West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-11-25

And when I opened for boarders,"
the widow continued. ~ opened with n
scant two pounds OF coffee and not Eve
pounds OF sugar. I'm out OF both. and
l owe Mrs. Selvage n bowl Of sugar.
She has already sent twice for IL. I
owe you a quart OF rice and lump OF
butter and two tnblespoonfuls OF va
nilla and n pint OF raisins and half "A
cup OF baking powder and three eggs"
Excuse me, Eliza. but It's four eggs
you borrowed" said Cousin Hannah.
II don't remember but three" said
the widow. MY pudding recipe calls
for three, and IL was pudding 1 want.
ed them for"
whether II calls for three or 400,
you borrowed four eggs from me"
said Cousin Hannah. But I'm not go
ing TO let one egg hatch out hnrd words
and feelings between me and my own
second cousin. especially when she
looks so bewildered and lostlike as you
look In widows cap and black bonn.
bazine."
IL do feel bewildered and lost" said
AIRS. Wiley. getting 10 her feet.
She went out OF the house. hardly
hearing Cousin Hannahs exhortatIon
TO look on the bright side
There is no bright side" she said
to her heart as she hurried along the
street like one pursued. crying again
under her veil.
She went around to the back door
and into her kitchen. wiping the tears
or her face. There right at the sill
she stumbled against a large basket
and would doubtless have fallen into
IL face forward but for the fact that
It was filled and heaped with bundles.
Whose basket was it7 What were
all those packages-big packages, little
packages, middle sized packages?
She stood wondering over them. She
felt OF some. She got down by the bas-
ket and smelt OF others. There was a
rap at the door. She started like a
thief. She was conscious OF coveting
those packages, for she had found out
that they were groceries. Opening the
door, she faced n deliveryman.
I've come for the basket" he said.
II didn't find anybody TO hum, 30 l
just set the basket in till ] was going
back"
But whose goods are theseY' asked
the widow.
"Ain't they yours? You're Mrs.
Wiley. ain't your"
Yes" said the woman, "but don't
think they can be for me-"
Here's the nnme." said the man,
referring her 20 a card tied TO the
basket handle.
She stopped down and read on it her
address, Mrs. Wiley. Pearl street"
Where are the goods from? Who
sent themY
They're from Farmers grocery
store"
The woman's heart went up with q
leap. 1t was hard not to cry for Joy,
not TO laugh aloud, not to go down on
her knees. She saw how It was
her importantly had conquered. Mr.,
Farmer had relented. had been brought
to do justly.
"Oh, yes. understand now" she
said. ITS all rightr At which As.
surance the man threw the basket
over his shoulder and went out to his
wagon.
Then straigbtway there was little
figure in black kneeling at the table
the head resting on pound package
OF tea.
When the thanksgiving was ended
Mrs. Wiley got to her feet and began
eagerly opening the bundles. What
an invoice there vast There were
raisins, cranberries, citron. spices, tea,
coffee md sugar. butter, starch and
cheese, crackers and baking powder
dried beef and chocolate, almonds and
eggs. cornstarcb. vanilla. CASTLE soap
brace OF ducks and a package OF
desiccated cocoanut. and the bill
$15.05.
When all the bundles had been In.
vestigated and were lying on tho table
and the grateful woman was standing
| crying over them-she shed a good
many tears In those days-her boy Sid
came stamping in and whistllng-w -whis-
Ting as though that was the only thing
! In the world he could do Boys will
4 whistle and seem cheerful In spite OF
their mothers debts and their own
| poor clothes. aud, although Bld's clothes
were worn and soiled. hls face was as
smiling as n measure Of apples
"Hurrah! What's all thisT he cried
bolting up to the table and taking q
survey. "Where'd you get 'em. ma
Did you buy 'em on tickT'
"Ob, my dear boy, can you believe
Il that God has been so good as n
send US ali these thingsT
why. Of course I can when I sec
'em here before my eyes" Sid made
answer
"And think how kind Mr. Farmer
isi ] feared be would never pay th,
bill your poor father had against Mrs
Farmer, but today no has sont mo al
these nice groceries. See what One
Faislns. what largo almOndsw
mo. no." said Sid. helping himself
10 the fine ralslns and the large aim
oLds I'm not going TO be very CRATE
ful to Mr. NJ. L. Farmer because h,
pays an honest debt 20 a soldiers wid
ow. He hasn't done anything but hi'
duty. and It isn't worth while 10 hoo
ray for him. But wen have som'
mince pies. won't weT'
Yes" said the widow. but arst
must pay my debts I've borroWed al
pYeF the nelghborhood Calf Tommy
/ and Press and Julie and Lucy ant
/ ven all 60 20 work"
All, then there was n busy umel sil
people with quart measures. pint meas
ures, bowls pitchers. teacups and tum
hlers went hurying up street ans
down and across and around cornsr'
tlll tho last spoonful Of "the borrow
ed" was returned
Then the six went 20 work az tn,
mincemeat There were the choppini
Of tae beef 20 a powder. the chopDlnS
Of the crisp apples and OF the stlcky