lili 
 
The shover was gittiu up speed 
 
 Frontispiece 
 
MINT JULEP 
 
 By 
 
 MARTHA JAMES 
 
 Illustrated by 
 REGINALD F. BOLLES 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 W. D. LANE C& CO. 
 
 1909 
 
Copyright, 1909, By 
 W. D. LANE & CO. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 HOME FROM BOSTON 1 
 
 THE NAMING OF HAM AND EGG 11 
 
 THANATOPSIS AT WINTOP 17 
 
 14 THAT SHOESTRING FELLER " 21 
 
 GETTING A JOB AND A BOARDER 26 
 
 ABOUT CHOOSING A HUSBAND 33 
 
 " WRITE AT ONCT " 41 
 
 BELLA S DIARY 42 
 
 BERNHARDT AND UNCLE TOM S CABIN 52 
 
 THE BERUBA PLANTATION COMPANY 59 
 
 SCOTTY DISCOVERS His Loss 62 
 
 THE BERUBA AGENT SWINDLES WIDOW TOBEY ... 82 
 
 MINT SHOULDERS THE WIDOW S TROUBLES .... 91 
 
 THE LORD GIVETH AND THE LORD TAKETH AWAY . . 101 
 
 THE WIDOW S MITES 107 
 
 "A NOVEL PLAN FOR DISPOSING OF BABIES" . . . 110 
 
 LOST, A Due AND OLD CURIOSITY SHOP 120 
 
 WILLIAM S PAR AND MAR ARRIVE 128 
 
 MOVING THE HENS TO CHELSEA 135 
 
 THE HEALTH MAN is FOILED 154 
 
 THE QUEEN o SHERHA APPEARS 165 
 
 THE MYSTERY DEEPENS . 174 
 
 2136492 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 MYSTERY DEEPENS (Continued) 179 
 
 MINT BREAKS UP THE BERUBA STOCKHOLDERS MEET 
 ING 185 
 
 THE SMOKE-LADY 192 
 
 MORE TIIAN-A-TOP-SIS 197 
 
 A BUNCH OF PUFFS AND CURLS ....... 209 
 
 MINT S FIRST AUTOMOBILE RIDE 214 
 
 PLANS TO WELCOME WILLIAM 223 
 
 A BASHFUL HERO 235 
 
 THE PARTY 241 
 
 PAR AND MAR SAY GOOD-BYE 262 
 
 MOLLY AND BESS RUN THE HOUSE 276 
 
 ALMOST A TRAGEDY 294 
 
 LOVERS REUNITED 305 
 
 THE TROUBLES OF HIRAM 313 
 
 MACHINE-OIL SALAD AND LOVE 325 
 
 " AUTUMN NODDING O EH THE YELLOW PLAIN " . . 339 
 WEDDING-DAY FINERY 342 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 The shover was gittin up speed . Frontispiece 
 
 FACING PAGE 
 
 " Your wife has lost every cent of that 
 money ",...... 77 
 
 " Mint/ says she, " you ve got to git hair " . 148 
 
 Molly Burt 171 
 
 " Good luck to yer/ shouted Mrs. Kelley . 270 
 
 Her whole soul was bent on reaching that 
 drifting boat . . . .. .. . . ... . .301 
 
MINT JULEP 
 
 A NEW ENGLAND STORY 
 
MINT JULEP 
 
 A NEW ENGLAND STORY 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 \ 
 
 HOME FEOM BOSTON 
 
 TOM JULEP, farmer of Little 
 Acres, struck a match and pro 
 ceeded to light a small lamp on the 
 kitchen table, while his sturdy son, who 
 had just returned from Boston, where he 
 had gone in the early Spring to work for 
 a large Ice Company, drew a chair and 
 seated himself before the stove. 
 
 Although it was nearly five months 
 since he had been inside the little farm 
 house that was "home," he evinced no in 
 terest. 
 
 Yer mother s gone ter bed, * said the 
 older man, drawing up a chair opposite 
 that of his son. Yer see we didn t ex- 
 
 1 
 
2 MINT JULEP 
 
 pect yer, and the train was late; did yer 
 know why it was late? " 
 
 There was something more than a de 
 sire to gratify mere curiosity in that ques 
 tion; Tom wanted to get his son started 
 talking in the hope of hearing something 
 of the outside world, of the great bustling 
 city that he had just left behind. 
 
 The old man had been to Boston once 
 some twenty years ago, and memories of 
 that eventful occasion were still fresh in 
 his mind and made him long to hear about 
 the big city, what was going on there, 
 and all the wonderful experiences that 
 his son must have had in five long months. 
 
 But it was no easy task to get this 
 young man to talk. 
 
 Not that Tom expected him to say much 
 even then, for William Julep had never 
 been known to say anything unless it was 
 imperatively necessary, and when he did, 
 the words seemed to cling like the leaves 
 on a winter s oak. 
 
 " Did yer know that the train was late, 
 William?" 
 
HOME FROM BOSTON 3 
 
 " Ya as I thought twas late, father." 
 
 " Yes twas ; ef you d let us know you 
 was comin I d a been there to meet yer, 
 but yer not much hand ter write, Wil 
 liam." 
 
 After a few minutes in which the old 
 man saw that no answer was forthcoming, 
 he thought he would make another ven 
 ture. 
 
 " How did yer like the ice business? " 
 
 " Fust rate." 
 
 " Glad ter hear it," and Tom, surprised 
 at the prompt answer, looked keenly at 
 his son, half hoping for a bit of news to 
 follow, but after waiting a reasonable 
 length of time, when it did not come, he 
 ventured once again into the barren waste 
 of William s conversational powers. 
 
 " I expect Boston s a wonderful taown 
 now, a pretty live place, take it all in all, 
 eh William?" 
 
 " Ya as tis, father." 
 
 " Suppose you ll try it again? " 
 
 " Hard ter tell." 
 
 In the long silence that followed, the 
 
4 MINT JULEP 
 
 clock on the little shelf above them made 
 so much noise that a cat, dozing behind 
 the stove, opened one eye, only to close 
 it gently again and stretch out her black 
 paws in drowsy content. 
 
