The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-02-04
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| was tew stable ter squeeze In any
whar else. Seem as Sister Angy is
sech leetle mite. though, guess she
kin easy make room fer me t'other
side o. her"
Abe could only bow his thanks as he
put his gift down on the table and
took the prominent place assigned to
him. The others seated. there was a
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 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 blessin' fer one woman fer
many year; supposin' yew ask 1t
fer thirtyl"
Amid the amazemens 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 busting out
into the kitchen, Aunt Nancy felt that
It devolved upon her to explain her
action. 1t 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 we'll treat you right.
That's all we ask o. yew. Miss Ellie,
pass the radishes."
I'm do my best" Abe fastened to
assure her. "Hy-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 80 temptin' that I'll
wish / had the neck of giraffe, an
could taste 1t all the way deown.
Angy. l be afraid we'll git the govt
alvin so high. Look at this here
creami"
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
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
stealthily 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 couldn't wait for the news till
he was through eatin'i" But Abe had
folded the paper into a stout weapon,
and. creeping toward the window, de-
spatched by quick. adroit movement
a fly which had alighted upon the
screen.
81 hate the very sight O. them air
pesky Critters" he explained half
apologetically. Thar. thar's another
one" and slaughtered that.
MY. but yew kin get 'em, can't
yew?" spoke Miss Abigail admiringly.
Them tew be the very ones l tried
ter ketch all day yisteda kin see
as fy-ketcher yew be a-goin' ter be
wuth a 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
'1oggle 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 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. Romans eye where
she stood in the doorway leading into
the kitchen, and remarked pleasantly:
Ma'am, yew oughter set up a pam
cake shop in York. Yew could make
fortune at 1t. hain't had sech a
meal O. vittles sence l turned fifty
year o. age"
A. flattered smile overspread Mrs.
Homan's visage, and the other sisters.
noting 1t. wondered how long 1t would
be before she showed her claws I'm
Abraham's presence.
"Hy-guy. Angy." Abe went on. ..yew
can't believe nothin' yew hear. kin
yer? Why. folks have told me that
yew ladies' What yew hittin' nv
foot fer. mother7 Folks have told
me-" twinkle OF amusement in his
eye at the absurdity, that yew fight
among yerselves like cats an dogs.
when. lawl ! never see sech a clever
lot O. women gathered tergether in
all my life An / believe-motber
hain't a-ssyin' nothin'l | lest want
ter lie. EN- know what think on 'em
! believe that thar must be three hun
derd hearts in this here place 'stid q,
thirty. But dew yew know, gals. folks
outside even go so fur 8 ter saw that
yew throw plates at one anotheri"
There was moments silence. Then
a little gasp first from one and then
from another of the group. Evarv 80