Democratic messenger., 1893-09-09

street. II don't feel nigh rs Ion, some
rs | did when | had no company but
Pinky and that Clarke girl; anl The
land knows I'm glad to get rid of her
polly's only SIX years aud five
months next Tuesday; but she's got
more sense than dozen Sairy Clarkes,
and she's such company
''Well, I'm glad to hear you say So
for seems to me you weren't over
anxious to have her ut first
'Well, mebbe not. You see, I've
never been used to children, and |
thought she'd be such an everlasting
trouble, ami keep the house turned
just inside out. But couldn't refuse
Cousin Emily Jane when she wrote to
beg me to take care of Dolly while she
went to nurse her sick mother. She
offered to pay board; but l wouldn I
dream of taking board for Dolly. She
pays for herself in good company and
then she's such provider
''Provider? Why, what can Dolly
PROVIDE
''Oh, pretty nigh everything that
she thinks is wantin'l Why, she
hadn't been here three days when she
wanted to know why l hadn't vines
trained over the porch, like her
mothers and when | said | didn't
know where to get any, of she went
and got couple of sprouts of Madeiry
vine from Capt'n Winston. There
they are, you see, set out in the yard,
and growing like possessed. Then.
t'other day, when was bothered with
mice eating my spice cake, said Pinky
was growing too old and lazy to hunt
for mice, and that same evenin' in
comes Dolly with white kitten, and
says she, Aunt Marthy know
she calls me aunt this little cat will
be growed up by the time Pinky dies,
and then she'll catch mice for YOU. -
The two ladies joined in laugh over
Dolly's ''cuteness and Mrs. Staples.
craning her neck as she looked out ol
the front door, said:
why, there's the child now. a-set-
ting in old Capt'n Winston's porch,
alongside of him. Poor man, he's
been terrible lonesome since his sister
Nancy married and went away. de-
clare, l feel downright sorry for him -
'Oh, he don't seem to banker after
company He's got his business place
down at the wharf, AMI when he comes
home he Jest goes to work in his hit OF
garden, or sets in his porch play ing
with the dogs and children. Dolly +
powerful fond of him, and loves TO
hear tell about how he was ship
wrecked once, and all about the
strange places he's been to when he
WAS captn of the Nancy"
PITY he amt married But Dan'l
says he's about the most backward
man on yearth where there's wimmen
concerned. You know, when Nancy
went away he tri ii Miss Snellin s
boarding house, where the Widder
Tomlin was living, and them two vim
min set their caps So p'intedly at him
tina: he got skeered, and went back to
his own house and got that old colored
woman, Chloe, to come every day and
cook and clean mp for him. And sich
cookin'l Everything burnt or over
done. and the risen bread like SO much
putty. It's wonder he amt dead OF
dyspepsey before this?'
Dear. dear! said Miss Martha.
pitvingly.
Mrs Staples commenced rolling up
her knitting.
"Falkin' Of cooking, reminds me
I've got supper to get. and the sun no
higher than beanpole; so must be
going"
And reaching her calico sun bonnet
from a peg, she hustled of, stopping
to kiss Dolly, who was just entering
the front gate.
Dolly accompanied Miss Martha as
she went into the garden to get few
radishes for supper. 1t was poorly
cultivated garden, for it was not al