 When five fruitless minutes had ticked 
 away, Tom gave a long audible yawn and 
 stretching both arms over his head slowly 
 arose from the chair. 
 
 " Wa al son, guess I ll be off ter bed." 
 
 At this remark William cleared his 
 throat and glanced at his father as if med 
 itating speech. Tom saw the movement, 
 and so fearful was he of breaking the 
 spell that he let his arms remain suspended 
 for a moment and then settled back in 
 his chair. 
 
 " Anything special doin while yer was 
 in Boston, William? " he asked by way of 
 encouragement. 
 
 " I was jest a goin* ter ask yer what s 
 yer idee of marriage, father?" 
 
 " Marriage " echoed Tom, gazing stead 
 fastly at his son. 
 
 ;< Wa al William, marriage is the nat- 
 
HOME FROM BOSTON 5 
 
 ural condition o man, an , like some other 
 natural conditions, ye ve got ter make the 
 best of it. A man could be happy thout 
 a wife, but he don t allus know it till he s 
 hed one; not that I m agin matrimony, 
 far from it ; take it all in all, it s the great 
 est institootion on this planet. 
 
 " But look a here son, why do they go 
 outer ther way ter assure us that in 
 Heaven there s no marriage nor givin* in 
 marriage? I m not sayin that is held out 
 as a injuicement, not at all, but it sets 
 enybody thinkin a whole lot. 
 
 " It s jest like this, William, a man gits 
 married; he endows a female with all his 
 worldly goods if he happens to have any, 
 and hisself thrown in. Naow he has most 
 o her human nater and all his own. She 
 don t count on that. An she has some 
 o his human nater, besides a brand pe 
 culiar to her sex; he don t count on that. 
 Fact is they haven t reckoned c rect, and 
 the fust thing yer know, they run right 
 inter a squall. 
 
 " Naow if he happens to be the right 
 
6 MINT JULEP 
 
 kind o captain, and she a fair mate, 
 they ll git inter clear water agin, and look 
 out f er squalls in the future ; if not, 
 they ll keep on, strike a hurricane some 
 day an go ter pieces in ther dervorce 
 court. William, the ways o wimmen 
 is alms open ter specalation they re 
 doubtful critters, the best o them, on- 
 sartin at times as a stray hen, but tell 
 em they re right nine times outer ten, an 
 the tenth time jest remark casally they re 
 not wrong, then you go ahead an do 
 what you think c rect. If a man f oilers 
 that course, marriage won t bother him 
 much ; but say, William, you wasn t think- 
 in bout marriage, was yer? " 
 
 " Ya as I was." 
 
 "You was! Do tell! I want ter 
 know!" 
 
 " Ya as." 
 
 " Was you real seerus, William, bout 
 it?" 
 
 "Ohlya as." 
 
 " You air engaged to a young woman 
 then, I take it." 
 
HOME FROM BOSTON 7 
 
 " Wa al it s a more n that, father." 
 
 " What ! you ain t gone an got engaged 
 to two of em, have yer? " 
 
 At this question William remained si 
 lent for fully two minutes; then shaking 
 his head he looked smilingly at the old 
 man and said slowly 
 
 " It s more than a engagement, father; 
 fact is I ve gone and got married." 
 
 You married ! Wa al naow, grease 
 up a little, a man don t git married every 
 day. Tell us about it who s the gal? " 
 
 " She worked down there n Boston a 
 short time, though she s country born and 
 bred; raised in Farnham." 
 
 " I want ter know ! Wa al when all s 
 said and done, William, I never thot ye d 
 marry, yer sech a silent rooster I could 
 never see as ye d screw up talk enough 
 to ask a gal." 
 
 " I don t jest say thet I did," piped 
 William, with the ghost of a smile. 
 
 " Sho! d ye mean ter say she popped? " 
 
 " Wa al, father, twas done kind o easy 
 and sudden, naow thet I come to think on t. 
 
8 MINT JULEP, 
 
 She tuk care o some rooms down there, 
 in a big buildin , for a perfessor who larns 
 folks how to speak pieces; ellercution, she 
 called it. Wa al I used ter bring in ice 
 every day, an me an Araminty used ter 
 talk." 
 
 " You don t say, William! " 
 
 * Ya as Araminty used ter talk quite a 
 leetle, an we struck up a friendship some 
 how, hed sody water with ice cream in it, 
 an took some trolley rides of a Sunday. 
 An one day she says to me, says she, the 
 ice business is a good business, Mr. Julep, 
 says she. Twas out in Mount Auburn 
 grave yard, we went out there in them 
 lectric cars an sot a while." 
 
 " Wa al guess that s all father; I didn t 
 say much but we got married yisterday." 
 
 " An I ve never heard you talk so much 
 before in all your life. Naow William, 
 I b lieve Araminty s a woman thet can 
 rise ter the occasion, and thet s jest what 
 you want. Stands ter reason natur must 
 provide fer a leetle difficulty like yourn. 
 Is she a well favored gal? " 
 
" She s right smart, father, she can talk 
 an talk. I never see any one talk like 
 Mint. She can jest talk right on thout 
 thinkin ." 
 
 " Thet ain t sech a oncommon complish- 
 ment o the sex as yer seem ter think; 
 specially in courtin time," observed Tom 
 eyeing the bridegroom narrowly. 
 
 " But I m glad yer got a woman thet 
 can talk, she ll need ter. Where yer 
 keepin her? " 
 
 "Haow?" 
 
 ; Where s the gal yer married yister- 
 day where s yer wife?" 
 
 " On her weddin tower." 
 
 " What! hain t she up here along with 
 you?" 
 
 " No she hain t." 
 
 " Why consarn ye," cried Tom with 
 sudden warmth, " whatever possessed yer 
 to do sech a darn fool thing as thet." 
 
 Wa al twas this way, father; I 
 wanted ter tell my folks, and Mint al 
 lowed as how she orter go ter Farnham 
 an break the news to the childern." 
 
