The Topeka state journal., 1897-03-16
STUPID HITTIBEL.

the ''prettiest little girl in Salem Grand
father Barr frequently said, 1.-The two lit
tie Hittibels were very like, only the young
Hittibel was so slow to think and act.''
Mother Barr often said: "Our Hittibel
is a little slow. Dorothy is three years
younger and real quick witted. I do trust
Hittibel will improve. Pioneer people need
to have their wits about them F."
The Barr family were not yet quite ac-
customed to the new Silver creek prairie
home. Droughts, the grasshopper pests,
hot winds and scant crops tested the new
settlers courage and patience
In the autumn of 1876 Mrs. Barr said to
Hittibel:
Father has brought from town a dol
lars worth of sugar. He says the plum
trees on Silver creek bank are hanging
full of fruit. I'll make a large kettle of
marmalade if you children will gather the
plums We have so little fruit, the plums
are worth walking five miles for
Three brown, barefooted young people
Hittibel, Dorothy and Joe-laughing and
swinging their pals, Immediately set out
for the plum patch. The young people
went plunming until the plum boughs
were stripped of the purple fruit.
One morning a large kettle was filed
with equal portions of fruit and sugar and
set boiling over fire built in the back
yard Mr.. Barr stirred the mass with the
stirring paddle until a messenger came for
him
I'm sorry, 'Manda. But must really
go to town. The church building commit
tee meets this forenoon. Stirring MARINA
lade is hard work.
1--WE will try to do without you, " replied
the patient wife.
Grandfather Barr took his turn with the
paddle. Unfortunately a neighbor's fine
horse was very ill. Grandfather, a friend
- L.
horse ailments. He, too, had to leave the
kettle. Grandmother and Mrs. Barr stirred
the sputtering, thickening mass an hour.
"Harkr' cried grandmother. Its the
Wisemans dinner horn-the distress sig
nal. 'Manda, they need US. Likely Luella
is siclx.''
Miss Barr gave the stirring paddle into
Hittibel's hands, saying:
''Let the fire so down, but don't forget
to stir; narmalade is easily scorched
Now, don't lose your wits. Father works
too hard for the money that pays for
sugar
. Mother, you may trust me. Indeed,
will not waste the sugar or spoil the mar
malade,'' said Hittibel.
Two brilliant, gold plumaged birds hop
ped tamely near Hittibel. They chirped
in frinedly way. One flew away. Hit
tibel turned to watch its fight, and, look
ing up the road, she saw afar two horse
men riding fast. The neighbors did not
ride in that reckless fashion. Hittibel
dropped the stirring paddle, ran into the
house and into the pantry, snatched from
the blue sugar bowl q handful of gold coins,
returned to the kettle and dropped them
into the msrmalade.
Dorothy and Joe, sitting in the front
doorway, enjoying game of mumble the
peg, welcomed the strangers Hospitality.
Hittibel, standing beside the kettle in the
back yard, heard plainly the questions put
to Dorothy and Joe.
"Grandfather, grandmother, mother and
father are all away from home, - explained
Dororhv ---------- --~-s-----s
''My little man, I'll give you a dime if
you will watch my horse while
''Yes, sirl Yes, siri'' cried Joe, delighted
that he might earn 10 cents so easily.
Sissy, would you mind getting pitcher
of water from the spout spring? I've heard
the water in your spring is wonderfully
cool and sweet" said the tallest man in
his most pleasant manner.
Dorothy gayly tripped down the hill
leading to the spring, calling to Hittibel:
''We have company-two nice gentle
men"
Hittibel stirred the marmalade, keeping
her sunbOnnet well over her face. She
knew quite well the men were searching
the house. They were looking for the $4oo
in gold which was to be paid the church
building committee that afternoon.
She was afraid. Her limbs trembled.
The fire had burned out Slow witted
Hittibel was thinking: "They will compel
me to tell where the money is kept when
they see that Dorothy and Joe do not
know. We need the new church. will
not tell. I will not tell
Dorothy, dimpling and pretty, returned
from the spout spring, her pitcher filed
with pure, sweet water.
''That is fine water, sissy. 1 should like
to know just when Mr.. Barr will be at
home" said the tall man.
"Oh, not until some time in the after
noonl He has gone to town.
''To the bank, 1ikely?"
eyes. I think he had business in the
bank, orr
''YOu might ask your sister,
"Hittibel? She does not know. She is
the greatest dreamer. Mother told her to
stir the marmalade until the fire burned
out. The fire is out, but she still stands
and stirs. If father should tell her when
he expected to get home she would forget
in an hour said Dorothy, laughing.
'tAh? We came on a matter of business.
think we will not wait longer Brown,
don't forget to pay the boy his dime
The stran gers rode away. Hittibel, glad
and thankful, guarded the kettle an hour
longer, until Mr.. Barr returned home.
''Two nice gentlemen have been here,
father" said Dorothy. Mr.. Barr looked
in the blue sugar bowl. Father" (" called
Hittibel, ''the gold is in the marmalade.
Dorothy and Joe thought you had gone to
Plummer.''
''How did you know 1 went to Bolivar
and the money was here? Father jones'
Father" exclaimed Hittibel, 81 was
awake when Father Jones brought the
money this morning. 1 heard him tell you
to pay the lumber committee today. 1 saw
mother hide the money in the sugar bowl.
The men talked to Dorothy. am so slow
witted''-
dorothy talks too freely. But happily
her nimble tongue has done me a good
turn, since she innocently deceived the ras-