Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-06-23

Er rHH Dul L Nt udOt ouCI
EW asight O setbacks
R I'll have to wait a
spell now, till the hired men have
had their dinner.
She blew the horn, at the back door,
then made all haste to set the plenti-
ful, if plain, meal on the table, which
feat she had barely accomplished be-
fore Uncle Peter and his three stalwart
helpers arrived on the scene.
'Nancy does make A Number One
pies :" said Hiram Jenifer, reaching her
for a second slice.
Il don't mind if drink another cup
o coffee" observed Noah johnson,
with plenty O. sugar, Nancy, please !
While Hezekiah Hopper made a
plunge at the butter with his own knife,
remarking, sotto voce, "that to his
taste there want no butter like June
butter, an' it didn't come but once o
year."
'No hot bread" said Uncle Peter,
with o comprehensive glance around
the board, "nor riz biscuit eh,
Nancy
Il couldn't manage it to-day" said
Nancy, with o conscious-stricken look.
with the washin' and all"
"Nancys Yesterdays breads good
enough for me. - observed Hiram phil
osophically.
'For my part, said Uncle Peter,
Il don't see how these women-fOlks
contrive to put in the time, potterin'
around all day, a-doin' next to nothin. "
"Oh, now, that amt fair" spoke up
Noah johnson. good naturcdly.
"'Tain't no Joke to cook an wash an
iron for four men"
The color had risen in two round
spots to Nancy's cheeks; G quick re-
tort hovered on her lips, when Uncle
Peter interrupted the unspoken words.
"Oh, by-the-way." said he, 'Td
most forgotten to say anything about
it, but brother Sans girls to be here
to-day"
Brother Sans girl?'
"Why, yes-your cousin Mamie,
from Bridgeport--yOur Uncle Sam'wel' S
gal, that's to teach the deestrick school
here. Sam, he was inquirin' round
for a place, an calculated we could
board her here, so I told him to send
her on, He's willin' to pay five dollars
week, and that counts up"
Nancy looked at her uncle with
startled eyes.
''But there amt no room for her to
sleep in, said she.
"She can have your room, and you
can take the little corner chamber in
the garret. One person more or less
in the family don't make no differ
ence, and five dollars is five dollars.
Have some more of the dried peach
sass, Johnson
Nancy said not a word.
OF what avail was it to remind Uncle
Peter that the little garret chamber
was cold in winter and hot in summer,
that the roof leaked, and that rats
played high carnival there?
She only helped Hiram Jenifer to a
cucumber pickle, and replenished the
cofee-pot for the third time.
''There's a gal now-Brother Sans
darter, " rehectively observed Mr.. Nor
ton, as he sprinkled pepper and vinegar
over his summer beets-"as is worth
her salt. 'Arnin' twenty dollars a
month at teachin. If Nancy could
make money like that But Nancy
hadn't never no faculty."
81 never had a chance l'' cried Nancy.
with rising color and tearbrimmed
eyes. 'I've been kept hard at work
since 1 was a child, end-and--"
"There, there don't get excited"
said Uncle Peter, waving his hand in q
patronizing manner. Goals is queer
creeturs. You can't so much as speak
to 'em, but they fly off at a tangent.
Get things ready for Sans gal, that's
all I ask of you-and mind you hev
some fried chicken for supper. Hi
Jenifer hain't had a bite o fried
chicken since he's been here. And
look arter the young goslin's that's
comm outen the shell down to the
barn--I suspicion there's weasel
abroad somewheres-a and mind the
calves don't git into the corn. freely
must mend that gate-pin some Q these
days. Come, boys, if you're sure you
can't worry down no more vittles-"
1t was not until the four men had
shufied off TO the bsrnysrd TO look ct