10 MINT JULEP, 
 
 "Whatlchildern?" 
 
 " Oh ! I forgot ter say, father, thet 
 Mint s a widder." 
 
 "A widder! wa al ef thet don t beat 
 all, but widders are wise," said Tom, while 
 a broad smile played around the corners 
 of his mouth. 
 
 "I ve no doubt yer married a good gal, 
 an I wish yer luck. When are yer goin 
 ter begin house-keepin ?" 
 
 " Mint 11 let me know." 
 
 Tom Julep arose and pointing a warn 
 ing finger at his son, said slowly, " Wil 
 liam, don t yer never tell yer mother what 
 yer ve jest told me; it might prejudice 
 her agin Araminty, an naow I m a goin 
 ter bed," 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 THE NAMING OF HAM AND EGG 
 
 FARNHAM 
 
 MY DEER HUSBEND 
 I now take my pen in hand to 
 let you know that I found sister 
 Anne and the childern well. 
 
 I told them I was married but I dont 
 calkelate they are old enought to reelize 
 their nue pa. I dunno as I told you as 
 I had 5 childern. I dunno as you ever 
 ast me. My oldest boy Jimmy is going 
 to be a orrater, you wouldnt think so now 
 cause its orful hard for Jimmy to do any 
 thing with his mouth xcept eat, but I m 
 tryin to cultur him. Its bin disappintin 
 too at times, cause cultur comes hard to 
 Jimmy. Sometimes I think it would be 
 most as easy to cultur one of them injuns 
 front of a seegar store. 
 11 
 
12 MINT JULEP 
 
 I onct heard the perfesser tell a man he 
 war nt responsive and thats the trouble 
 with Jimmy, and its the trouble of lots of 
 folks. I had an ant onct that couldnt 
 smile; she warnt responsive though some 
 folks said she was jest savin her face - 
 well seein it had to stand the ware and tare 
 of 60 odd years mebbe you couldunt blame 
 her but she tuck it with her when she went 
 and no one was sorry. Theres nothin 
 cheeper on earth than a word onless it be a 
 smile, and when you meet folks chirrup a 
 little. Thats my motto. 
 
 Next to Jimmy comes Mamie. She s 
 reel smart I dont have to squeese talk out 
 of Mamie she can make a clothes pin 
 argy back to her. Next to her comes 
 Tommy I m a going to make him one of 
 them moosicien fellers that teeters on a 
 brass trumpit. 
 
 Last and youngest there meer babies as 
 yet, come the twins Gresham and Egre- 
 mont. Thems pretty and high soundin 
 names, but wait William till you hear the 
 dredf ul sekel ! 
 
HAM AND EGG 13 
 
 When them twins was born ev ry body 
 was a hankerin to name em. Its sup- 
 prisin how folks butt in when it comes to 
 namin a baby, the meenest relashun 
 you ve got is willin to dispense names 
 grattis. 
 
 Well tenny rate when the twins come 
 my next door neighbor said I orter call 
 em after a saint, and Bella Ball, me and 
 her was girls together (awful romancin 
 girl was Bella, married reel well Henry 
 Ball in the soap greese business) well she 
 come to see the twins and she said as how 
 she d jest read a lovely story about a hero 
 who was dredful wicked but hansom and 
 bold and she wanted to name one of the 
 twins after him. 
 
 Now says I them twins are goin to git 
 a name, Bella and I m agoin to name em, 
 theyre not goin to be called for saint nor 
 sinner, theyre goin to be called for their- 
 selves. O Araminty says Bella in a reel 
 coaxin way, call em Gresham and Egre- 
 mont. It do sound butiful, and I must 
 admit I liked the sound of Gresham and 
 
14 MINT JULEP, 
 
 Egremont from the first. The country is 
 swarmin with Billys and Tommys but of 
 the af oresed there aint so many. 
 
 Gresham was a nearl says Bella, and 
 Egremont was a dook, a noble dook. 
 Well I weakened and they was baptised 
 Gresham and Egremont and what s the 
 result; Greshams bin biled down to Ham 
 and Egremont cut off to Eg. Yes Wil 
 liam the twins are called Ham and Eg for 
 short and I spose its a judgment on me 
 for high soundin names. I dont beleeve 
 in pet names at all. Give a child a pet 
 name and its sure to stick to him through 
 life. There was Boysie Dingwell old and 
 tough and grizzled but jest cause dotin 
 parents rhapsodeezed over him in short 
 pants, he was Boysie to the end of the 
 chapter. 
 
 Made no difference that it said on his 
 toomstone 
 
 Here lies the body of Jeremiah 
 Gone to sing in the celestial choir. 
 
 Thats what was writ on it at first but 
 
HAM AND EGG 15 
 
 afterwards they was fraid folks would- 
 unt know it was Boysie you see they d 
 spent a lot of money on that toomstone 
 and twas kind of disapintin to think of 
 any one having doubts, so temr rate at 
 last they had it changed to 
 
 Here lieth the bones of Boysie Ding- 
 well 
 Gone to join the hosts that sing well. 
 
 And now William I must tell you about 
 our plans I guess sister Anne is reel 
 pleased I got you and can take the child- 
 ern off her. 
 
 I tell you what keepin a pair of imps 
 from takin chances to maim theirselves 
 for life every hour in the day is no sinch. 
 
 Tenny rate Anne has a chance to house 
 keep for Dave Ward at Farnham Corner 
 and as he is a widder man it would be flyin 
 in the face of providence not to go. Now 
 I have always wanted to keep a few 
 lodgers, I calkelate theres money in it and 
 its me as likes to earn a dollar when I can. 
 
 I never told you William that when I 
 
16 MINT JULEP 
 
 was workin at the prefessers I was in- 
 juiced to buy a share of stock in the Great 
 Beruba Plantation Company. Its a 
 splendid thing to invest your money in 
 cause it pays you ten times more than 
 savings banks. 
 
