Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1905-01-12

-A-I fenced lot, and gradually
fsl EsIl assuming house-like pro
WrtlOns; but Content watched its dali
~ growth with a wonderful light of
satisfaction in her brown eyes. She
could see it plainly from Aunt Prissy's
little shop window, looking down the
quiet road and across a field white
with daisies; and she loved to watch
the sea of bending blossoms, and whis-
per softly to herself, 1.-THE path that
leads to it is all pure white"
"Growin' finely amt it?" said Miss
Prissy, cheerily, busting and arrang-
ing the bright silk handkerchiefs,
skeins Of yarn, boxes of needles, jars
of candy and the rosy checked apples
that decorated the show window, even
while she looked beyond them at the
new building. Its goin' up slick as
4 new PIN"
Eyes, yes" returned Uncle joachim.
shaking his head; "if there only don't
come a hard wind and blow it over, or
a heavy rain to flood the cellar, or
somebody set it ATTIRE, mebby. There's
no tellin'-never no tellin' in this IN
certain world"
La, Joachim said Miss Prissy,
nimbly mounting the counter and pur-
suing conversation and a spider-web
together, 1--WE hain't had a drop of
rain this three weeks. and it's just
what we're needin'. AS for winds,
'twould take something more'n COM
mon to blow such walls as them
down."
Il don't know bout that-don't
know" answered Uncle Joachim, un-
convinced. at blew a pretty smart
breeze last night, and 1 could feel our
house shake. Thought very likely our
roof would be carried away afore
mornin'-mOre'n likely. I went up to
the garrett to-day and tied a rope to
the rafters and then hitched the 9TH
er end fast to the old spinnin' wheel;
but it's doubtful if that'll save it
doubtful"
Content laughed softly, but Uncle
Joachim heard it.
"Eon't make fun of solemn things,
child; don't never do that" he said, re-
provingly. Il knew a II an once that
ridiculed the idee of any burglars ever
breakin' into his house, and the very
next day his brother had his pockets
picked. A good many folks have a
good many things happen to 'em, and
it's best to be prepared"
WELL" commented Miss Prissy
briskly, II must say fort, I'm bout as
we'll prepared for pickpockets as fol
anything I know of. Nobody d make
much u of my pockets, unless they
was sufferin' for a pair of steel-bowe6
spectacles and an old brass thimble
There comes the MAIL" she added, as
a rusty. dusty horseman stopped at the
door. Content and nell tend to it
Joachim, dear; you're feelin' poorly
to-day, l know, and you'd better 81
still"
He had no idea of doing anythin.
else; but it was a pleasant fiction O
Miss Prissy's that brother Joachim
was always just about to do somethin:
useful and energetic-a belief that hat
never died out in ell the twenty year
AAOS SAO toACA CdIe VI ullu, 4 dCu
er, mother, sister, all were gone bu
fhese two and the sisters orphane,
child, Content, a bonny, winsome ma
den, who had come like sunshine t
the quaint, quiet old house.
Uncle Joachim sat in his easy chail
with gaze that wandered afar of
mourning over the hills that were nc
leveled, the valleys that never woul
be filled up and the mountains tina
wouldn't come to Mohammed. He ha
no time nor strength to spare in hel1
ing to do the daily work and bear tn
little daily trials, because he was hole
ing himself as a sort of reserve corr
against the terrible calamities ths
never came. But Miss Prissy's kee
and kindly eyes could, fortunately, sc
nearer hOme-even to the sewing {
buttons on brother Joachim's Goa
the mending of rents in his linen, an
the necessity of providing for thru
meals a day. So she whjsked abou
always busy, worked and planne
aurned and darned; made over b,
dresses wrong side up and inside on
contrlved neat caps out of nothin
n collars out of what was left. 81
took care of the small store that ";
also the village postofice, and look,
after the diminutive garden beside
all the whole family grateful, and i
nocently plying any poor lone W
men folks that hadn't any man to he
or perfect 'em."
The arrival of the mail was alwa
a pleasant little ripple in the day
still current, and Content and Au
Prissy sorted the small bundle wi
some good natured guessing and neie
oorly sympathy-hoping this for NJ,
Grey was from her sailor bow. a
that the n for Deacon Cole wo,
bring good word from his sick daue
ter. Content was listening with de,
ening color meanwhile for a step II
was sure soon to come.
"Any letters for me. Miss Prissx
asked Jack Howard's clear. hea,
voice. ~
mot one," answered Content. Ian.
ing up into the blue eyes that did
look particularly disappointed. In f.
Jacks correspondence was not
menSe; but it was 2 sa+isf, o+;on