The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-12-10
80B'S PEACH PLUCK
ELLSWORTH

W IN w ~ - a.
X known as Bob, sat on the
OK ~ edge Of the Kitchen table
6eeD,ekkR and stirred the big kettN
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. 81
ing:
''You sit there and stir, Bob, so vi
can reach easily, and by the time
dressed mother 1t will be almost dol
and you shall have some as a reward
So Bob pushed the long-hand
stirrer back and forth, diligently scr
ing the bottom lest the butter sti
She loved to watch the little spurts
thick butter fly through the top ho
of the stick, and to push 1t back
forth, making patterns in the md
but best Of all she loved a slice
bread spread thickly with the
smoking butter. The stirrer had
longed to her mothers mother
Bob often put her nose close to IT
1t hung by the fire, for it semeed to
that odors Of long-eaten jams and b
tiers chung to 1t.
She glanced anxiously at the butt
and then called Nell softly, for
mother must not be STARTLED. u
Nell did not come, and Bt9h, .shrrA
faster as the butter darkened and
thickened 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
1T beyond her control, and the bottom
portion would stick. She looked out Of
the door to see IL any Of the darkies
were near, but they never were when
they were wanted, and then she re-
membered that every one was busy
in the peach orchard, for the fruit was
rlpening fast. Suddenly she caught
her breath with n gasp of terror as
she saw the figure of a man move
among the bushes near the house.
'Peach pluckw she thought, and set
her teeth together to keep from scream
ing for Nell.
Two years before she had gone down
10 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
to farm in the peach season, plucking
the fruit for the farmers, thereby earn
ing the name Of peach plucks." They
had done her no harm, but they had
leased her, one of them putting his
finger in bis mouth, then touching her
mass of red curls to "see If they would
sizz"
She had broken from them and
rushed for home, too frightened ia
make a 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 tc
the man.
He looked toward her, hesltated, ther
turned away.
Muu3 NOlus ueEe+ sue Culleu lAuA
tically. "Quic.:w
The man appeared at the door, his
cap in his hand.
Ibid you call, little girl?" he asked
quietly,
Bob's heart gave a tirob Of relief
He could not be a peach pluck
''Yes-the butter-take it off," she
ordered, stlll stirring.
The man glanced at the kettle, tool
the stlTer from her, and carried 1t t.
the sink, turned swiftly and snatchet
a wadded holder from the wall beside
the stove, lifted the huge brass kettle
and carried It to the table, where hC
stood 1t I'm the granite basin standing
In readiness. Absorbed in his work
he turned to the stove once more
changed the draughts and put coal OF
the fire. Bob watched him, too dumb
founded. at FIRST. TO move.