The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-09-20

She THREW A BIG CAKE ON HER sons
PLATE.
| hain't reached my time Of life to set
down in peace and have folks say;
This time Mis- Wlllet and Mis- Agnew
has got their hands more'n full. Zed
and Atulk will be too much for EN-
Thems the words that Mis- Lansin'
used TO Asy Clark. When have said
my little say to Zed things will look
different 10 him."
IL was one morning In the late winter
that Mrs. Agnew said her 'little say"
TO her son. II was breakfast time, and
Betsey stood beside the stove twirling
pancake turner over smoking grid
Zed still sat at the table, boiling
grlddlecakes and listening without
appearing to hear. He sat well back
In his chair, with his feet gripped
around the rear legs His left elbow
rested on the table, his hand clutching
the back Of his neck firmly. His fore
head was low and his chin short The
nose turned up suddenly at the end
and drew with II the middle OF his
upper lip, exposing cavity which two
front teeth would have become. When
Zed spoke, which was seldom, his
words arrived by way of his nose and
were not intended to give satisfaction
on any subject
The only response he made to his
mothers ultimatum was, Fork me
over few of them cakes, will yer
Mrs. Agnew, paying no attention,
bent over the griddle. at amt every
day that young man can git farm
OF medder land he's been hankerln'
after fer years, and"-here Mrs. Ag-
new shot keen glance at her SON
that he can't git no other way"
HAS the molasses give outf" was
Zed's satisfying response as he glued
his eyes to the bottom Of the sirup
pitcher.
Betsey continued, knowing that her
words were not falling on deaf ears
"No. say. II amt every day that a
young man gifts such farm, with a
new house on Il, and"-here she
paused and threw big cake on her
sons plate by way Of emphasis-"a
deed fer the whole thing on his we'd
din day"
Zed unlocked his feet and labori-
ously arose. He twisted his upper lip
sidewlse and looked over the table.
There hain't nothln' more 10 eat In
sight" he remarked tersely, so I've
got TO quit"
He reached the barn, his eyes rowing
aver the rich fats which stretched,
tcre on acre, toward the river. These
fertile flats might be his, provided he
followed the example Of his three older
brothers and took a Willet 10 wife
lie kicked the barn door ylndictlvely.
IN one OF the others had only took
Atulk I'd be wIllln'," he muttered.
Later Betsey and Eliza reported to
each other.
Eliza was agitated. "Oh, Atulky acts
somethin' awful" she moaned. she
says she Will run away 10 Boston TO
ler Aunt Atulk's. and just bet she
Alllw
Atulka possessed pretty face. an
imperccptible hump in her shoulders
and very perceptibic hump IN her
temper.
Mrs. Agnew rocked and looked calm
liz at her emotional friend. How old
ls Afulky'
Twenty one. come next September"
Yes" remarked Betsey meditatirely.
under age Now. you know that Atulk
hair : thing TO carry her TO Boston on
except her two feet"
A relieved expression stole over
Eliza's face. She was not one 20 deal
out money freely.
And what's more" continued Bet
sey, "shc knows her aunt is dreadful
drcssy. and she'd cut a pretty figure la
Boston without decent dnd 10 her
back" Beisey finished lmprcssiyeiy,
'and you see 10 Il that she don't have
unless shc'ii marry zei.'
Mn wlliei sat bolt upright why.
Belts. you don't mean
Yes, do" interrupted Beisey. 'ith
fetch ber II anything will" And The
friends were cIoseted together in close
conversation for an hour longer.
Tie farxishted Beisey gave zed fun
month Ia which 90 think over bis pros
pectE concerning tbe meadow laods.
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