The Press., 1893-03-23
'MANDY'S ORIGIN.

their ugly pict'rs, anyhow. Poo-oo-ee!" One pig came struggling through the pasture bars; and presently dozen more came running and squealing after him.
 Mrs. Bentley poured pailful of slops into the trough.
 "Oh, that's right!" she exclaimed aloud, talking energetically to herself.
 "Tumbl'n' over their selves ter get their shouts n the troth first No won- der they're named hawgs! wonder why 'ManGy don't feed them chick s-'ts high time they was fed! Mandy! Hoo-oo- hoo! Hoo-oo-hoo! You Mandy"
 "Tes, maw, what d' you want ?" A girl about seventeen years old came out the kitchen door ,and stood looking at her mother with her hands on her comedy hips. Mrs. Bentley was twenty or more steps away, and the pigs were making so much noise she had to raise her voice to disagl eeable, rasping pitch. "What'd' want, huuh? Why, want ter know why you don't feed them chick'ns, missy that's what want! Step around lively, now, n' don't forget $ Christmas Eve, 'n' lot O extry work ter be done. You ac' s if you didn't care whether the minister he'd anything fer dinner tomorrow r not '"
 ''I don't care," said the girl, with sullen emphasis. She came out into the lane, and stood near her mother. Her apron, gathered up in her left hand, was full of wheat. With her right hand she began scattering it on the hard, ungrassed ground. ! "Mebbe you think It's fun ter hev min- isters m their wives m a lot O children | ter cook m work fer on Christmas" she said "but don't. Iwish Christmas 'ud never come-fer all the good it does us! Maria Quackenbush's paw s got her a new org'n," she added, suddenly. A glow of eagerness came across her face, but faded almost instantly.
 "Has he?" said Mrs. Bentley, stolidly watching the pigs. ''What's the use O scatter'n' all thet wheat 'n' no chick'ns n sight?'
 "Ch-uck-ee! Ch-uck-e -ee! Where we they gone to? Ch-uck-ee! Now, they're a-com'n'! Its got twenty-four stops, maw"
 What has?"
 "The org'n Maria's paw got Ger for Christmas"
 The elder woman shut her lips together with kind of grimness.
 s.I guess it won't give no better music than one with twenty-two," she said. "No," said Mandy, with a sigh of fndif- ference. tOh, maw," she added, sudden lly.@with very passion of longing in her tone Cd you think paw'll ever get me n org'n for Christmas? p
 "I do' 'no'," replied her mother, vigor- ously pushing pig out of the trough, and pouring in the remainder of the slops. "Looks kind O like snow, don it? Which O them quilts IT. you go'n' ter kill fer ter-morrow ?''
 "I do' 'no'; any O 'em's fat enough
 A dull grayness lowered upon the farm. The wind whistled little as it came around the corner of the big barn, and pushed some stray locks of the girls hair across her neck. A horse came running up from the lower pasture, and looked over the tall bars, neighing and paving the ground impatiently. Far off, down near the river, was the tinkle-inkle-inkle 1 of cow-bell.
 "There comes the cows,n said Mrs. Bentley, signing unconsciously. It was a sigh of resignation, however, for Mrs. Bentley had been farmers daughter be- fore she was farmers wife. "There !" she exclaimed, in mild triumph, as 8 cock crew. Didn't tell you it was gon' ter storm? You can tell it by the mournful sound O thet rooster's voice. Oh, say, Mandy! Dick Underwood got home las week from town ter spend Christmas and New Years. I just heard it while you was out gether'n punkkins!"
 ''I knowed it yesterday" said the girl. I She did not stir or lift her eyes, but a faint color came into her face and pulse in her throat began to beat quickly. I Her mother gave her keen, searching look.
 II guess he'll mos likely be go'n' ter Maria's ter-morrow, a-see'n' her new org'n," she said, looking away. ''Yes, guess," said the girl. After a moments hesitation, she added ''Ma- ria's nav got 'er'n offul pritty new dress.
 "Did she ?"-with look of interest Whats it like ?" -.-- - stc, r3 hrDxx ,,,, camel's hair. It's offul pritty," added the girl, with kind of bitter reluctance. }, Mrs. Bentley was awed into silence fol moment in contemplation of Maria's splendor; then she gave little sniff ot contempt.
 Well, don't see where them Quack. enbush's got so much money ter spend or foolishness! They got just the same fe1 their pertatos s we did-'n' they didn't have no bigger crop, I know. N they aint sold their hawgs yet. It beats me where they git their money ter pay fel things!"
 'She's got pair O gloves ter match too"
 AoA SohOc! ouSo H oA6o Phi U gray ones she got n the spring wasn't good enough! It beats newell, there's one thing mighty surel They needn't l any of lem think she's go'n' ter look bet ter n all her finery than you'll look T , thet peacock blue O you'rn!' ct s old s the hills,a said the girl Her lips quivered, and there was an un , dertone of tears in her voice. Her moth l CT looked at her in mute sympathy. Maria Quackenbush ain't got no such ! figger s you'rn," she said, after little : taking stock of the girls good points ) thor no such hair, 'n' she didn't know