The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-12-18
B0B'S PEACH PLUCK. >.
.I[lI0I..l..Ial-- ARRARA

- - w i = " n, co III III o MY
8 r known as Bob, sat on the
Slx edge of the kitchen table
a5sSiGSkkE and stirred the big kettle
of peach butter industri-
ously She was nine years old, but
small 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 viii be almost done,
and you shall have some as a reward"
So Bob pushed the long-handled
stirrcr back and forth, diligently scrap
ing the bottom lest the butter stick.
She loved TO watch the little spurts of
tlick butter 1y through the top holes
Of the stick, and to push it back and
forth, making patterns in the mess;
but best Of ali she loved a 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 it semeed to her
that odors Of long-eaten jams and but
tiers chung to it.
She glanced anZiously 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
thickencd and the little Jumps of rich
ness few up, sometimes even over the
stove in spite of her care.
Darker grew the Jam, and Bob knew
that many more minutes would thicken
it beyond her control, and the bottom
portion would stick. She looked out of
the door to see if any Of the darkies
were near, but they never We're when
they were 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 4 gasp Of terror as
she saw the figure of a man move
among the bushes near the house.
Peach pluck" she thought, and SCI
her teeth together to keep from scream
ing for Nell
Two years before she had gone dowr
to get the mail from the box at the enc
of the long road and too busy to notice
anything else, she had turned to fine
herself surroundedA1y five of the rougI
class of men who wandered from farm
to farm in the peach season, plucking
the fruit for the farmers thereby earn
ing the name OF peach plucks." The!
had done her no harm, but they haC
leased her, one of them putting hi
finger in his mouth, then touching he
mass of red curls to "see if they woult
sizz."
She had broken from them an,
rushed for home. too frightened t
make a sound, and from that time ha'
dreaded the peach season. Now sh
looked from kettle to the door. Ne
would not come and in another minut
it would be too late. Bob turned des
perately 70 the door and beckoned
Come bere," she called sharply t
the man.
He looked toward her, hesitated, the
turned away.
Man! Come herar' She called fra-
tically. Quick"
The man appeared at the door. hi
cap in his hand.
did you call, little grip he aske
quietly.
Bob's heart save a throb Of relic
lie could not be peach pluck.
"yes-the butter-take it off," ST
ordered still stirring.
The man glanced at the kettle, too
the stirrer from her. and carried it
the sink. turned swiftly and snatcht
p 4 wadded holder from the wall besiC
thostove. lifted the huge brass kett
and carried it 10 the table, where
stood q in TIE granite basin standir
in readiness Absorbed in his wor
he turned to the stove once NOR
changed the 6faughts and nat coal {
Tie ara BOB waLeAe 20 dunn
nety per cent of a strawhe and ann