The Elbert County tribune., 1903-12-24
BDB'S PEACH PLUCK.

% WILSON, commonly
S r y known as Bob. sat on the
&x xS edge of the kitchen table
&ekSfaxK and stirred the big kettle
of peach butter industri.
ously. She was nine years old. but
smnll for her age. and when big sister
Nell left, she put Bob on the table, say
ing:
You sit there and stir Bob. so You
can reach easily. and by the time I've
dressed mother it will be almost done,
and you shall have some as a reward -
SO Bob pushed the long handled
stirrer back and forth, diligently scrap
ing the bottom lest the butter stick
She loved to watch the little spurts of
thick butter fly through the top holes
of the stick. and to push 1t back and
forth, making patterns in the mess:
hut best of all she loved slice of
bread spread thickly with the still
smoking butter. The stirrer had be-
longed to her mothers mother. and
Bob often put her nose close to it as
: it hung by the fire, for 1t semeed TO her
that odors of long-eaten jams and but
ters chung to it.
She glanced anxlously at the butter,
and then called Nell softly. for her
mother must not be startled. But
Nell did not come. and Bob stirred
faster as the butter darkened and
thickened and the little Jumps of rich
ness flew up. sometimes even over the
stove in spite of her care.
Darker grew the jam. and Bob knew
that many more minutes would thicken
1t beyond her control. and the bottom
portion would stick. She looked out of
the door to see if any of the darl,ies
were near, but they never We're when
they We're wanted. and then she re-
membered that every one was busy
in the peach orchard. for the fruit was
ripening fast. Suddenly she caught
her breath with gasp of terror as
she saw the figure of n man move
among the bushes near the house.
Peach pluckr' she thought, and set
her teeth together to keep from scream
ing for Nell.
Two years before she had gone down
to get the mail from the box at the end
of the long road and too busy to notice
anything else. she had turned TO find
herself surrounded by five of the rough
class of men who wandered from farm
20 farm in the peach season. plucklng
the fruit for the farmers, thereby earn
ing the name of peach plucks." They
had done her no harm, but they had
teased her. one of them putting his
finger in his mouth, then touching her
mass of red curls to 'see il they would
siZz'
She had broken from them and
rushed for home. too frightened to
make sound. and from that time had
dreaded the peach season. Now she
looked from kettle to the door. Nell
would not come and in another minute
1t would be too late. Bob turned des-
perately to the door and beckoned.
Come here" she called sharply to
the man.
He looked toward her, hesitated, then
turned away.
MAN! Come herel' she called fran
tically. "Quickr'
The man appeared at the door, his
cap in his hand.
"Did you call. little girl?" he asked
quietly.
Bobs heart gave n throb of relief.
He could not be n peach pluck.
"Yes-the butter-take it on" she
ordered. still stirring.
The man glanced at the kettle, took
the stirrer from her. and carried 1t to
the sink. turned swiftly and snatched
n wadded holder from the wall beside
the stove. lifted the huge brass kettle
and carried it to the table. where he
stood it in tie granite basin standing
in readiness. Absorbed in his work,
he turned to the stove once more,
changed the draughts and put coal on
the fire. Bob watched him. too dumb
founded. at first. to move.
There! 1t will be ready to get the
dinner" he said, then laughed in n
shamefaced way. 'I'Il go now," and
he started to the door.
But Bob returned TO life suddenly;
she slipped from the table and caught
his coat.
mo. nor she cried. wait, you
must eat the thingsl Yes, 1t won't
take me a minute You must" as he
tried to move away.
He looked at her. then moved un-
easily.
you're a funny KID" he ssid. "All