The Press., 1904-09-28
.as..a-eAs &
Her Soft Soap
Acquaintance
BY james Norf5ees
Copyright, 1904. by X. NJ. Whitehead

gagged his farm TO OLD Jonn DOan Inal
he might raise money to go into the
dairy business he could figure out that
he had twenty chances of success
against one of failure. Inside of three
years, however, misfortune had come
to him In half dozen different direc-
lions. Most of his herd had persisted
when his barn had been struck by q
thunderbolt, and following that his wife
had died and he had fallen and broken
a leg. There could be only one more
calamity I'm store for him, and that put
in an appearance in due time. One day
when letter had come for him he call
ed his daughter Bessie in and satH
"Well, it has come. Old John Doan
is going to foreclose the mortgage ON
homeless. Here's the notice from his
man of business"
Bessie Thompson was girl of TWEEN
ty In addition to being good look
ing and having IL good education. her
acquaintances called her brick
They said so because she had faced
misfortune with u Drawer heart than
her father and had displayed level
head and much shrewdness in trying
to stem the tide and extricate him
from his unfortunate situation. She
had even taken IL trip of fifty miles to
see old John DOan in person and try
to soften his heart, but had only found
his agent and been gruffiy told that
her father must pay up or go. She had
expected the blow, and her answer to
her father was:
well, if we can't pay we'll have
to go, of course, but we shall be allow
ed a few weeks grace. and who knows
what may happen in that time"
Something did happen. but 1t came
about in q queer way. Two weeks had
passed, and Miss Bessie had started to
make soft soap in a big kettle In the
back yard. Farmer folks would make
soft soap in the spring even though as
sured that the world would be no
more by midsummer. The big kettle
had been filled with I've from the beach
and fire started under 1t, and the
hour was o'clock in the afternoon.
when Miss Bessie sat down on the
back doorstep out of the smoke to.
think and plan for the future. In the
course of a quarter of an hour she was
so lost in her thoughts that she was
oblivious of her surroundings and was
jumped to her feet by hearing a harsh
voice saying:
Young woman, don't you know that
kettle is boiling over and wasting the
lye?"
1t was a man of sixty who had en-
tered the front gate and passed around
the house. He was decent1y dressed.
but he was bowbacked and lame. and
his snarling, sttngy disposition could
be read in his face.
81 say that the kettle is boiling over"
he repeated as she stared ut him and
wondered who he could be. cit seems
to me that girl of your age ought to
know enough to put stick across 1t.
Perhaps, though, you've got I've to
throw away or you had rather think
of marrying some prince than Of max
ing soft soap?"
IL was thinking she stammered.
"Yes; / know. but it wasn't about
the soap. Young woman. when you
have anything on hand attend to 1t
and let castle building alone. Thinking
won't bring bread and butter"
Miss Bessie walked down to the fire
and rearranged it bit and then laid q
vent another accident. While she was
doing this the old man sat down on
the steps, with a grunt. and looked |
around and muttered to himself. Pres |
emily he called to her:
young woman. is your father at |
work anywheres about the farm"
mo, sir. Father is in bed with a |
broken leg"
II s'pose he was doing some fool
hing when he broke itY'
HE was drawing up wood last Feb
-uary." -
"Um! Where's your motherF'
dead"
"Umt Who runs the farmY'
I'm doing my best to care for |
things. but it won't need anybody
ong, as we shall soon be leaving"
Got to leave. ehY' he chuckled.
Say, young woman, I'll bet you hair |
pin there's mortgage on this farm. |
Isn't it SOP
Yes, SIR
And III bet another that it's held |
by old John Doan, the old flint hearted |
rascal Come now" II
Yes"
Il thought so; thought so. And, OF
course. he's going to turn you OutY'
He wants his money, of course"
replied the girl. perhaps he has to
be hard hearted to prevent people tax
ing advantage of him. II L could see
him and tell him just how things have
gone with us believe he would give
is IL show
well, why don't you see himY'
Il have tried to, but / had to deal
with his agent"
Yes. yes! I'm. UNI, So your father
8 in bed with Il broken leg and you
ire trying to run the farm? l see.
Can you cook and wash?"
''Of course"
know enough to milk cow and do
"YeS: quite enough"
"Who makes your clothesP contin
led the old man as he looked her up
md down.
Il do. sir, but why do you ask me
hese questions? What right have
Tut. tut, young woman. It's my
way to ask questions and, Il should be
our way to answer them. Can you
pitt wood without hacking your own
Get Off"
Il have done 1t"
I'm! You happen to know a thing
r two. Now, young lady, If you were
lanting potatoes how many eyes
Tould you put. in hill?''
-Four or five"
"And how about corn?" /.
From four to six Kernels"
Yes. And do you play the pian0Y'
"Fairly WE'LL s. II
Wonderful young wOman-positive- | |