The Southern herald., 1910-11-18
Miss James Wedding Feast
BY VIRGINIA BLAIR


was set for twelve and vas gay with
ine white linen, shining old silver.
glittering glass. and some pink roses
which Miss Jane had picked from the
garden.
How would you like to have your
wedding supper here?~ Miss Jane
demanded. You could be married
in the parlor and have your friends
here to eat my chicken pie and cocoa
nut cakes"
The girl gasped. But we amt
your kind We're just poor folks
that live down in the hollow"
Il guess I know who you are" :"
Miss Jane said, sharply, "but l am
not going to see any girl married
without some fuss being made over
it. I am not married myself, but If
| had been I should have wanted the
whole town TO turn out to look at me.
And anyhow this dinner must not go
to waste, and there isn't any one but
me and Josephus to eat IT,"
The girls face was lighted with
radiant happiness. She made only a
faint show Of resistance. You come
with me and ask pap she pleaded.
Maybe he'll let me if you ask him"
The old man was a cross-grained
fellow. But Miss Jane was accus'
toned to being obeyed She did not
request; she commanded, and before
the old man knew what had hap
pened he had Joined the little pro
eession which wound its way to-
ward the big house. The minister
headed the line, then the bride,
crowned with her white wreath and
leaning proudly on the arm Of the
groom, then the small brothers and
sisters and the friends Of the family,
and at last the old man and Miss
Jane.
Josephus met them at the front
porch and preceded them into the
parlod. The young people tarried
for moment in the garden with Miss
Jane to pluck branches Of bridal
wreath and great punches Of roses.
In a few moments the little front
room was transformed into a bower
of beauty, and there the poor child of
the hollow was married.
Miss Jane served the wedding feast,
and she had never enjoyed anything
so much. The nieces and nephews
who had come from the city in pre-
vlous years were children Of luxury.
To them even cocoanut cake and
chicken pie were somewhat common
place. To Miss James poor neigh
bors, however, the wedding supper
was feast fit for the gods.
They drank the brides health in
grape Juice, served in the thin glasses
that belonged to Miss James grand
mother, and after that the girl went
away with her young husband. She
kissed Miss Jane last. IT'S like
fairy tale" she said. How can l
ever thank your"
by coming to see me often. like
your Joe He is going to make you
happy"
After every one had gone Miss
Jane cleaned up the house and talked
things over with Josephus. "She
said it was like fairy tale, Josephus.
It's a pity that I haven't done such
things oftener. Those poor people
down in the hollow are my neighbors
just as much as anybody else. Yet
| have sat here like a selfish old
witch and have forgotten that there
is anybody else in the world"
Josephus mewed plaintively In
her preoccupation his mistress had
forgotten to give him his share of
the wedding feast. His soul yearned
for chicken pie, and he stood up at
the kitchen table and eyed the re-
mains Of the supper hungrily.
Miss Jane filled his dish and set It
down in the corner. 1T was a good
chicken pie, Josephus," she told him,
"and l am not sorry now that
cooked 1t. The chance isn't given to
an old maid like me to serve many
suppers like this, and It's worth a
whole lot to make other people
happy"