 The share cost $150. This is a orful 
 lot of money but by payin a little each 
 month, the agent showed me how i could 
 git an income for life. Now William I 
 have in mind a good place to locate, and 
 when I git suited I ll move all my things 
 and let you know. 
 
 Your lovin wif 
 
 Araminta 
 
 P. I. L. I hope your pa an ma was 
 pleesed at your gitting Mint Julep. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 THANATOPSIS AT WINTOP 
 
 Wintop 
 
 MY DEER HUSBEND (that s to be) 
 I was reel pleased to git your 
 letter and I am glad that you are 
 going to help your pa for a few days. 
 
 I got a cottage at Wintop which place 
 is a sort of a little watering pot for Boston. 
 As most all the cottages had a name on, 
 I painted a name on ourn and nailed it 
 over the front door. I heard it onct when 
 I was at the perfessers and I kind o like 
 the looks of Thanatopsis I also have got 
 a card up, Rooms to let in my front win 
 der. 
 
 My next door neighbor is mister and 
 misses McPeak, a childless couple who 
 have their house just filled with roomers. 
 17 
 
18 MINT JULEP 
 
 She is a reel nice spoken woman, and 
 aint it strange William, but yisterday over 
 the back fence we was a talking and she 
 told me she had put some money in that 
 Beruba Plantation too. 
 
 She doesnt want Scotty thats her hus 
 band, to know it for the world cause he s 
 awful close with money is Scotty, but its 
 nothing venture nothing win with her. 
 She says she s worritting about it cause 
 lately it hasent been paying only about 
 half the devidends it did at first and yet 
 she feels that it will come out all right 
 cause before she ever put her money in it 
 she went to see the manager of the whole 
 thing, a Mister Orrin Feather, with a of 
 fice on State street where you d sink in the 
 velvet carpets as was on them floors, and 
 when she told him she had some doubts 
 about its being all he claimed, he sed to 
 her jest go down and see the Plantation 
 for yourself Miss McPeak. He says this 
 is not a gold mine in the Wilds of Alaska, 
 nor a well in the heart of Afric, says he, 
 this is a immens plantation where they 
 
AT WINTOP 19 
 
 raise coffee an rubber an spices an sech 
 like, this is splendid enterprise for you an 
 me to consider an reep the profits, says he, 
 its a big Plantation not far from a thrive- 
 ing town in Mexico, says he visitors are 
 welcome an your inspection is solicited. 
 
 Well as this was pretty fair she bought 
 two shares in this big enterprise. I told 
 her that I was kinder sorry that I had put 
 money in it, for says I, one hundred an 
 fifty dollars would buy an ofFul lot of 
 coffee, an I dont never wear rubbers, there 
 too drawin on the feet. 
 
 Still an income fer life is somethin to 
 try for, an though that looks like off ul big 
 profits, I feel its a strate, honest compny. 
 
 I had a terrible lesson onct William in a 
 dishonest compny. Did I ever tell you 
 about the shoe string compny William. 
 Well I have jest got to git up from this 
 letter, cause Ham has walked in with a 
 bloody nose an covered with dirt. 
 
 I never see sech youngsters for trouble. 
 Its born in them, an I hev strong doubts 
 if they ever grow up hull an connected. 
 
20 MINT JULEP 
 
 So I will hev to quit this letter William, 
 but I ll tell you about the shoe string Com- 
 pny in my next. 
 
 Your lovin wife 
 
 Araminta. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 " THAT SHOESTRING FELLER " 
 
 WlNTOP 
 
 DEER WILLIAM 
 I was glad ter hear that you was 
 well, an hope this will find you 
 the same as it leaves me. 
 
 There aint any special news, all the 
 folks round here are jest about the same, 
 but William I want ter tell you about that 
 shoe string compny as I promised I would 
 in my last. 
 
 Well it struck our town like a syclone an 
 left us about as dazed. Twas this way, a 
 reel nice appearin young man came round 
 one day, smart I tell you, had talk enough 
 to run the country an he went to every 
 house in town. He had a box with three 
 shoe strings in it an a lot of printed dir- 
 rections how to make them. 
 21 
 
22 MINT JULEP 
 
 We was to buy his box of three shoe 
 strings an the printed dirrections for one 
 dollar, an then make a full box an send 
 it to his address an git five dollars for 
 every box we sent. The boxes was to be 
 sent to the United States army in Hindoo- 
 stan an a lot of furrin places he men- 
 shioned. 
 
 Well it looked like a good thing an 
 every one took a box an paid a dollar, my 
 self with the others an though it seemed a 
 lot of money, what was a dollar I argeyed 
 when there was the chanct to make four on 
 every box of them shoe strings. 
 
 Well William the shot up of this was 
 our town went shoe string crazy. There 
 was shoe string parties and shoe string 
 clubs; folks talked shoe strings stead of 
 weather. 
 
 They forgot old grudges an met each 
 other with a regular shoe string smile. 
 Old Sally Bowen, with a spite agin my 
 Ant Eliza of years standing, met her on 
 the street an asked her how she was gittin 
 on with the shoe strings as nice as could 
 
SHOESTRING FELLER 23 
 
 be. Well bimeby the boxes began to be 
 sent away an visions of wealth kept folks 
 awake nights an they was plannin an plot- 
 tin what they was goin to do when they 
 got the shoe string money. 
 
 Mis Beck who d sent three boxes, that 
 was fifteen dollers, and who d never gone 
 further than her back gate for twenty 
 years, was talking of taking a trip to New 
 York. 
 
 Sally Lucas the butchers wife, offul 
 dressy woman was Sally, said she was tired 
 to death of home styles an she thought of 
 goin strate to Paris. Well there we was a 
 hangin round the post office, waiting for 
 the wealth to come by return mail like a lot 
 of childern holding up their hands to a 
 Christmas Tree. 
 
 At last back came the boxes shoe strings 
 an all, as there wasent any sech address, an 
 not till then did we reelize that we d been 
 taken in. 
 
 Well the up shot of the thing was, there 
 was shoe strings enough in town to lace 
 up the lower limbs of a nation. 
 
