The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-18
When Lobe|ia Dill
Went 10 Meeting.

at LODella Dies Drown house Inufsda,
instead OF Friday morning one week
II was unprecedented. Such thini
could not be remembered I'm the mem
Ory OF the oldest inhabitant riday'
and the fishman were one and inseper
able.
LObelia was making strawberry jam
ana the rich, seething mass was at III
most critical point when the faint
sound OF the fishman's horn intrudec
upon her ear. IL startled her unac'
countably. Gabrielis horn .lseh could
scarcely have surprised her more.
For the land" she cried, that's
'Bial Blessop's horn BLOWN. or else I'm
losln' my ear for music! 'Bial Blessop'
nshhorn-and that makes il Friday to-
day! I've lost a whole day clean out OF
this week. l guess I'm losin' my facul-
ties. as sure as I'm Dill!"
The sudden remembrance OF a re-
mote unfortunate Dill who had 'lost his
faculties" came 10 poor little Lobelia
with crushing force. Now and then II
hao loomed over her before. She
stirred the strawberry jam nervously,
striving TO change the subject In her
mind.
Eve heard o. fol1s l1slnTa day out
that way hut / declare l never heard
Of a Dlrs. No. ! never!
The horns too merged from rant
sweetness into harsh contgulty' Inc
hshman drew up at the foot OF the llule
min lane. Lobelia hurried TO the door.
TO Bal BlessOp 5 cart distinctly
"Wel. I declare Bial Blessop, II you
aln't a surprise. No. | amt comm out
my Jam'u burn. You cut me on
chowder piece o. hake. about Two
pounds. III put a plate. with tne
money on. right out there by the nay
cocks. What? Peter Piper? For the
land vou needn't think Peter Piperd
touch IL. | guess he knows manners
besides. he likes his fish cooked
She went TO her jam kettle In hurry
Of anxiety. Her thin straight nu'ie
nose quivered with the fear OF
burnt odOr. but relaxed TO its wonted
lines at the kitchen threshold. only
the heavy sweet smell greeted her.
IL wouldn't We made ii to-day II I'd
had my right senses" Lobelia muir
INJURED. "The idea of strawberry Jam
and fish chowder the same day! But
Peter Piper d be dreadful disappointed
without his chowder. / can have din-
ner little mite late"
Itsdid not occur 10 her to postpone
the fish dinner a day. There must be
a savory, steaming chowder. of course.
She and Peter liked fish cooked the
same way exactly.
AS long as Lobelia Dill could remem-
ber-and she could remember nearly
half a century-there had been fish
Inner Fridays in the little Dill home
stead Ii would not be Friday with
ut one. The hshman was responsible
or a very great deal that week.
The next day. early. Lobelia got out
er kneading board and ingredients for
er weekly loaf OF brown bread. She
ct her beans to parboiling. and pared
he pie apples. 1t was well to get the
,eekly cooking out OF the way in good
eason. There were always liable to
@ callers Saturday afternoons. Mercy
might come painting up
,uinn's hill-poor Mercy was so stout,
Ito get that new pattern FOR quilts.
Peter Piper you needn't set there
fashing your face any niore-its clean
You go out and make your
elf useful" Lobelia said briskly and
'eter Piper went out straightway and
aught a mole He was always to be
expended upon as amenable to reason,
eter Piper was.
The busy morning hurried by. and
lpped over a little into the afternoon.
10 callers came, anl Lobelia took
ing. restful nap on the sofa in the
,oI. dark parlor. 1t was nearly night
hen she woke up. There was just
me to go up stairs and lay out her
lbbbath day clothes on the spare
om bed Lobelia never liked to take !
lamp i'm there on account of the crisp |
uslin curtains: folks set fire 10 muslin |
rtains so often in books.
Then she wound up the eight-day |
)ck. That always followed the lay
e out of the best gown and bonnet
Id neat black gloves .as surely as
ght comes after day. The Dills had |
er been very methodica, way back
the great-greats. 1t ran in the
mly.
Down stairs the pleasant, steamy cd-
from oven and steamer greeted her.
td in the little pantry the row of
Id brown pies did her eyes good she
membered the old rhyme: How
easant is Saturday night" and re-
ated it to Peter Piper as she hustled
,out. getting tea. She had n comfort
,le consciousness OF having tried al.
e week TO be good" and il gave an
,petizing zest 30 the supper OF beans
I'd brown bread.
The next morning Lobella Dill woke
} with the Sunday calm on her sweet,
ain face.
She allowed herself the usual extra
'ur of resi- and DOING. and then she
I'd great. yellow-coated Peter Piper
ia their breakfast OF beans and brown |
cad, peacefully.
The old homestead where Dlls had |
ed and died for hundred years. was |
the top OF a high hill. and COM
anded view OF the Lords whole
autiful creation" Lobelia said CRATE
lly. IL was too far from the village
admit OF the church bells being |
ard unless the wind set due west"
day tt was due east. and there was
flavor OF rain I'm the air. Lobelia
emed IL prudent 10 take an umbral-
and the search for one DELAYED hc-
lsiderably. When at last she set ont
her long walk. she was in a little
irl OF anxiety for fear she should be
@. n Dill be late TO meeting% As
II might the young chicks that sour
d out OF her way be late TO their pan
meal. For generations IL had been
; modest boast Of the Dills that M
, among them had ever been known
be late to church on the Sabbabth
T. Tho village iokers said that n tho
rson should look up from his hvmn-
ding and see Dill coming down
aisle he'd have \ shock sur.,