The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1893-03-10

Deacon Dodge felt .sbluc' enough, as he sat
down 10 his six O'Clock tea in his humble
home on Forest Hill. 1t was not that the tea VS.
either badly served or poor in quality, for he
invariably purchased the best groceries the
market afforded, and nothing Miss Prssy ever
tried to do or to make resulted in failure. 1t
was neither the eatables nor yet the drinka
bles that caused the cloud on the deacons
brow. As he expressed it, he s'felt blue as a
whetstone," and the cause arose the tightness
in money circles.
Miss Prissy, the deacon's strong-mnded
daughter perceived the lowering countenance,
and wishing to conciiate the old gentleman a
little, put an additional lum of sugar in his
tea.
"Third, AID lastly" he said, in an abstract
ed manner, as he passed the cup for rsfill-
nent.
Prissy smiled almost involuntarily at this
''power of habit" exemplifed
The worthy deacon busy with his bread and
butter, did not see his listeners face.
"Tll tell you what said he carefully ad
justing his knife and fork, 'sunless something
happens in our favor pretty soon, We are gone
to smash completely"
Even the lingering shadow of the smile that
had played around the corners of Prissys
mouth died out, and she looked anxiously al
her father as he went on:
sfThere is our-hundred- dollar mortgage
on the house, with interest at seven per cent.
and no man can stand such per cent. as that
There is that ne-hundred-note, and two ),
fifty dollars each, besides one hundred an 1!
sixty dollars yet unpaid on the lumber, seve1.
ty-five dollars--got to come somehow--f'r tn
carpenters, twenty-five more for the painting.
Besides, that leaves us with the house not yet
half finished, the ground yet to be grubbed and
laid out and fenced, and not cent, mind you
mot single cent--to do it with"
The deacon leaned back ia his chair and
fairly groaned.
The strong minded Priscilla got up, and
walking round to his side of the table, laid hel
hand OH his arm.
"Listen to ME, Deacon" said she, thought
fully-she always called him that when she
felt particularly in earnest--s'listen to me, e,noW
and I'll tell you the plan | have fol extricat
ing our affairs from financial annihlation.'
"Talk away" growed the bear. "Talk, a
any rate, is cheap enough; even in these hare
times"
Prissy declined to notice the slight put upor
her tongue, and continued, bravely:
"You know you have always refused to keeE
| a COW, pig, or chickens. Now, then, let u
| have all three, and will show you this fal
| that your interest money shall be forthcom
ing, besides having our grocery bill footed a
| it is mad e."
"Pshaw. Priss." calculated he,with sroal
of disapproval, chow could you do it" Beside:
my credit isn't worth blue bean. l haven
the money to paw for COW, nor pig nor ev
en- the chickens. so there's an end of that
| In no wise discouraged, that strong-minde
young woman coolly continued
81 have ways and means for all of EN- dea
con. And if you will someuly agree to do
all things as suggest and advise. | in tur
| will promi e and ratify it, too, to take the:
debts and the unfished house on my shenlde
metaphorically speaking, aud i'll three year
time We will owe no man, aud our house an
ground shall compare favorahir with any
the country