The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-17
THE PRICE OF PEACE.
BY MRS. HENRY L. PRATT.

Mr.. Minis was one of these shut-up-
to-himself men, and he'd glum round
for days over some little matter that
q word would "a set right if he'd only |
been plain-hearttd.
Mis- Minis was all the other way
talk it out and Gone with it: IL little |
hasty and imprudent, maybe, but she is |
well-meaning, Mis- Minis is, and as
good woman to ncighbOr with rs |
want to see.
hcv thought whether or no being |
of different pcrsuasionE didn't work to
keep 'em apart. Sec, she was brought
up an orthodox, and he favored the
Methodists. She joined with him and |
laid out to do her part amongst 'cm,
but she never was to home with the
Mcthodists.
Then, another thing, she hated Il
dog, and Mr.. Minis must always have Il
great clumsy hulk. good for nothing
but to bark and cat and lie around
under foot, while Mis-, Minis, she
marn't have even a kitten, though
she set everything by Il cat. And SO it
went.
One day stepped in to borrow Mis-
Minis cutting-board, and just us got
to the door | heard her say You
amt going to turn Charley in amongst
my flowers, be yc :'
He didn't condesccnd any rcply--not
as could hear.
"Now, MIR. Minis" says she, "he's
stepped on my pansy bed aud broke
oil dahlia already. Amt there any
other place on this whole farm where
you can put him: ! don't want him
here, says she.
Mr. Minis countcnancc didn't change
moro than wooden Indian.
Il do" says he. "Thcrc's IL good
batting Of grass to be fed down, and
calculate to leave Charley here for Il
SPELL" says he. And ne Duhgcd OF as
stiff as though he'd swallowed Il ruiu-
rod.
Mis- Minis didn't say Il word more.
but she gave that old dog Il push that
sent him out Of doors with yulp:
and didn't blame her II mite, nuthcr.
] brought tue cutting. board back lis
they was a-scttin' down TO dinner, and
Mis- Minis asked me to draw up to the
table. She had ;tn excellent dinner
Mis- Minis is an elegant cook not
one identical word did he speak, only
TO ask III I'd have another potato.
She seemed chippcr enough, but |
see shadow pass over her cGnntcnancc
when the old horse snccHcd right unurr
the window where her pinry bed was,
and tho dog. that had got back under
the table by ;hat time. yoppcd out as
though somebody had accidentally trnu
on his tail.
Mr.. Minis was II great hand for rails.
ing colts, but she was IL terrible scary
creature; and | expect riding uilcn
half-brOkcn colts mas given her II ii; uI
the ncwralOgy many : the time.
he was dreadful set in his way
same as the goncrai rrn uf men air--
, and it was like fighting; the east wind
to try to move him out Of il. Them Two
used to remind me oi Il pair OF napa-
jawcd scissors that you can l. cut with.
Some might have put the hcit Of the
blame on 10 her: and 'spoar she dl,i
nag him some, and flash out W hen she Il
better have keep still.
run in one day to borrow a slcvv,
pattern, when heard MIR. Nlms speak
ing out kind o grutl. and halted. for
didn't wish to intrudc. Il never wral
squaky shoes mysrlfl didn't find
out what went before. bat the first
heard was this
can't please you" says he. ct
beat me If he'd ever tricd.) ou
don't like my hired men, YOU uin't
satisfied with my breed of COWS. the
color Of the cora barn don't suit yr.
and Pm thinking you'll be hApoi il
we divide and separate. You've al
m
Asa .hur Won do Of me-. and vnn ,,,n
Hc free topo 10 him. 80 vnu'i hr wrl;
fixed"
"Why, Mr.. Minis =" bcurd hcr kin)
q pasn onr. and surmisrd hv ih,.
sound that shr lot fail q .,.,,.,n
looked TO hear hrr hursI ont in h.r
ouirlx way ana III wn,.,..u, ,.,,.
posed shea unrr mn. and th,i wnu,J hr
the end ont. Ru,, she seemed Iunh.
founded. Bv m bv she suid, nni,r
quiet:
"I'm sure ASA would be pl,as,l ,o
have me there He misscu S;,ral,
Jane, and SO do the children. Th.r,
has to be some body at the head I,
make things go. But what would 20,
do. Elisha ?"
[ had to smile, for she scarcely even
called him Elisha.
s. can loook out for myself" says
he, and stalkcd or to the barn
| went right in, and said | guessed
could toll what was in his mind He
was calculating to make Il hon, for
his mother, and get along they two
together. Old lady Minis never was
any too particular, and now she bad