The Penn's Grove record., 1895-08-16

WSSSaI N quality, for he in
x@H,S the best grocerie,
AIg the k o I
afforded, and nothing Miss Prissy ever
tried to do or make ever resulted in fail
ure. 1t was neither the eatables nor yet
the drinkables that caused the cloud Oh
the deacon's brow. AS he expressed 1t,
he s'felt blue as a MILESTONE" and the
cause arose from the tightness In money
eircles.
Miss Prissy, the deacon's strong
minded daughter, perceived the lower
ing countenance, and wishing to con.
ciliate the old gentleman a little, put ar
additional lump of sugar In his tea.
"Third, and lastly" he said, in an
distracted manner, as he passed the cup
for reillment.
Prlssy smiled almost involuntarily q,
his "'power Of habit exemplifed.
The worthy deacon, busy with his
bread and butter, did not sec his
listeners face.
am tell you what said he, carefully
adjusting his knife and fork, "unless
something happens in u favor pretty
,oon, 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:
"There Is a four.hundred-dol mort
gage on the house, with interest at seven
per cent, and no man can stand such q
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-hve dollars-got to come some
how-for the carpenters, twenty-five for
the mason, twenty-five more for the
paiiaing. Besides, that leaves US with
the house not yet half finished, the
ground yet to be grubbed and laid out
and fenced, and not a cent, mind you
not 8 single cent-to do it with"
The deacon leaned back in his chaii
and fairly groaned.
The strong minded Priscilla got up,
and walking round to his side Of the
table, laid her hand on his arm.
"Listen to mc, deacon" said she,
thoughtfully-she always called him that
when she fel. particularly in earnest
~'listen to me, now, and I'll tell you the
plan I have for extricating our affairs
rom financial humiliation"
"Talk away" growled tho bear.
"Talk, at any rate, is cheap enough
over in these hard times"
PrIssy declined to notice tho Sigh,
put upon her tongue, and continued,
bravely:
"You know you have always refused
TO keep a cow, pig, or chickens. Now,
then, lot US have all three, and I will
show you this fail that your interest
money shall be forthcoming, besides
having u grocery bill fo,ted as it is
made"
"Pshaw, Prissr calculated he, with
a groan Of di'approval, show could you
do it3 Besides, my credit isn't worth a
blue bean. l haven't the money to pay
for a cow, nor a pig, nor even the chick
ems, so there's an end of that"
In no wise discouraged, the strong
minded young woman coolly continued:
az have ways and means for all of en-,
deacon. And II you will solemnly agree
to do in all things as I suggest and nd
wise, I in turn will promise and ratiiy It,
too, to take these debts and the unfn-
ished house on my shoulders, metaphor.
cally speaking, and in three years. time
We will owe no man, and our house and
ground shan compare ~iavorabiy with
my in the country"
The deacon considered a moment.
''Show me your ways and means,
Priss."
SWELL" a little reluctantly, "yoa
know the Laurelsf Mrs. Laurel wants
to trade a young now mich cow, with
the calf, for twcnty-four yards of that
new ingram carpet of our, and as I have
already carpet enough, besides that to
cover oil the floor we. shall use for q wear
Or so, have accepted tle oners InAs
scow No. l, eh7"
"Cow No. Yes"
"Uncle Bemus has taken a fancy to
ny gold watch, and wants to trade me a
SOW and a hog of tho female persuasion
Tor it, and as the watch is useless to me
n our present circumstances, I have
made up my mind to close with him.
So there Is COW No. Q, and aforesaid
ig."
The deacon opened his eyes.
"'Pon my word, Priss, you're a born
Nader. But what about the chickensi"
al have bought fve-four hens and
,ne rooster-of the Bowers, on tick
"a they say. The hens are wanting to
Ict, and l shall send you to Neighbor
rootle for eggs to set them with. Too
lie charges fifty cents per dozen for eggs,
BAT his arc an Extra kind of large fowl
hat can be made to bring four dollars
per dozen rs early spring chickens by
he frst of June. l can havo at least
thirty or forty chicks for tho June mar.
gtt aud the proceeds thcrsfrom will
AXE no a certain note Of yours. In the
meantime the butter shall pay our house
hold expenses as we go along. There
Ihall be no butchers bill, nor any other
hind OF a bill, run up for future sett.c-
nent. Tho calves we will fatten aud
.ell this fall, the hog ditto. Uucle Be-
no. ADVISES mo to keep the Utter Of pigs