Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1904-07-14
When Fortune Knocked.
I!lllIIlIIlllllIlIll-
HoE the Plans the Selfish Daughters and the Mercena SonsuV We
ThKared BY an Able Bodied Lad With Ladder
By Helen Whitney Clark.

fast. remarked Elmira, as the sisters
took their departure In the hired con.
veyance which had brought them to
the farm.
Not much wonder, SEEM paw was
sick so long. an her livin' all alone
here since he died." assented Alkaline.
Il wanted her to come an live with
me. but she wouldn't hear to reason.
Nav is powerful sot in her way, pears
like"
Margie Filbert was very glad to keep
her aunt company during the remain.
ing weeks OF her stay at the farm. and
proved a great comfort to the lone.
ly woman.
TOO bad the kitchen chimley
smokes So" she declared on the second
day OF her stay. IF you don't mind.
Aunt Clary, I'll git Dave Tallman to
come over an see what's the matter
o it. Must be filled up with swallers'
nests. 1 reckon"
Mrs Coppage looked up from her
knitting. ITO be sure. Margie! I'd be
real glad If he'd come An mebbe
he'll nail the clapboards on the ruff.
too. The wind a-soughin' through
makes a buddy feel real creepy!
hain't been up to the loft bedroom fur
l dunno the time when, jest on account
o. it."
Them loose clapboards does make q
curtis hummin' sound admitted Mar
gle. I've notice it myself. But reck-
on Dave kin suttle en-
Dear. dear" sighed the widow.
while her knitting-needles clicked an
accompaniment to the soliloquy. I'm
afeared it'll be good while fore Dave
an Margie kin marry. Dave is real
Study. an industrious. too. but farm
hands is as plenty as blackberries, an
has to take what they kin git. II
twasnt fur that mor'gidge. now, him
an Margie could marry an live here.
an 1 wouldn't hev to go trapesin'
round. alvin here an there, with
Adline an Elmiry an Becky. A nice
time I'll hev. with all them kids, too.
Six or seven apiece they've got all
round, an the wust-behaved young uns
! ever ses, If they air my own grau'-
The brown old farmhouse. embower-
ed In black-locust trees. its quaint
sabled porches overrun with hop-vines
and coral honeysuckle, took on an add
ed picturesquness In the hazy autumn
sunshine. The widows one COW was
licking her calf across to, half-broken-
down rail fence, and the striped quails
were calling Bob White! Bob White"
from the neighboring corn-fields. AS
the red barn hens were cackling and
suinea-fowls chattering, as IL they
were having a contest as to watch
could make the most noise.
Mrs. Coppage, her face we'll shaded
by black sunbonnet. was gathering
round pippins in the nearby orchard.
With view to having apple dumplings
!or dinner
Dave Tallman had already arrived.
md had climbed a rickety ladder to
investigate the smoky chimney.
The widows meditations. which were
none of the brightest. we may be sure
we're suddenly interrupted by a pierre
ing shrek from Margie, and dropping
her pippins. she flew to the house.
rs Dave killed." she gasped, on dis
covering the young man reclining
Imply on the porch. while Margie how.
cred over him with the camphor bottle
N her hand. II was afeared that lad.
Ter would break"
Dave grinned sheepishly. mo. Miss
Coppage. the ladder didn't break" he
announced. as he tenderIy chafed his
inkle-bone. IL got bee-stung. an
iropped TO the ground" he added. I'm
answer to the widows puzzled look.
Mrs. Coppage started first at Dave
md then at Margie In bewilderment
'Bee-stung?" she repeated, incredul-
ously.
Yes. nom. There's a swarm o.
)ees has made a hive o. your chimley.
Hiss Coppage. The hull inside o. the
run is lined with honeycomb. too
chock-full o. honey It's a fact. an no
mistake. Put away the camfire. Mar
de. my ankle Is all right again.
Twasn't nothing but bruise an you
n Miss Coppage come an take a
eek fur yourselves"
The two women climbed gingeriy I'D
ladder. one Mt a time. and discov.
4 the truth Of Dawes assertion. The
h-gabled hip roof Of the old home
regular storehouse OF honey.
No wonder you felt creepy. Aunt
larry" laughed Margie. with all
hem bees a-hummin' overhead! Lucky
The clapboards blowed OF. too, or they
couldn't "a got In"
IF I wasn't as def as an adder 7
might "a heared EN-" admitted Mrs.
Coppage. though I hain't slep' In
that part o. the house since your uncle
died"
Fave looked shrewdiy at the accun-
llated sweets. Part C the corb was
.iscolored. cs :: wit, s~e. bat a large
portion wc5 o, golden strawcolor.