24 MINT JULEP 
 
 Twas a swindle of the deepest die thats 
 what it was, and Si Banks who had cussed 
 like fury cause he happened to be away 
 the day that smooth chap came round, an 
 who went an tried to buy a box off his 
 wifes niece, well that old Si Banks was 
 jest huggin himself, and told us we d best 
 make a rope of the shoe strings and hang 
 ourselves for bein sech a lot of Id jits as 
 to buy three shoe strings for a doller. 
 
 That sorter cured me of money schemes 
 but wouldnt I jest love to meet that shoe 
 string feller once, fore I die. 
 
 Now William I m keepin my eye on 
 the papers to see if I can find some good 
 place for you to work. 
 
 The childern are well. 
 
 Yours lovin and waitin 
 Mint. 
 Put in later. 
 
 A young lady called yisterday to look 
 at a room but my Maymie playin on the 
 steps, told her I was out. Now warnt that 
 too provokin when I was only talkin to 
 Mis McPeak over the back fence. 
 
SHOESTRING FELLER 25 
 
 My Maymie is enough to clip the wings 
 Of Gabriel at times, and she hasent any 
 tack about her at all. I have made a hen 
 coop in the yard and am goin to keep some 
 hens cause fresh eggs is high in this place 
 and kinder scarse. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 GETTING A JOB AND A BOARDER 
 
 WlNTOP 
 
 MY DEER WILLIAM 
 I have got you work leastwise 
 I think I have. I read in the 
 paper that a man was wanted for general 
 work, on a large estate so I went strait to 
 the address and saw a mister Ogdin in a 
 large office in the city. Sir, says I, you 
 want a good stiddy industrus man to 
 work about your place dont you yes 
 says he, was you thinking of applyin for 
 the job, yes says I, not for myself, though 
 I wouldent be afraid to try it says I, but 
 I came for my William ; hes a good stiddy 
 man, no better living says I, but hes got 
 one failing, he cant talk and thats all 
 there is about it. 
 
 Not that hes a deef and dummy man 
 26 
 
A JOB AND A BOARDER 27 
 
 says I, hes dumb from choice not neces- 
 sitty. The fact is W^^am Julep says 
 jest as few words as its possible for one 
 human to say to another, says I. 
 
 Well do you know he looked at me 
 kind of queer and he says my good woman 
 send your William to me. 
 
 Now William youve got to leave Little 
 Acres at onct, start immejit, cause theres 
 no time like the present. 
 
 I was reel sorry to hear that your ma 
 had ruematiz, she ought to try Bucks Herb 
 Mixture its splendid. There was a pat- 
 tent medisin feller came to Farnham onct 
 with Bucks Herb Mixture. I disremem- 
 ber the price, but I know that mixture was 
 garanteed to cure anything from a in- 
 growin toe nail, to hydrofoby itself- it 
 would put whiskers on men and take them 
 off wimmen, and 111 never forget the case 
 of Jane Witherspoon, Jane was invallid 
 for years, had akes and panes in every part 
 of her annatommy, besides the simpathy 
 of the publick at large, it is true William 
 that at a meetin onct when a bad boy 
 
28 MINT JULEP 
 
 hollered fire Jane forgot her crutches and 
 was the fust to land safe in the street 
 but that aint the pint. Jane Wither- 
 spoon bought a bottle of Bucks Herb 
 Mixture and she was assured by the med- 
 isin feller, that at the end of a week she 
 could hang up one krutch with imputeny, 
 at the end of the second she could hang 
 up the other with a cleer conshense and 
 at the end of the third she could hang up 
 the family wash with resignashion. 
 
 Now William I will close hoping that 
 soon you will be home with your lovin 
 wife and childern and if your folks should 
 think you are going away too soon from 
 them speek up smart William, and tell 
 em the time has come when you must 
 leave your pa and ma for your own lovin 
 
 MINT JULEP 
 Put in later. 
 
 I am learning Jimmy to make a perlite 
 bow and charge of the Light Brigade, 
 its hard I have to threaten Jimmy to 
 keep his hands outer his pockits, but Im 
 
A JOB AND A BOARDER 29 
 
 bound my childern will git cultur if I 
 have to cultur them with a broom stick. 
 
 WINTOP. 
 MY DEER WILLIAM 
 
 It doo seem as if fate was again us 
 livin together in the holey bonds of wed- 
 loc for any considrable time. 
 
 I never thot that mister Ogdin would 
 take you away out to hunt in them Rocky 
 Mountings, when you had only been with 
 him sech a short time. He seems to have 
 taken quite a likin to you which dont 
 surprise me, seein as I did myself. 
 Tenny rate I bet he admires you cause 
 you are a strong and fearfull man and 
 can keep your mouth shet. 
 
 I have a f eelin that he admires to have 
 you go jest cause you dont talk. Well 
 that may be good and then again it may 
 not. 
 
 Some one has got to do the talkin in 
 this world and talkin can do a few things. 
 There was Johnny Speers, lived alongside 
 
30 MINT JULEP 
 
 us in Farnham, a pesky little rooster, allus 
 bumpin himself again some one, and one 
 day he went to town and bumped him 
 self again a car his little carcass might 
 a got a good stirrin up but no more an 
 that, well do you know one of them lawyer 
 fellers tuk the case to court an got a pile 
 of money. Was you hurt much Johnny 
 says I when the hull thing was over. 
 Well, says Johnny, I dident reckon I was 
 near so much till thet lawyer stud up an 
 then evry bone in my body was a cryin 
 to heaven for damages. 
 
 Talk done that, William jest plain 
 jaw work. An now William I hope you 
 will be karefull look out for wild 
 beests. I shouldent go ramblin round 
 alone at night if I was you, and dont 
 forgit your 
 
 MINT JULEP. 
 Put in later 
 
 I havent let one room yet in Thana- 
 topsis. I spose its the childern. Most 
 people dont hanker to take on five 
 promiscus all to onct. 
 
