The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-07-27

"You straighten up that disgraccful
dining-room while prepare the vcge-
tables; then We'll tackle the poultry.
But how shall we let Albert known"
Cissy smiled demurely.
'He would never take them up there
without coming home first"
''Oh, gruntcd Miss Sophronia, "then
he's not altogether vile.'
Hes lovely, Aunt Sophy." said Cissy,
impling.
II want you to have tho credit of
this dinner, Cissy," said Miss Sophronia,
peeling potatoes as she talked. "You're
like my own child to me and l want
you to be happy and stay happy. The
door to it is duty. l know. l missed
it myself, and SO missed my grand
children, unless 1 can be grandmother
to yours, Cissy. don't SO much miss
my man, nor my children, but guess
it'll be pretty hard on Miss Sophronia
llsc If she misses her grandchildren!
The house was soon tidicd-not n
long task, for tidiness was its normal
conditiOn-vcgctabl made ready.
fowls put to roast, and ham cut in a
profusion which looked to the young
wife like waste.
Eleven had struck fore the engine
had anOrtcd and pEffed it's way into
the rick yard at Albert Stznning's, but
ahead of it rode the young master OF
the farm, shecpishly conscious that he
had been cruelty un Just, and sure that
he would have to acknowledge the
same before Cissy's eyes would look
kindly at him again.
Delicious odors greeted him as he
ncarcd the house. No one was in the
kitchen. but there was Il sound of
some one moving about in the dining
room adjoining. Rows upon rows Of
delicious looking pies were ranged up
on the pantry shelves, pumpkin, cher
ry and apple. Near them was pan of
fragrant brown pudding, fanl1cd by a
foaming pitcher Of Tenor sauce to
drown it in by and 10y.
Dazed, the Young man, who seemed
in no way an unusual young man c.
ccpt that he appeared to have moro
length of leg than he could convcn-
iently use, passed in to the dining room
where long table was laid, as exquis-
lite in every appointment as if tho
president of our great republic had
been an cXpcc ted guest. His wife was
fitting about adding some finishing
touches to the table, and Miss So
phro1,ia was seated nenr a window with
her knitting work in her hand, and n
book upon her knee, knitting and read
ing was her habit. Albert clutchcd
his wife as she passed him. $50 you
didn't get mad at what I said this
morning? I've felt like hanging my
self to Il sour-apple tree ever since"
don't you ever say such things to me
again. You and l to q,iarrel-aftcr
all!'
Then she gave him q kiss, tasted tho
browning fowls. turned the suffering
ham and thanked God she alive,
and that Albert was alive to love her.
AT twelve, before the last stroke had
died away. the new dinner bell hung
upon the top of white oak pole Ivy
the we'll sounded forth its welcome
summons; for to be ''behind hand with
dinner in the Pretty Bob neighbour
hood all bad to provide but
one kind Of pie.
Somehow as the men trooped in they
did not seem quite SO rcpu!sive a. a like
crowd had been at harvest time. They
were bosterous, bondying Goa rsc jokes,
making fun, Cissv knew, OF what they
were pleased to call her ''pcrnicl>erty''
ways, and her ''moonshine MEALS but
she merely smiled. She even hung UP
the fifth clean towel without n sign Of
disgust, and by the time they were
seated at the table She owned to her
self that c"cn Jim Finn might he
worse, for had she not seen him fontllc
her pet kitten, while waiting his turn
ut the wash bowl?
She poured the fourth cup of coffee
for poor, trembling, Urinary neighbor
.Joncs-who ate his pie with his knife,
held within two inches Of the point,
his face in lieu of a pocket handksr-
chicf-without once looking across at
Albert. She asked Tim Lewis, who
was more than suspected Of making
midnight Visits to his neighbors' hem
roosts, how his lame b oy was, and told
him not to forget to take a poc5c1ful
of sweet apples home to him. The rest
of the men were ncigh bors, good hon
est mon who knew better than to ask
the same man twice for a chew of to.
bacco without offering return of the
favor, who '.belonEed to church, and
did not swear except under great prov
ocation.
Midway in the meal Miss Sopi,ronia
looked up from her book.
ia offer to help you. Cissv, b11t you
seem to- be getting along better with
cut Too many cooks, you know,
spoil the BROTH"
It would have done poor, tired Cissy
good to hearth remarks of the men
they SIN ol<cd their pipes under the oaks
in the back yard.
''That settles it," said g; eff hear
the women poliin' any moro jokes at
settle 'em. l hain't mot with such a
dinner since my nammy's day"
Three l1in's of pic and 4 putldn'!
That lays it over anything we've seen
yit. Al knowcd what he's about when
he married that town gal, now l
tell yc.''
did YOU hear the Gorham gal tick
lin t,ont the dinner we'd pit tD-(l;iV