Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-04-13

M with your hearin' +,
B I'd like to know, Peter Lyon p"
Little Peter set down the heavy
milking pail close to the sink, across
which Mrs. Hammond was already
leaning, to make out whether that
will-o'-the-wisp CLEAN at the foot of
the lane really proceeded from the
barn windows, or was merely Sim
Coxe's lantern, as he swung it to and
fro on his way from the railway stu
tion.>
"Oh," said he, s.it's Miss Janey.
huntin' eggs for breakfast, I guess /"
"That's Janey, all over!' scolded
the old dame. "Always puts things
off to the last minute. Why couldn't
che q gone after 'em little earlier p"
''There's eggs enough in the house, 4"
snarled Joshua Hammond, "an'
don't allow no Unnecessary lights in
the barn! Go tell her to como right
in, Peterl"
"Yez-zer," said little Peter.
But Mrs. Hammond supplemented
the command with such host of or
ders, as to kindling-wood, locking the
hen-house door, bringing the fresh
water, and other things, that he did
not Immediately carry it out.
For Peter had been q Gresham
boy, whose friends wero dead and
gone, and who had managed somehow
to get back again to tho place which
had once seemed of all resorts the
fairest and most blessed to him, and
was now drudge in general to the Ham
monds.
Poor little Peter! He had discov-
cred that the country all the year
round, and the country for two holt
day weeks, we're not quite the same.
But he made the best of things, and
in his secret heart contented himself
by worshiping pretty Jane Hammond,
as Parsee worships the sun.
AT this especial moment, Janey was
up in the barn chamber by the light
of flaring candle stuck against the
wall, holding up to Mariana Dow's adj
miring eyes n pretty dress of dotted
white muslin, with blue sash and
sundry coquetish bits of the same
colored ribbon knotted here and
there.
"You see, have to keep it here"
said She 'Mother would find it out
else-and mother thinks brown calico
is good enough for any occasion, and
father says it's sinful to dance. Oh,
dear, Mariana, hope I'm not doing
wrong; but it is SO dreary living here
under the hill and never to go any
where or see anybody! made it my
self, and it only cost a very little"
cts jest beau-yeau- tiful |" cried
Miss Dow, lifting hands of admiration.
"Lucetta Morris's red silkolene won't
be nowhere. declare to goodness,
the blue ribbons jest ezacktly match
your eyes! I'd like to see David Ell
lason's face when you come into the
room"
Nonsense smiled Janey. "But
here's my cake, Mariana" lifting the
lid of long disused box-trunk, and
dainty cone of frosted
sweetness. 'Tm coaxing my monthly
rosebush to bloom SO rs to put pink
rose in the very crest-a real rose, not
like Lucetta Morris's colored paper
things"
oval" asserted Mariana, "I was
how you'd manage about the
cake, KNOWN as your pa and ma was
SO dreadful set against worldly vani-
ties"
cit was awful hard work." sighed
Janey. 81 had to save an egg here
and bit of sugar there, and put
aside cup of -four when ] had a
chance. But every egg used l did
without myself, and I've taken no
sugar in my tea and coffee since I be-
gan. I'm not e thief"
'La me, the ideel" cried Mariana.
ssAnd your own folks, and you dom
the homework like hired gal for
nothin' OF all l declare, Janey,
you'd ought to married David Ellason
long ago, and put an end to it,"
Janey's cheeks grew pink.
"He hasn't asked me Yet" said she.
81 think almost sure-he likes
Lucetta Morris best. "
"Fiddlesticks !" was Miss Dow's en-
phatic reply. "Well, that cake is n
beauty, and SOS the white dress !
Lulie Warren, up at the parsonage,
she's awful disappointed because she
couldn't hev white one, too, but the
dressmaker made some blnnder, and
she's got to wear her sisters smoke
colored null.
Just at that moment little Peters
shill cry sounded Mt the foot of the
stairs,