Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-08-17

unruff1ed good nature. There's no.
body can bake a better Indian pud-
ding than I, if do say it; and be-
sides, somebody else's cooking al
ways tastes good for a change. I'll
make up a batch of apple pies, too
and loaf of cake, and then you'll
be fixed for some days. If you're
going down cellar you nights well
bring up the butter and a pan of ap-
pies. I'm sort of hefty to go up and
downstairs, and I guess your feet
can save me that much''
Rachel went down for the butter
and apples, and again for the lard
which Mrs. Bilberrv had forgotten to
mention the first time. Then she
went to neighbours for the milk and
to the store for lemon extract Her
small face grew more. and Uore-anx-
I ious. None of the Pettys care ven
much for pies, and Mrs. Bilberry
was making so many Once Rachel
yentured timid remonstrance, but
Mrs. Bilberry only laughed.
Il know what it's to bake for men
folks" she said. ct takes a sight
to fill them up. If you don't mind
Rachel, you might just finish cutting
those apples while ] roll out the
crust"
So Rachel finished slicing the ap-
pies, and when those were done, she
creamed the butter and sugar for the
cake and beat the eggs and grated
nutmeg, and then began to wash the
cooking dishes.
Finally the cake and part of the
pies and the pudding were in the
oven and Mrs. Bilberry went into
| the sitting-room and sank down upon
one of the chairs. h'he cake was per-
feet and the pies deliciously brown,
and the rooms full of their warm,
spicy fragrance.
Il can't stop but minute" she
said. I've got to be going .long
home. guess everything's done
now, and all Rachel will have to do
will be to watch the baking of what's
in the oven. I guess everything
turned out good
Its been real kind of you, I'm
sure" Mrs. Petty replied. She felt
that she was wickedly <.grateful,
bat she could think of nothing but
RacheIs weary little face as she had
| caught sight of it through the kitchen
door.
Mrs. Bilberry beamed cordially
upon her. Now don't say a word
about it-ever," she commanded.
Its been a real pleasure to do it.
I amt one that people have to fix up
for. can step right in anywhere and
make myself at home, and like to.
Now next Saturday I'd as lief come
over again
But Mrs. Petty interrupted her.
ooh, no, I couldn't think of letting
you take SO much trouble again.
I'm sure I'll get around next week,
and Rachel and l can manage beau
tifully''
WELL" Mrs. Bilberdy responded,
| rising, Il hope you will, I'm sure, but
If you don't, / can come in again
| just as well as not There's not very
much / can do in the world, but do
lay out to be good neighbcr. I'll
be over in day or two to see how
you're getting on. Goodbye Good
bye, Rachel Be sure to watch those
pies.
''Yes'm, Wilt" Rachel called
back.
AS the gate closed behind the port
ly figure, Rachel and her mother ex-
changed glance of sympathetic
comprehension. Then Rachel dis
appeared again into the kitchen; it
was time to begin about dinner.
Mrs. Petty, reaching down. pulled
from under the lounge basket
heaped with mending, and propping
herself against the pillows, set to
work. It hurt her back to sit up,
but she did not mind the pain
The morning was over at last.
Rachel should rest all the afternoon
and Sunday, and Mrs. Bilberry had
forgotten the mending, and need
never know how Mrs. Petty made
over the boys stockings Youth s
Companion.
A dilemma the man who goes the