs
wagon; the budding merchant desired his
vile 10 have nothing 10 whatever to do with
HeZekiah's helpmate, in a social way but
he shrewd New Highlander only smiled and
ihTuggei his shoulders, TemaTklng:
Pm getting my livin' any way. The
BEST On 'em can't do more"
And MIS-. Knott, who vas q silent, philo-
IOphical woman. tOiled in her kitchen,
secured the rusty pots and kettles which
deZekiRh brought home, cleaned the shabby
Iuits that were given in exchange for fresh
inware and crOckeTy, and presided over
he secondhand store which her husband
lad set up for his surplus wares. And IN
ime people got into the way Of going to
heir shop for cheap articles and odds and
lBds. The prices were low, the goods
raried and uniQue-Rnd there IS no ono who
ikes better to save his money than the
average farmer.
The Baptist minister had surrounded
himself with the "I-am-hUller-than-thOu
atmosphere, the merchanth had the advantage
# gentllity, but it is question whether
Hezekiah was not the happier Of the three.
Day after day he was on thu road. He
fneW the orchards where the reddest apples
grew. the C0pses where dubbed the CleaTest
springs the thickets where the ripe chest
nuts ratified down at the touch Of the
garliest frOsts
In his quiet way he studied Nature and in
Der mysteries Tej0iCed, and cared little that
be was outlawed by his kindred. And they
we're not altogether wrong who declared
that he shouted "Rags-OId rags-bOttles
ana tinwaTe" all tie louder as he passed
The stiff lilac bushes Of the parsonage
garden. and tTudged by the country shop
where his brother practiced the principles
Of exchange or barter.
But jonathan, the only son of the old
mans only sister, had surTepitOusly de-
lighted Ia the mysterious contents Of the
basement where the secondhand things
we're packed away. He had helped his
uncle tinker up the old clocks, mend the
battered tea-kettleS and saucepans, and
pick from the rag heap al that promised to
9e capable Of rejuYenation. When he mar
led tile district schOOlteaCher, however,
dezeki3h shook his head doubtfully.
"We've seen the last Of jonathan now"
aid he. Mary MiX'l be a deal too genteel
0 let him associate long Of Us"
But here on the top Of all this came the
invitation to dinner In the young couples
lew home. ii had nor. however, been sent
Without some se0ss e.
''Wnaj mary Hac sEe invite
be oio iag-aDu-b0ttiG .sa
ss the jolliest old CG.qpie gou ever
NEW, mate" pleaded the bridegroom.
md INT le n rffrl hi I
wish you could see the big ginger cookies
he used to bake for me In days gone BY"
But II they come, Uncle William and
Uncle John will keep away" argued Mary
Let them" was the curt reply. Uncle
Gian's the best Of the lot, according to my
way Of thinking"
So Mary acQuiesced In her husbands
wishes, and the invitation was duly written
md dispatched.
IT'S rayther joke, you an me bein' in
Tited, old woman" said HeZekiah, well
20. shan't US? Hey' we anything do you
hink, fit TO wear 3"
Il guess We can make out" said Mrs.
Knott, shortly.
And I'll tell We what" said Hezekiah,
we won't be beat in manneTs not by no.
lCdy Wen send a present to the bride
There's that Old castiTOn WOOd-stOve that
bought at Hounds Hollow with the punches
# grapes on tie door. She shall have
hat"
ia, Hezekiahp' said Mrs. Knott. "what
10 you S pose she cares for an old second
handed rattle-tTap Ike that? It's mOre'n
likely she's got all the stoves she wants"
"a stoves stove, anyhow" said HeZe-
Elah. And mean TO send it to her, so
TOu may just stop your clack. old woman"
Mrs. Knott only smiled. She was used TO
he pertins ity of her spouse, and she gave
way With good grace.
Oh, what pretty stCveH said Mrs
jonathan, when II was carried into the neat
lest paIlor. And how brightly it is
DlackedW
Just like Uncle Kiahp said Jonathan.
Ebo was polishing red apples, sorting out
he latest and largest nuts, and SHARPENING
he carylng-knife for the coming feast.
Might ha' known he'd send something
Inherent from anybody else. But, since it's
leTe, l guess Tu put it up at once. It's
1retter 70 look at than that alright thing.
md we can start fire right of"
But he sent word, interrupted Mary
that we weren't to light the fire I'LL he
1ame. de wanted 10 show Us tile valves
and hampers and things"
Does he think nobody knows how TO
tart fire but him?" said Jonathan. laugh
Bg' no, no on cold morning like this
NC can't afford TO wait"
And so, when Uncle HeZskIah and Amt
MalYlna arrived in cumbrous little buggy
ETaWn by the business pony, the paTI0r
Elowed with tropical heat, and the little
StoYe presented its most hospitable aspect.
W lsh We many happy returns. Jonathan
and you, too, Jonathan's wife" was Uncle
Hezeklah's greeting, as he trudged Gp the
steps.
And" courtesied Aunt Malvina. who
carried an old china sugar-bowl in one
hand, and Its corresponding cream-pftcher
In basket IN the other. will you please to
accept some pretty old china as we've took
10 trade? 2"
Mary came forward with a beaminq
smile, and both hands held out.
we are SO glad to welcome you here"
"Halloo!' said Knott, looking around
MN; SO you started the fire, did We ?"
Yes, Uncle Kiah," said Jonathan. ST
Started It.. Do you suppose 1 wanted to
give M relatives a cold welcome. EN- ?"
Uncle Kiah clicked his tongue against the
roof Of his mouth. ''-0
dunno nothin' about that" said he.
all Know IS that We burned I'M ronr
wedding present. disoheving ordars -.