The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-09-17
Copyright, 1907, by J. E. Lippincott Company
CHAPTER I.
ARRIVALS.

The fower-laden breeze of late May,
carrying with it a threat of falling
weather, came in through the wide
easements, 10Y putting out the dimity
curtains in white clouds, and again
drawing them against the tiny panes
of the long French windows, which
had been set ajar that Miss Ellery
might enjoy the balmy air and also
superintend work in the flower
garden upon which they opened.
One need not wish to look upon a
prettier picture than this young
mistress made. as she stood that
morning by a little deal table in the
great Ellery dining room, washing
with her own hands the breakfast
china and at the same time issuing
orders to the negro slaves.
A huge, bibbed homespun apron
protected her figured cotton morning
dress, a white kerchief IA demurely
crossed beneath her chin, and a
snowy cap sat coquettishly upon her
brown head, in which gold and red
fought hard for supremacy. Her
sleeves were rolled above the elbow,
displaying a handsome arm, while a
small, slippered foot now and then
tapped imperiously upon the polished
floor as she gave some command.
- The room itself was receiving its
morning cleaning. The drugget had
been taken up from the polished
floor and was having a good beating
out on the lawn at a sufficient distance
to keep the dust from flying into the
house.; Aunt Rachel was rubbing
down the great mahogany dining
table and the smaller breakfast
table; Gabriel was polishing the
silver; Judith was looking owe the
table linen that had been used for
breakfast and the last nights supper
to see if there were stains that should
be removed or worn places darned
before it was consigned to the
laundry: Enos was at work upon the
silver and glass candlesticks, while
in the garden outside Uncle Peter was
busy among the flowers, singing the
while at the top of his cracked old
voice.
In the detached kitchen, some 20
feet from the house, Aunt Esther
and Aunt Deborah were sending up
%quavering contraltos in rivalry of
Uncle Peters bass, accompanying
themselves with the rattle of pots
and pans, and interrupting now and
then to shout a command or a threat
at their crew of picaninny assist
ants.
The watchful eyes of the mistress
were everywhere, for the hand which
held the domestic reins during her
stepmother's absence was not lax,
and it took no little vigilance to
keep that army of lazy, grown-up
black children to their tasks. .
Uncle Peter" she called, in her
mellow southern voice, "methinks
you have been resting full ten min
utes upon that rake. Is the sun
then so hot that you cannot work?"
Hist, Missy" whispered the old
darby, sticking his white cotton head
in through the window, "thah's a
band of Britishahs ridin' up de
der red coats tro' de trees"
"-And if So" said the mistress calm
~, as she placed her china upon a
silver tray and herself carried it to
the ~china-closet, a stoop-shouldered
affair with glass-knobbed doors be-
low and an overhanging shelf above
on which were arranged such pieces
as were kept out for display and
could not find room on the tall, col
umned sideboard laden with silver
candlesticks and glass decanters,
gold-chased tankards, and fat
goblets, "and if So" she re-
peated, "what of it? Are we
such poor royalists that we need
fear his majesty's soldiers? Tut,
tut. pick up your cloth, Aunt Rachel,
and go on with your cleaning. Think
you the British will know that you
remember Mr.. Washington in your
prayers, and in your heart espouse
she cause of your old master, my
Uncle Eliiah:'
For lately James father had
bought from his brother u number OF