A JOB AND A BOARDER 31 
 
 WlNTOP. 
 
 DEER WILLIAM 
 
 I now take my pen in hand to let you 
 know that your wife and family are well 
 an it is nearly two weeks sense I heard 
 from you. I have been worriting, Wil 
 liam, look out for wild animils. 
 
 Theres a roomer at last in Thanatopsis. 
 A young lady pretty as a pioney an do 
 you know William thet I have made the 
 strange diskovery that a mistery is a 
 hangin over her. 
 
 What it is I cant yit say but theres 
 somethin ailin that gal or my name 
 hasent been changed from Allum to 
 Julep. 
 
 I says to her the other day, says I, scuse 
 me Miss Burt, her name is Molly Burt, 
 be you reel well says I, an she says to 
 me in that sweet way of hern, why thank 
 you Mis Julep says she, I m very well. 
 
 But theres a kind of sadness about her, 
 an yisterday I ran acrost her settin alone, 
 and if she warnt weepin I m tung tied. 
 
 I ve got to quit writin now, so I will 
 
32 MINT JULEP 
 
 close hopeing soon I ll git a letter from 
 you to your own 
 
 MINT JULEP. 
 Put in later: 
 
 Mr. Voneye a reel estate little German 
 man wot rooms at McPeaks and who 
 rented me Thanatopsis is goin to give 
 Tommy twenty lessons on the trumpit f er 
 fresh eggs. 
 
 Them hens warnt a bad investmint. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 ABOUT CHOOSING A HUSBAND 
 
 A CLICK of the gate one bright 
 morning made the two neighbors, 
 who were indulging in a friendly 
 chat at the fence, glance up quickly, to 
 see the new roomer at Thanatopsis just 
 going out. 
 
 "There s Miss Burt," said Mint, "I 
 think she s most the prettiest gal I ever 
 see, an better nor that, she s jest as nice 
 as she s pretty." 
 
 " She is a guid looking lass as ever I 
 see," said Mrs. McPeak as she looked ad 
 miringly after Molly. 
 
 "But there s somethin* wrong," said 
 Mint in an undertone, " there s a mystery 
 about that gal as sure as your name is 
 McPeak." 
 
 33 
 
34 MINT JULEP 
 
 ;< What-ever makes ye think thot, Mrs. 
 Julep?" 
 
 " Everything makes me think it, Mrs. 
 McPeak. What is a gal like her doin , 
 livin like this, jest look at her clo es, they 
 are not showy nor gay, not at all, but they 
 are the very finest quality, Mrs. McPeak, 
 and she wears them like a queen. She 
 ain t no ordinary gal, it s plain to see that ; 
 she s a lady born and bred but there s 
 something gone wrong, for she s not feel 
 ing happy anyone can see that." 
 
 " P r aps she is in love, Mrs. Julep." 
 
 " In love! why bless yer that wouldn t 
 make a gal look sad an yaller. When a 
 gal s in love, she s bloomin as a mornin 
 glory, thinks the whole world s heaven, 
 an her young man a little better than the 
 angels." 
 
 ; Well it may be that the course of 
 true love ain t running smooth, Mrs. 
 Julep." 
 
 " O ! of course if there s any trouble or 
 misunderstandin , I s pose it s different. 
 I d like to give gals some good motherly 
 
CHOOSING A HUSBAND 35 
 
 advice on love and matrimony, for when 
 love gits into the heart, common sense 
 flies outer the head of lots of gals. 
 Most gals don t go the right way about 
 matrimony, anyhow." 
 
 " It s a foolish age, Mrs. Julep, and 
 ye can t expect too much of a gal when 
 she s in love." 
 
 Well, if a gal wants to git married, 
 an that s the lot of most of em, not but 
 what a single woman has much to be 
 thankful f er, but if a gal wants a husband, 
 then says I, let her go about it in a busi 
 ness-like way. If a gal is goin to git 
 a new dress she don t take any old thing, 
 nor yit the fust cloth she looks at alms. 
 She goes round a little and spends some 
 time lookin ; she looks at the color and 
 the weave, finds out if it will wash and 
 wear well, and if it will shrink from water, 
 and a whole lot more fore she ll make up 
 her mind to take it. 
 
 " Now it do seem to me no more than 
 reasonable that she be willin to spend as 
 
36 MINT JULEP 
 
 much thought on the man she s goin* to 
 take fer the rest of her life. 
 
 " Let her find out his price, how much 
 he can earn ; let her look at the weave and 
 the color, that s whether he s a decent, 
 God fearin , religious man, or one of 
 them light fingered, flip-tongued scoff 
 ers that has no religion hisself, but tries 
 to take away everybody else s, and let her 
 find out above all if he shrinks from water. 
 If more gals ud find that out fore they 
 married, it would save heaps of misery 
 afterward. 
 
 " I ve no patience with shilly-shallyin 
 gals that set down waitin for the fust 
 thing that might grow whiskers, to come 
 along and ask them. Didn t the good 
 Lord give them a tongue and all the 
 minor senses? Well He did and He ex 
 pects em to use it, and there s no word 
 in the Bible agin a woman findin a good 
 husband, for just look at Ruth, the 
 Moabitess, and how she found Boaz. 
 
 " My advice to gals is, if you want a 
 good husband, jest look round till he finds 
 
CHOOSING A HUSBAND 37 
 
 you, and you can help him if he s not 
 good at findin . 
 
 " When I was twenty I didn t have 
 them sentiments, if I did, mebbe I 
 wouldn t be Mint Julep to-day, though 
 yer can t allus tell." 
 
 " That ye can t, Mrs. Julep, for they 
 do say as ye ll get what s laid out for ye." 
 
 " Well, as fur as that goes, my grand 
 mother used ter say if a gal set in the 
 corner all her life, her fate ud walk in 
 some day an set in the oppsite corner; 
 mebbe twas ordered f er folks to play puss 
 in the corner for a mate, but I have my 
 doubts. 
 
