The Forrest City times., 1914-08-14

guarded the right of saying grace at table in the Old Ladies home for twenty years-not, however, in the cus- tomary words of thanksgiving, but in a peremptory Brother Abel"
 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 8 blessin' fer one woman fer many 6 year; supposin yew ask 1t fer thirty!"
 Amid the amazement of the other sisters. Abe mumbled. and muttered, and murmured-no one knew what words; but all understood the over whelming gratitude behind his inco- herency, and all joined heartily in the Amen. Then. while Mrs. Homan, the cook of the week, went buetling out into the kitchen. Aunt Nancy felt that it deyolyed upon her to explain her action. IL would never do, she thought, for her to gain a reputation for self efacement 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 we'll treat you right That's all we ask O yew Miss Ellie, pass the radishes"
 I'll do my best" Abe hastened to assure her. "Hyguy, that coffee smells some kind O good. don't it? Between the smell O the stuff an the looks O my cup, it'll be so temptin' that I'll wish had the neck of giraffe, an could taste it all the way deown. Angy. be afraid we'll git the gout a-livin' 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 eloquence Once Abe startled them all by rising etealthily from the table and seizing the mornings newspaper. which lay upon the buffet
 T knowed it!" caviled Lazy Daisy sotto voce to no one In particular. He couldn't wait for the news till he was through eatin'!" But Abe had and. creeping toward the window, de- spatched by quick, adroit movement fly which had alighted upon the screen.
 T hate the very sight O them air pesky critters" he explained half apologetically. Thar, thars another one" and slaughtered that.
 My, but yew kin get em. cant yew?" spoke Miss Abigail admiringly. Them tew be the very ones I tried ter ketch all day yiste'day; I kin see as a f1y-ketcher yew be a-goin' ter be wuth farm ter me. Set deown an try some O this here strawberry pre- sarve."
 But Abe protested that he could not eat another bite unless he should get 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- couragement at him all through the re- past; at his left. and just beyond Angy, Miss Abigail indulgtng 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 Romans eye where she stood in the doorway leading into the kitchen. and remarked pleasantly
 "Ma'am, yew oughter set up a pan cake shop in York Yew could make a fortune at it. l haint had sech a meal O vittles sence I turned fifty year O age"
 A fattered smile overspread Mrs Romans visage, and the other sisters, noting 1t, wondered how long it would be before she showed her claws in Ahraham's presence
 "Hy-guy Angy," Abe went on. "yew cant believe nothin' yew hear. kin yer? Why, folks have told me that yew ladies' What yew hittln' my foot fer, mother? Folks have told me" twinkle of amusement in his eye at the absurdity. that yew fight among yerselves like cats an dogs, when, law, l never see sech a clever lot O women gathered tergether in all my life. An l believe-mother. hsin't a-sayin nothin'! jest want ter let 'em know what I think on 'em. I believe that thar must be three hun. derd hearts in this here place 'stid O thirty But dew yew know, gals, folks outside even go so fur s ter say that yew throw plates at one another!"
 There was moments silence; then little gasp first from one and then from another of the group. Every one looked at Mrs. Homan, and from Mrs. Homan to Sarah Jane. Mrs. Homan frightened her grip on the pancake