The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1914-12-31
GRIMMICK'S OYSTERS
By JULIA CHANDLER.


tember to boast to his friends about
the oysters. 1t was so hot that he
could scarcely raise a flicker Of in
terest by relating how Albert Mac
Shane, who had moved to Texas, was
going to ship him some gulf oysters
during the winter.
They're oysters that are oysters"
Grimmick always acded. None Of
your measly little eastern things, but
big, fat ones, the size Of saucer.
And flavor! Say, II you haven't ever
eaten gulf oyster you don't know
what you're talking about! They"
Let's go and get something cold to
drink" the person to whom Grimmick
was talking would interiect about here,
taking of his Panama hat to mop his
steaming forehead.
Later in the fall people began to be-
tray an interest in Grimmick's oysters.
They listened and they heard so much
about those glorified bivalves that most
of them would have recognized the
barrel on sight. No matter how dis
guised, 1t would have been impossible
for that barrel to deceive the eyes of
Grimmick's friends. Persons Of deep
designs brought Grimmick new recipes
for cooking oysters and artfully
showed him their wholehearted disin-
terestedness. Not that they expected
to get any of the e>oysters, but natural
ly they took a neighborly interest. It
might be big barrel.
Even Grimmick when he first gazed
upon it was a tri1e appalled, at the
size of the barrel. MacShane must
have misunderstood and sent him a
young hogshead. Or else the crop oi
gulf oysters was unusually large.
'Beauties!" cried Grinmick when
he got the barrel open. Il can scarce
" wait to get at them!"
The Grimmick family had raw oys
ters and oysters grilled that night fol
dinner and all next day Grimmici
made a nuisance of himself telling
every one how good they were. He
issued no general invitations, how
ever, for people to run in and take
home a pailful Of the gulf treasures
Consequently, comments were bittel
on his trail.
Selfish brute!" was the universe
opinion. Its as bad as though hi
owned an automobile and never tool
a1 one out for a ride!"
1t really is amazing, how far oysters
will 20. After the Grimmicks had en-
joyed oysters stewed, scalloped
panned and fried to their hearts con
tent they saw no appreciable shrink
ing Of the barrels contents. Their
were just about as many oysters al
before.
Grimmick said he thought he'd tak'
some down to the office for his part
ner. Mrs Grimmick said that az
she was going over to Sister Neils
that day she might as well take som'
along. The next day she carried some
across to the neighbors on either sid'
of them. That evening Grimmick sur
veyed the scalloped oysters set befor'
him and frowned slightly. He sai'
they looked fine, but he believed J
Mary would fry him some of tn
breakfast bacon he'd rather have il
The following morning he said NJ
thought it was mistake not to shar'
their good fortune with their friend
and that he would speak to Beekmai
and bundle and Buckle on the TRAN
and tell them to stop by that nigh
on their way home and get some.
The weather turned warm just then
Tt's a shame to waste those oysters,
Grimmick said when he saw the mer
curry in the outside thermomete
standing at As degrees. Il SHOULD
| think you would remember some O
your friends to whom gulf oyster
would be a real treat!"
why, I have been giving then
around" confessed Mrs. Grimmicb
Somehow, that barrels terrible har
to empty"
In another week Grimmick was peo
ding oysters frantically. The neigh
L IL