The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-08-28

1
whar else. Seem as Sister Angy Is
sech a leetle mite, though, ! guess she
kin easy make room fer me tother
side o her"
Abe could only bow his thanks az he
put his gift down on the table and
took the prominent place assigned to
him. The others seated, there was n
solemn moment Of waiting with bowed
heads. Aunt Nancy's trembling voice
arose-the voice which had jealousy
guarded the right of saying grace at
table in the Old Ladies' home for
twenty years--not, however, in the Gus
tomary words OF thanksgiving, but in
peremptory Brother Abe"
Abraham looked up. Could she pos
sibly mean that he was to establish
himself as the head OF the household
by repeating grace? Brother Abel"
she called upon him again, "Yew've
askt blessin' fer one woman fer
many year; supposin ycw ask 1t
fer thirty"
Amid the Amusement OF the other
sisters. Abe mumbled, and muttered
and murmured-no one knew what
words; but all understood the over,
whelmlng gratitude behind his inco.
herency, and all Joined heartily in the
Amen. Then. while Mrs. Holman, the
cook OF the week. went busting out
into the kitchen, Aunt. Nancy felt that
1t deyolved upon her to explain her
action. II would never do she thought
for her to gain reputation for self
effacement and sweetness of disposi
ton at her time of life.
Son, ! want yew to understand one
thing naow at the start. Yew treat
us right, an well treat you right
That's all We ask o yew. Miss Ellie
pass the radishes.'
T'll do my best" Abe FASTENED TO
assure her. "ily.guy. that coffee smells
some kind o good, don't It? Between
the smell O the stun an the looks
o my cup. it'll be so temptn that I'll
wish had the neck of a giraffe. an
could taste it all the way deown
Angy, be afraid well git the govt
alvin so high. Look at this here
cream"
Smiling. joking, his lips insisting
upon joking to cover the natural feel
ing of embarrassment incident to this
first meal among the sisters, but with
his voice breaking now and again with
emotion. while from time to time he
had to steal his handkerchief TO his
old eyes. Abe passed successfully
through the--to him-elaborate break
fast. And Angy sat in rapt silence,
but with her face shining so that her
quiet was the stiffness OF cloGucnce.
Once Abe startled them all by rising
stealthily from the table and selling
the mornings newspaper. which lay
upon the buffet.
Il knowed IT," caviled Lazy Daisy
soto voce to no one in particular
He couldn't wait for the news till
he was through catin"" But Abe had
folded the paper into stout weapon,
and. creeping toward the window, de.
spatched by a quick, adroit movement
fly which had alighted upon the
screen.
81 hate the very sight O. them afr
pesky critters" he explained half
alphabetically, Thar. thar's another
one" and slaughtered that.
MY, but yew kin get EN-, can't
yew?" spoke Miss Abigail admiringly.
Them tcw be the very ones | tried
ter ketch all day yste' day; | kin see
as a fly.ketcher yew be a.go!n' ter be
wuth n farm ter me, Set deown an
try some o this here strawberry pre-
sarve"
But Abe protested that he could not
up and run around the house to
"joggle deown" what he had already
swallowed He leaned back in his
chair and surveyed the family: on
his right, generous.hearted Blossy,
who had been smiling approval and en-
enlargement at him all through the re.
past, at his left, and just beyond
Angy, Miss Abigail indulging in what
remained on the dishes now that she
discovered the others TO have finished
Aunt Nancy keenly watching him from
the head of the board; and all the
other sisters "betwixt an between"
He caught Mrs. Homan's eye where
she stood In the doorway leading into
the kitchen, and remarked pleasantly
"Ma'am. yew oughter set up pan
cake shop in York. Yew could make
fortune at II. | hain't had sech Q
meal O. vittlee sence ! turned nifty
year o. age"
A fattered smile overspread Mrs
Romans visage, and The other sisters
, noting II, wondered how long It woult
be before she showed her claws II
Abraham's presence
'Hy.guy, Angy," Abe went on, "yev
can't believe nothin yew hear. XIII
yer7 Why, folks have told me tina
yew ladies' What yew hittin' m!
foot fer, mother7 Folks have tolt
me-" a twinkle OF amusement in hi
eye at the absurdity. that yew lgh
among yerselvee like cats an dogs
when, law! I never see sech q cleve
| lot o. women gathered tergether Ii