 " When I was eighteen, one of my 
 brother Hiram s walkin mates used ter 
 set a heap by my cake and biscuit, and 
 there s no knowin what might a hap 
 pened if I d egged him on a little after 
 a good meal, but I didn t, never an 
 when I was about twenty there was a 
 man with nine childern in our town who 
 walked home from church with me, strait 
 to the door, the first Sunday he peared 
 
38 MINT JULEP 
 
 out as a widder man, but I warn t a bit 
 spunky in those days an a reddy made 
 family has its drawbacks well as its ad 
 vantages. But I learned to look at things 
 diffrent later an when big Tom Evans 
 came round castin sheep eyes at Matildy, 
 I up an clinched the matter right then an 
 thar. 
 
 " Matildy was the youngest of all of 
 us an looked on me as her mother a 
 right good gal she was, an pretty as a 
 piny. She was awful bashfull an Tom 
 was more so, but he managed to stalk inter 
 the house seven nights a week an set thar 
 a chewin a straw. 
 
 ; That state of affairs kept on fer 
 three months, an then one night I sent 
 Matildy to Ant Liza s a purpose an I 
 swooped down on Tom after he d settled 
 comfortably in the best chair an begun 
 to chew his straw. Tom, says I, yer 
 cheatin some poor hoss outer a lot of good 
 feed why not git married an save the 
 hay. In other words, says I, what s yer 
 intenshions, if I might ask, toward Ma 
 tildy. 
 
CHOOSING A HUSBAND 39 
 
 " Well, Tom looked as if he was goin 
 to fall all in a heep. I ain t a meenin 
 any harm, says Tom, scairt to death 
 Then yer must be meanin matrimoney, 
 says I, cause anything else would be 
 harm after takin up a gal s time fer three 
 months. 
 
 : Well, Tom had sense an was manly 
 spite of his grass chewin , an tenny rate, 
 him an Matildy got married that spring. 
 If a man hasent any intents or purpose 
 toward matrimoney then he d better not 
 go callin steddy on a gal till he has, an 
 if he has intents, he knows it jest as well 
 in three months as twelve so what s 
 the good of wastin ile, an wearin out 
 the parlor furnitoor. 
 
 Nother thing I ve noticed, when 
 they re coortin , folks allus keep the best 
 side out, an it s perfeckly proper thet 
 they should, but there d be a lot more suc 
 cessful matches, if they d continue to 
 keep the best side out after marriage. 
 Some way or other men are awful human 
 an I don t blame em lots of times. If 
 
40 MINT JULEP 
 
 it warn t fer the men the world wouldn t 
 be as round as they say tis. At the same 
 time I do hope thet sweet Miss Burt ain t 
 wearin her heart out fer any man she 
 can git along without the man, but she 
 can t without the heart, an there never 
 was a man yit on this blessed earth, a mite 
 too good fer a good woman. 
 
 " Matein is queer any way you look 
 at it. Gals thet like tall men, git short 
 ones an those thet ud fancy flesh, are 
 more than apt to have to take skin an 
 bone. 
 
 " From the time I calkelated on man 
 as a mate, I allus did admire one thet 
 could blow a brass trumpit, bow to the 
 ladies an* make a perlite speech. Good 
 lands, d ye see what I got my first hus 
 band, Jamesy Allum, was a little deef, 
 an my second is all but dumb, not but 
 there s wuss men than William Julep, an 
 I doo think William is good lookin , 
 though he seems pessesed to greese his 
 hair an now I have got to go, Mis Mc- 
 Peak. I have stayed talkin too long." 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 WRITE AT ONCT" 
 
 WlNTOP 
 
 DEER WILLIAM : 
 Its now three weeks sense I 
 heard from you an if you don t 
 write at onct, I ll start for them Rockey 
 Mountings immejit, else how can I know 
 thet you are alive in sech compny. 
 
 The least any woman can know about 
 herself is whether she be maid wife or 
 widder. Write at onct an dont make it 
 so pesky short. 
 
 Your wife, 
 
 ARAMINTA JULEP. 
 P. i. 1. 
 
 My Jimmy is doin splendid, he has 
 learned to say his piece reel well, he will 
 resite it fer you when you git home. 
 41 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 BELLA S DIARY 
 
 4 6T IT TELL, Miss Burt, it do seem as 
 y y if I was alhis bumpin into 
 you when you was writin in 
 that little book. All the time I was get- 
 tin my vegetables ready fer dinner, I 
 could look right through the settin room 
 an see you on the porch, writin away." 
 
 " I keep a diary," laughed Molly, " did 
 you ever keep one, Mrs. Julep ? " 
 
 " Keep a diry ! never ! If yer do a good 
 thing you ll remember it, an if yer do 
 a foolish one, yer friends won t let yer 
 f orgit it you ll be reminded either way 
 so wot s the use of writin it down." 
 
 There s a good bit of philosophy in 
 that, Mrs. Julep," said Molly with a smile. 
 
 " I remember though the fust timel ever 
 heard tell of a diry," Mint went on. 
 42 
 
BELLA S DIARY 43 
 
 " I had a friend onct, Bella. Awful 
 romancin gal was Bella, married reel 
 well in the soap greese bisness, an one day 
 she told me she was goin to keep a diry. 
 I didn t tell you that Bella was one of 
 nine, loafin on her dad who uster sell milk 
 in Farnham, did I. Well, tenny rate, I 
 thought Bella was goin to put in an do 
 some work, instead of which she pulls out 
 a little black book - everything I do in 
 the coorse of the day, says Bella, * I m 
 goin to write down here. This is what 
 happened yisterday, says she, an she be 
 gan to read like this : 
 
 Pleasant day, I riz at six, et pie an 
 coffee, went out, met a man, he looked 
 right at me, an so on. * Is thet a diry, 
 Bella? says I, when she got so far as put- 
 tin her front hair up in papers, an lamp 
 out f er the night. Yes, says Bella, ain t 
 it a cute idee? It d be a handy thing to 
 put alongside of your corpse, says I, * all 
 you d have to do on the other side would 
 be to pass it to the recordin angel, and 
 save him the time of lookin you up. 
 
