The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-12-07
" The y
! Delegates
/ A jolly House Party and
a Disappointed Storekeeper
! By FRANK H. SWEET
Copyright, 1sOs. by American Press
Association.
By FRANK H. SWEET

1 -
+ Copyright. 1sOs. by American Press
Z Association.
The one daily train between Pinery
and Sexton was snowbound at Chest
nut Gap, with snow still falling. 1t
might get through In stwenty-four
+, hours, and it might not In week. All
depended on the length Of the storm
and the energy of the four or five men
who constituted the repair and emer-
gency force of the short narrow gauge
road.
Ordinarily it would have made lit
tie difference, for passengers were rare
and speed unimpOrtant, but on this
day it happened there were seventeen
delegates converging from various
parts of the state to church conyen-
ton appointed at Pinery because the
small church there was the Oldest In
the state and this day the anniversary
of it's building. Moreover, there were
the proprietor of the one little grocery
store and the energetic wife of the
aged pastor, both returning from Sex
ton with various supplies for the susie
nance and entertaining Of these same
delegates during the three or four
days of their proposed stay. So it
was a matter of perplexity and con-
sternation to the engineer and conduct
or when the wheeling train ran It's
head into a snow bank at the gap and
came to q standstill.
The country along the railroad was
wild and sparsely settled, with Chest
nut Gap at its most desolate point
Twenty or more rods back from the
road, with only a winding path leading
to 1t, was the only house in ten miles,
q one room cabin and loft, with wood
en- shutters for windows and mud
and stick chimney built at one end. To
this the delegates plowed their way
through the snow, the men kicking out
a path as we'll as they could for the
women, who struggled in Indian file
behind
A girl of fourteen or fifteen opened
the door, eager eyed and excited at
more visitors than she had seen in her
life An old man was bending over the
fireplace, but rose and hobbled forward
at their entrance.
"Come in, come right in," he cried
Hospitality. "Jest make yourselves to
home. Kinder wintry out, amt 1t?
What Wimmen too? Here, crowd
clost to the fire an warm up an dry
up. Wimmen fust."
They did so laughingly, though most
of them were shivering. A young man
quickly gathered up all the wood the
cabin seemed to contain and threw 1t
upon the fire, turning apologetically to
the host after he had done so.
1--WE need thawing out first" he ex-
planned, land you invited us to make
ourselves at home. But never mind
the fuel There are eight men In our
party. and we will soon have more.
The conductor tells us we cannot get
away under two days and perhaps not
under a week. Now, what can you do
for us? with quick and rather quiz
zical look about the cabin. What sort
of accommodations and provisions can
you furnish?"
"Plenty O. BOTH" heartily. "They's
loft overhead jest the size o. this room,
'cept for the roof bein' slantin' VIM
men can have one an men t'other, an
I raised heap O. turnips last fall
more'n four acres. 1 did figger to sell
'em, but price was so an'alous low
that Bet Ann an me berried 'em in
hole under the floor. Lucky, too, now,
amt it? But say! What might your
name be? I'm Lem Tucker"
THANK you. My name is Tom Ash
ley. l am glad you have so many tur-
nips Now, what sort of other provi-
sions have you to go with them"
"Why, nothin'," genially. aye see,
my lands too poor to raise other stuff.
But turnips is mighty good an
healthy an digestive, an Bet Ann an
me eats 'em right along We like
'em. Bet Ann has some snares out
back o. the house an now an ag'in
catches a rabbit for relish. Ye see,
I'm too roomatiky for goin' out In
weather. But Of course one rabbit
wouldn't be much relish for all your
folks
mo, 1 suppose not" agreed Ashley.
He turned to his companions. ''You
hear what our host says. / am glad
you all love turnips."
There was a slight shiver through
the group. Then one Of the women
rose bravely to the occasion.
1--WE always have turnips with our
I,v3o& az ~ oha cQf6
cordially, land occasionally at other
times, / believe. This viii be such a
nice chance for us to familiarize our
selves with its possibilities. OF course
they can be cooked in different ways.
Now, Mr. Tucker, are we to have the
upstairs room or this? 1 think many
of the ladies have wet feet and might
like to change. We brought our bags
from the train"
"Why, jest take your ch'iee," be-
nignly. Its all yourn. Make your
selves to home. But folks II have to
be goin' in an out this room, fixin' the
fire an dom things, so mebbe the
loft IL be best for the wimmen. Bet
Ann IL show We. Go right up through
that hole in the corner, an don't be
skeered o. the ladder 1 made it my
self, an it's strong an stiddy."
When they came down, one by one,
they found a great pile Of firewood be-
side the hearth. which the men had
gathered, and Mr. Ashley was out be-
hind the cabin examining Bet AIMS
snares and preparing more There was
no gun In the cabin, and naturally
none of the party had one.
The woman who had spoken Of ia
miliarizing themselves with the posi-
bilities of turnips soon possessed her
self of all the information her COM
panions had on the subject and then
with Bet Ann as grinning and delight
ed chief helper, set about preparing
two bushels or more of them into as
appetizing dishes as the scant acces-
series Of salt, pepper, hot water and
fireplace would allow. But, though
they were all hungry, the first meal
was not very hearty one.
Among the delegates was amateur
talent of various kinds, and the long
evening was devoted to singing, to i'm
promptu lectures and informal talks,
to charades and tableaux and games
and sleight of hand performances, the
latter given by some of the more YER
satile young men.
The next day it was still showing,
with the depth and drifts too formula
BILE to attempt to escape from the gap,
and the evenings diversion was con-
tinued, with only such breaks as tur-
nip cooking and miring through the
snow to Bet AIMS snares and ami