Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1893-01-20
he. an auybody's hogs to cat EN-, il

L
That afternoon when he came in t.
supper thing happened which hnc
never before befallen him in his msrriee
life. Hc found the tea-kettle cold, tn,
graham gems unbakcd, tho table uu
spread and his wife crying pitcously
"Eh!" said Eliakim, blankly. "Wha
in all creations the matter now2 Yo,
amt sick, be you, Losy2"
eyes, bel" sobbed Mrs. Ellis.
"Hcartsick, 'Liakim. Oh, what hey
donca I've sold them old gray pants o
yourn to the tin peddlcr, aud never re.
membcrcd how I'd put that hundred
dollar coupon bond you gave me to
keep, in the pocket, because calcu-
lated no burglar would take pair o
| ragged old pants. Oh, dear! oh
dearl"
For one minute Eliakim Ellis stool
silent. A hundred dollars was hun.
drcd dollars to this hard working man,
who could only save and scrape by
Titles. But he looked at Louisa's pale,
woc-begonc face, and his great, tender
heart rose up within him like the bill
lows Of the sea.
"Don't fret, Loisy, my gal" he said
chccrfully. at was only an accident
'Taint wuth frct:in' about" And he
bent down and kissed her forehead
rare occurrence in their uudcmonstrative
household, "Wc'll go to work and
make it up as fast rs possible, my
dear"
ooh. 'Liakim," sobbcd the poor wife,
al don't deserve that you should be so
good to me. Pm cross, scoldin' crcctur.
and"
"Tut, tut, tut" good-humorcdly in.
tcrruptcd her husband. "Gucss | amt
goin' to hcv my wife abused this way"
"And I'm sorry spoke SO short about
them pumpkins" added Louisa, dole.
fully.
Mr.. Ellis whistled under his breath.
He was almost disposed now to regret
that he had paid out that dollar for the
Widow lIcpsy's pumpkins.
"lIowever, it's DONE" he said to him.
self, "and it can't be undonc. Loisy'd
best be left in the dark, | guess, about
it.
He was alcrtly kindling the fire, while
Mrs. Ellis moved sadly about making
preparations for the evening meal, when
there was very lively tattoo, played by
an energetic pair of knucklcs on the
door outside.
"Comc IN" shouted he. And who
should make his appearance but the tin
pcdlcr himself.
"lTcllo,, squirrel" said he. "Guesa
there's been n mistake somewhere.
amt buyin' up Government coupon
bonds. I'm in the TIN trade l found
this ere in your old pockets. So al
lowed it was best TO bring it back right
away"
lie held out the folded slip of parch-
ment. Eliakim looked oddly at 1t.
"Fctch Oh Diogcncs and his lantern :"
said he, al calc'late here's the honest
man at last"
sect. out! said the pcddlcr az
don't want none o. your four-syllabled
fun pokcd at me. But tell you what
dew want Them there pumpkins that
you was cartiu' in when exchanged u
sauce pan and two clippers for them
gray pants with your good lady, I'll give
you live cents apiece for en-"
"Donc!" cried Farmer Ellis, joyfully
'rhcrc's to be II big dinner up to
Staplcscs Hill" went on the TIN pcddler.
"And they're goin to bake two hundred
pumpkin pics, anil all the pork and
beans that's to be had. Aud there's
goin' to be IL corner in pumpkins. w,
got my wagon out here, so guess we'll
lead up right away.
And thus the hundred dollar coupon
bond was returned, all safe and sound,
by the tin pcddler, who was as honest
as he was shrewd: and the Wido Hep
sy Halls pumpkins were satisfactorily
marketed. So much so, indeed, tina
E!iakim even purchased out of the pro
fits snuff colorcd mcrino gown, which
he left at the widows door the yer,
next time he drove past.
Its pity she can't share more o
the good luck, said he.
Mrs. Hall found the gown, ncatl,
wrapped up in paper, at her door wne1
she caAc home from cranberrying il
the swamp, and she never knew wher
it came from. But she made it up and
wore it to her daughter Bclinda's il
the city.
But honest Eliakim has not yet tolC
Louisa, his wife, that he bou 5ht TIL,
Widow Hcpsy's pumpkins, and paid
dollar for them in good hard cash.