Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-12-05

mullins. not crumpets and muffins,'
hot crumpets and muffns,' she called.
i hope to goodness no one hears
me-" She tried to laugh as she
spoke, but the tears were nearer the
surface.
"You needn't to be ashamed, S'man
thy, s. long as your breads sweet and
light an your cookies like that batch
you turned out today. I hate to hev
you all worked up cookin' victuals,
but I dunno but what it's as easy as
| teachin' school-and it keeps you at
home-and it would be dreadful lone
some if you was gone all day as you
used to be with no one oroppin' in for
a little mite of visit most every time
they went by, as they did at home. :
| She stopped, for her voice was grow
ing tremulous She wondered some
times how they had ever thought of
coming so far. But she was stout
hearted, and Samantha marvelled at
her cheerfulness, and when she was
most depressed and discouraged COM
forted herself with the reflection that
at least mother was happy and con-
tented.
The days were growing shorter and
the twilights longer-it had rained
steadily for nearly week-it must
be the weather that was so depressing
and that made their hearts turn long
ingly to that little New England vii
lage which was the only home either
of them haa ever known.
Business had not been very good.
A new depositor was making cookies
very like Semantha's, the errand boy
had brought back two dozen of hers
that morning. She was tired and her
head ached, but though she sat ap-
parently resting, her brain was busy.
She must think of some way to add
! to their income, she must do some
thing. At this rate how long would
| their money last?
Neither of them had spoken for
hands were moving nervously-the
/ joints were stiff and painful this
damp weather. She suppressed sigh,
but Samantha heard it.
Mother" she said cheerfully, 1--WE
just thought of something. It's al
most Thanksgiving. What if we
make some mince pies for the Ex-
change I haven't seen any nice
looking ones there, and I'm sure no
ones receipt can equal yours"
Her mothers face frightened. Sc
mantha could not see it, but she knew
it from her voice.
That's a first-rate idea Smanthy, .
she cried. IF we can jest git the pies
started, they'll sell fast enough. Your
father was a master hand for mince
pie. I guess his breakfasts wouldn't
have set extry well if Nancy Blodgett
| ID had the cookin' of EN-, and she
tried hard enough to catch him, land
knows. I never had much idee of
startin' a man off to work in the
mornin' on tough pie crust and stodgy
buckwheat cakes, but that was
Nancy's way. Sol. Tompkins run
down turribly after she married him,
he grew to be nothin' but lanky,
sickly crittef. He looked dreadful
pindlin' when he come to say good
bye, and I calc-late she'll be a widow
before long-'n Sol. amt an old man
either-he's six months younger'n
your father, and he'd ben 70 in jan
uary.'
He didn't look strong" said Sc
mantha, and I'm sure Mrs. Tompkins
can't begin to make pies like yours"
You're right there" chuckled Mrs.
Snow. 'Your father used to say he
want sure but what twas my pies
he fell in love with sted of me. You
remember how Ed. Tompkins used to
eat those pies?" She could not see
the wave of color that swept over
Semantha's face. ''That was dread
full trial to them, having him go off
west, and him the only boy they'd
got. / dunnos I blame him, though
such cookin. Why her mince pies
didn't taste like anything but apple
sas-To richness, no seasonin.' They'll
be expensive, S'manthy, my pies amt
the cheap kind, but you needn't be
afraid to have the board set on EN-,
I shouldn't wonder but what they'll
be wantin' EN- for their own Thanks
givin' dinners"
The next day was full of pleasant
excitement. Materials were to be
bought and prepared and Mrs. Snow
was in state of delighted import
ance. She stoned the raisins, she
chopped the meat when it was cold,
she measured and weighed and tasted
till she forgot that she and Samanthy
were thousand miles from home, liv-
ing in a house whose first floor went
out washing.
1t was she who laid on the covers
of fiaky crust and decorated them with
ingenious patterns through which,
later, a delicious fragrance should
exhale. 1t was she who pinched the
edges so neatly and evenly together
with an accustomed finger and thumb.
She went to bed that night feeling
for the first time contented and at
home in her new surroundings and
whicnnrinp IN herself az her night