Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1915-04-09


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 Abel"
Abraham looked up. Could she pos
eibly 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 yew ask 1t
fer thirty"
Amid the amazement OF the other
sisters, Abe mumbled, and muttered,
and ,nurmured-no one knew what
wordH; but all understood the over
whelming gratitude behind his inco-
herency, and all joined heartily in the
Amen. Then, while Mrs. H6man, the
cook OF the week, went buetling out
into the kitchen. Aunt Nancy felt that
II devolved upon her to explain her
action. 1t would never do, she thought.
for her to gain reputation for self
effacement and sweetness OF DISPOSE
ton at her time of life.
Son, | want yew to understand one
thing naow at the start. Yew treat
US right, an Wen treat you right.
That's all we ask o. yew Miss Ellie.
pass the radishes."
''I1l do my best" Abe fastened to
assure her. "Hy-guy. that coffee smells
some kind o. good, don't TT Between
~ no 81. ~ ho lnnLa
O. my cup, it'll be so temptin' that I'll
wish had the neck of a giraffe. an
could taste It all the way deown.
Angy, l be afraid Wen git the govt
alvin so high. Look at this here
creaml"
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 Selling
the mornings newspaper. which lay
upon the buffet.
II knowed It'll" caviled Lazy Daisy
soto voce to no one In particular
he was through eatin'l" But Abe had
folded the paper into a stout weapon
and, creeping toward the window, de
spatched by quick, adroit movement
fly which had alighted upon the
screen
Il hate the very sight O. them all
pesky critters" he explained hall
alphabetically. Thar. thar's another
one" and slaughtered that.
my. but yew kin get 'em. CAM
yew?" spoke Miss Abigail admiringly
Them tew be the very ones l tried
ter ketch all day yiste'day; l kin see
as a fiy-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 MOI
eat another bite unless he should gel
up and run around the house t
''joggle deown" what he had already
swallowed. He leaned back In his
chair and surveyed the family: OF
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 beyon(
Angy. Miss Abigail indulging In wha
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
"Maam. yew oughter set up pan
cake shop in York. Yew could max,
fortune at II. | hain't had sech
meal o. vittles sence turned fifty
year o. age"
A iattered smile overspread Mrs
Romans visage, and the other sisters
noting 1t. wondered how long It would
be before she showed her claws II
Abraham's presence.
"Hy-guy, Angy." Abe went on. "yev
can't believe nothin' yew hear. hr
yerf Why. folks have told me tina
yew ladies' What yew hittin' m,
foot fer, mother? Folks have tolt
me-" twinkle of amusement in hi
eye at the absurdity. that yew igh
among yerselves like cats an dogs
when, lawl / never see sech cleve
lot O. women gathered tergether IL
all my life. An / believe-mother,
hain't a-sayin' nothin' l Jest wan
ter let 'em know what l think on 'em
. believe that thar must be three hun
! derd hearts In this here place Std G
thirty. But dew yew know, gals, folk
outside even go so fur 8 ter say tina
yew throw plates at one anotherl"
There was moments silence; thel
I a little gasp first from one and thel
from another OF the group. Every on
. Iookad rf Mrs Homan and from Mrs