The Portland daily press., 1900-10-23

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E5[yyE57@ Of it. The currants hat
<SS22Zs been cooked to a turn
@s@zzzzzzzzS they had been dipped Oul
Of the kettle with large spoon, depos.
tied in the cleanest of bags, the draw.
string Of which had been drawn. and
the bag hung over another kettle, into
which the red Juice had dripped until
there was no more juice left to drip.
She was now upon the point of meas.
uring the Juice and the sugar. One
spotless kettle stood ready for the sug.
ar and another for the juice. She had
dipped a cupful of sugar from the
bucket close by, spread it evenly over
the top with a steady forefnger and
emptied it into the kettle when there
was a knock at the front door.
Jane frowned. She preferred while
the making of this jelly was in prog
ress to be alone. Her currant jelly
had an enviable reputation in Null
.Yane She wished to live up to it.
However, the knocking continuing
redoubling in vehemence, in fact-her
only recourse was to go to the door
Setting the cup in q small plate, she
wiped her hands on a nearby towel,
rolled down her sleeves and went. She
opened the door.
Law she exclaimed. "If l had
known it was you, Martha Simmons, I
wouldn't er gone to the trouble Of put
tin down my sleeves. I'm maxim my
currant jell, an I'm right where I've
got to go on with it. Come along out
on the back porch an set there while l
measure the sugar Be quiet, too, won't
you? It's mighty particular work, you
know. A leetle bit too much sugar or
not enough, an the whole things ruin
ed. I'll talk to you when I'm done
with it."
Martha followed her through the
clean, wide hall, on either side Of
which high, straight backed chairs sat
primly, to the back porch. Jane
brought the sugar and fruit from the
kitchen and set them on a long table
against the wall, placed a chair for her
visitor and recommended her work.
The back porch was a pleasant place
to sit in The dining room opened on
to it, the kitchen and the front hall
Latticework partly inclosed it, and del
icate vines, trained by James nimble
fingers, covering the lattice, shut out
the heat Of the sun. Jane opened wide
the front door; also the back. A fresh
breeze blew through
Martha, taking off her sunbonnet,
famed herself with it while Jane bent
over her work, muttering: "One, two,
three cups of sugar. One, two, three
cups of juice"
Footsteps approached. They halted
at the front door. Jane looked up.
''AIy landw she exclaimed. "If there
amt Lucy Jones! Come in," she called
to her. IAN bring one of them chairs
in the hall along with you" AS Lucy
? dragged the chair out she added: 'If I
was settin here now, lonesome as an
owl, wishin for somebody to come an
chat with me, not a livin soul Of you
would come. Bein as Pm busy as a
bee with my currant jen an don't
want to be bothered, here you all come
a-strollin in one at time. Talk to
her, Martha, while I measure this fruit
all over again. Three cups Of sugar,
want it? An one, two, three cups Of |
juice"
Lucy sat down by Martha.
Il hear" she whispered "that Sarah /
Lawson amt no better. Known as
how she was so close to Jane, I /
thought I'd just drop in an see If !
there's any truth in it. You hear so
many things"
'She amt no better" said Jane be-
tween the counting Of the cups. "She's
worse if anything. Five of sugar an
six Of juice"
"Are you measurin them cups even
on the top, JaneY inquired Martha,
leaning forward. Seems to me this
one is fuller than the other was"
Jane tossed her head. 81 amt been
maxim currant 1ell all these years for
nOthin," said she, with conscious pride.
81 know what I'm about. Tend to
your own knittin," for Martha, reach
ing into a spacious retcule which hung
at her side, had brought out a stocking,
wasted, attenuated and lacking a foot.
She proceeded to knit the foot
"There's somebody else comm" she
said presently. glancing toward the
door.
ut never rains but it pours," mutter-
ed Jane Go to the door, will you,
Martha, an hold whoever it is there a
mint till I get through measurin this
juice? If you don't, won't get through
measurin it till doomsday"
She poured in the last cupful of sug-
ar, then the last cupful Of juice. The
white sugar slowly dissolved itself in
the crimson juice as she took the kettle
into the kitchen, placed it on the stove,
raked the Goals under it and came out
on the porch once more, laughing to see
Martha obediently holding the new
conner at the front door, pointing out to
her the beauties of the plants blooming
luxuriantly in diamond shaped beds
bprn fhara aOd nvnrvVbnrn and Offor