Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-03-06
PriScilIa'S Management.

Deacon Dodge felt ''blue" enough,
as he sat down to his six O'Clock tea,
in his humble home on Forest Hill. 1t
was not that the tea was either badly
served or poor in quality, for he in
variably purchased the best groceries
the market afforded, and nothing Miss
Prissy ever tried to do or make ever
resulted in failure. 1t was neither
the eatables nor yet the drinkables
that caused the cloud on the deacon's
brow. AS he expressed it, he "felt
blue as a wholesome" and the cause
arose from the tightness in money
circles.
Miss Prissy, the deacon's strong
minded daughter, perceived the low
ering countenance, and wishing to
concIliate the old gentleman little,
put an additional lump of sugar in his
tea
F'Third, and lastly,'' he said, in an
abstracted manner, as he passed the
cup for refillment.
Prissy smiled almost involuntarily
at this power of habit exemplifed.
The worthy deacon, busy with his
bread and butter, did not see his lis
tener's face.
4cI7ll tell you what" said he, care
fully adjusting his knife and fork,
eeunless something happens in our ia
vor pretty soon, we are gone to smash
completely"
Even the lingering shadow of the
smile that had played round the
corners of Prissy's mouth died out,
and she looked anxiously at her father
as he went on:
@'Tbere is a four hundred dollar
mortgage on the house, with interest
at seven per cent. and no man can
stand such a per cent as that. There
is that one hundred dollar note, and
two of fifty dollars each, besides one
hundred and sixty dollars yet unpaid
on the lumber, seventy five dollars
got to come somehow-for the car
penters, twenty five for the mason,
twenty five more for the painting Be
sides, that leaves US with the house
not yet half finished, the ground yet
20 be grubbed and laid out and fenced,
and not cent, mind you-not single
-cent-to do it with"
The deacon leaned back in his chair
and fairly groaned.
The strong minded Priacllla got up,
and walking round to his side of the
table, laid her hand on his arm.
''Listen to me, Deacon" said she,
thoughtfully-she always called him
that when she felt particularly in
earnest-'I isten to me, now, and I'll
tell you the plan I have for extricat-
ing our affairs from financial annihi-
lation."
@'Talk away" growled the bear.
Talk, at any rate, is cheap enough;
even in these hard times"
Prissy declined to notice the slight
put upon her tongue, and continued,
bravely:
1'You know you have always refused
to keep a COW, pig, or chickens. Now,
then, let US have all three, and I will
show you this fall that your interest
money shall be forthcoming, besides
having Dur grocery bill footed as it is
made.1
E'Pshaw, Prissl" calculated he, with
Il groan of disapproval, chow could
you do it?. Besides, my credit isn't
worth a blue bean. I haven't the
money to pay for a COW, nor pig,
nor even the chickens, SO there's the
end of that"
In no wise discouraged, the strong
minded young woman coolly continu-
ed:
81 have ways and means for all of
'em deacon. And if you will solemn
ly agree to do in all things as | sug-
gest and advise, in turn will promise
and ratify it, too, to take these debts
and the unfinished house on my
shoulders, metaphorically speaking,
and in three years. time we will owe
no man, and our house and ground
shall compare favorably with any in
the country"
The deacon considered a moment.