Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-01-14
It neighbor. Mrs. Morris.

"Pm In q heap Of trouble, Mrs. Top.
ham," began the visitor. sinking into II
chair. land when smelled your boi!es
dinner I wondered II you wouldn't help
me out"
What Is Itr' asked Sarah prac-
tically.
"You know we never have dinner at
noon on Saturday: | always wait anu
have II when william comes home Mt
o'clock. Today only had a few sand
wiches for lunch. because I'm going
down to my sisters to dinner tonight.
and William will meet me there. Not
Ave minutes ago hud telephone call
from the depot saying that my aunt
and her husband and their four chill
dren nre passing through here on their
way to Westlake and will be at my
house ut dinner time: thut's fifteen min
utes, and | haven't got mOuthful In
the house to eat. and they nre great
providers and have regular farm appe
tites. Would you sell me your dinner!
Snrah puckered her brow al instan'
and then II cleared "Yes. Of course.
she said sansibly. "Shall dish II up
for you. or will YOU curry the pots overi
I've got a pot Of potntoes boiled sepn
rately"
"I'n take the pots over. Have you
got Il pie to spare?'
"Yes." said Sarah calmly. bringing
the Inst pie In the house and folding II
in clean napkin want any helpT
mo. indeed. I've got time to rum
hack and forth. I'm thousand times
obliged to you. Mrs. Tnpham. III bring
my pocketbook over next trip"
At 1890 Sarah Topham called hei
seven little girls In to dinner. and. az
this was the signal for Samuel to also
appear at the table. they all gathered
about the board together.
The little girls clapped their hands
over q great dish Of boiled rice and q
huge pitcher of milk that formed the
principal dishes on the table.
The face of Samuel Topham was .
study In disappointment when be sur
veyed the plain meal Sarah avoided
his eyes and poured out two cups OF
tea
you've forgotten the boiled dinner"
he ventured rather timidly.
"Oh. no: there isn't any boiled din
ner," returned Sarah calmly. II sold
II to Mrs. Morris. She had unexpected
company"
Sold the dinner? Are we to eat this
.-rice?" Mr.. TOphnm's voice was elo |
quent OF disgust
"Of course. It's very nourishing,
Samuel. You know the japanese live
almost entirely upon rice and fish
They whipped the Russians. you
know"
81 know. But I'm hungry. Sarah"
III you eat rice enough. Samuel, I'm
sure you can get along. I've been
thinking that we would live entirely |
on rice until the automatic grtddle Is
success. Rice Is cheap. and we need
all can earn to-
"Oh. very we'll. Sarah. you needn't
explain any further" said Samuel, with
great dignity. and forthwith attacked
bis rice and milk gloomily.
All the afternoon he spent IN moody |
cogitation before the air tight stove In |
the parlor. He did not see bis wife |
slip quietly out of the side door and
hasten down the street and turn into
the wide driveway Of Moses Bowman's
handsome home. He did not see hei
when she returned with flushed cheek, |
and resumed her work In the kitchen.
"Rice for supper, tooY' he asked dis
mally at 9 o'clock that night.
"Yes. indeed. I'm greatly taken with |
the idea. Samuel" cried his wife en-.
Enthusiastically. Let US live upon rice |
and milk until one of your inventions
Is perfected I'm sure the children are |
willing to do It,"
Mr.. Topliam said nothing at all l
reply. and when the meal was con.
cluded he put on his hat and left the |
house. 1t wns significant that he. too
turned into the Moses Bowman place.
At 8 he returned to Hnd Sarah darn.
ing stockings before the 6re.
1--WE got Job. Sarah" he said In
q heartbrohen voice Moses Bowman |
says he will give me life job In his |
office Us assistant b0Okkeeper. I've
taken 1t md 20 to work Monday morn |
Ing. can't live on rice and milk |
whether the world loses fapjuck grid |
dies or not don't suppose there ever
will be IN invention to equal TINT one"
81 don't know about that" snid Sa-
rah Toplam to herself ns she broiled II
stenk she had secreted to celebrate this
anticipated event. II don't know about |
that I've m invention Of my own
thnt would make ME millionairess II
could get II ON the market. but !
guess I'll have to give It to my daugh- |
ters for wedding gifts some day. IL
guess III call 1t Sarah Topham's Au.
tomato Genius Cure for 1t certainly |
will make man work when nothing |
else appeals tO him. Starve 'em out.
I say. That's my inventions"