44 MINT JULEP 
 
 " What s the good of writin down all 
 the fiddle f addles of life anyhow, it seems 
 to me a sensible person will forgit them 
 as quick as he can. The Bible is my 
 diry I ve got writ down the day and 
 date of my marriage to William Julep, 
 not that I m likely to forgit it, which is 
 more n I d vouch for him, an my chil- 
 dern s births; as for weather, the Bible 
 records quite a storm in Noah s time 
 it s the only storm for Christians to re 
 member. No, I can t say that I believe in 
 diries, Miss Burt." 
 
 Well, my mother kept one, and my 
 grandmother did also. I think," said 
 Molly, by way of apology, " that it runs 
 in the family to keep a diary." 
 
 " There s lots of things run in families 
 thet orter be run out. Take my brother 
 Hiram, he used ter play hookey from 
 school when he was a lad, an was allus 
 wanderin off, specially when there was 
 any work to do he never forgot to turn 
 up at meal time though ; well, he grew to 
 be a stiddy shirker, an mother used ter 
 
BELLA S DIARY 45 
 
 say, same as if twas somethin to be cocked 
 up about, Oh well, gran pa was a great 
 traveller, it runs in the family, and then 
 Hiram would go off again. 
 
 " Well, Hiram had a impedalment in 
 his speech, an stuttered somethin offul 
 when he got mad. Why, he used to git 
 so riled up, the words would jest stick in 
 his thrut, and then he had a pecooliar habit 
 of raisin his leg to sorter help him git 
 them out. 
 
 ; Well, one day poor mother died, and 
 the burden of Hiram and a household fell 
 on me. I uster lay awake at nights, 
 thinkin of Hiram s case there was no 
 use scoldin or appealin to his pride, cause 
 he bed none. 
 
 " Onct I told him thet he was loosin 
 his looks, folks uster call him handsome, 
 and most every one has a vanity spot 
 somewhere, an you can hit a lot of people 
 on that spot. 
 
 But Hiram didn t, all he had was a 
 good appetite, an a spite fer work. 
 
 " Well, at last I hit on a desprit plan. 
 
46 MINT JULEP 
 
 I bed a fit one night, outside his door, an 
 he was scairt to death, an the next day 
 I was terrible sick an made him promise 
 not to leave me an whenever I see him 
 gettin restless, I d jest drop off inter one 
 of them fits, an when I came out I d tell 
 him I wasn t goin to last long an I d 
 will him the ten acre lot, thet was mine 
 from Aunt Mary. Well, to make a long 
 story short, Hiram stayed on till he got 
 so dead sick of the house, he came one 
 day an told me he d half a mind to go 
 to work fer John Barnes, who needed an 
 extry man. 
 
 Go, Hiram, says I, martyr like, 
 * you re a young man an I don t want ter 
 be interferin with yer prospects. Thet 
 was a good thing fer me an better still fer 
 Hiram John Barnes shook some of the 
 laziness outer him, then he married Peggy 
 Barnes, an she done the rest, for he never 
 travelled forty feet from his own door you 
 bet, without Peggy. 
 
 Yes, there s many a fault an bad 
 habit that folks saddle off on some harm- 
 
BELLA S DIARY 47 
 
 less member of the family thet s dead an 
 gone, an can t rise up to contradic them. 
 
 " I don t see the sense of keepin lots 
 of things thet folks keep, anyhow Take 
 clothes, if folks would take down some of 
 the clothes thet s hangin on a peg, an 
 hang them on some poor human, the world 
 would look better an so would the clothes. 
 There s my purple silk, I give you my 
 word, Miss Burt, I never was one thet 
 titivated more n the average, but I allus 
 did want a purple silk. I uster think if 
 I could sweep down the aisle of a Sabbath, 
 an know thet a shimmerin purple was 
 rustlin at every step, I could defy Satan 
 an all his coworts visions of thet silk 
 uster come between me an my chanct of 
 heaven in them days. Well I got it, an 
 now it s put away in musk, I m most 
 ashamed to say. 
 
 " Some folks are allus hoardin anyway. 
 It s mighty thoughtful for them thet gits 
 the hoar din s. I knew a woman onct thet 
 uster drink her tea outer an old cracked 
 chiny cup, though she hed a beautiful tea 
 
48 MINT JULEP 
 
 set in her closet thet she was hoardin . 
 When she died, her niece, Lyddy Deane, 
 got it an she uster show it to folks, an 
 they uster say my! ain t it beautiful, an 
 all thet, an there they was a praisin thet 
 chiny tea set, but not one word f er the old 
 lady that hoarded it all them years. 
 
 ; When I die, nobody s goin to praise 
 my chiny more n they praise me, not if I 
 know it though there might be some- 
 thin in what Lyddy said to me onct: 
 Do you know, Araminty, says she, 
 every time I look at thet chiny, I think 
 of thet dear old soul, an I m sure she 
 still takes an intrust in it. Sometimes, 
 says she, * when I m settin alone an pour- 
 in tea, I see her kind old face a smilin 
 at me opposite, an she s sippin her tea 
 outer thet little rose cup. 
 
 " Lyddy was an awful sweet gal an 
 I m glad she got thet rose chiny, but I bed 
 my doubts about the old lady a drinkin 
 outer it." 
 
 " Oh ! I never could do it," said Molly. 
 " There are some things I couldn t give 
 
BELLA S DIARY 49 
 
 away, there s Cleopatra, green, gauzy, and 
 alluring, I wore it two years ago, but I 
 simply couldn t give Cleopatra away. 
 And there s the Dawn, soft, uncertain, pale 
 as gray sea mist. I love the Dawn, Mrs. 
 Julep, though I wore it ever so long ago. 
 Why! I have The Maiden s Prayer put 
 away in lavender; I name all my gowns 
 and The Maiden s Prayer was my gradu 
 ating dress. Oh! Mrs. Julep, I m a ro 
 mancer, I fear." 
 
 " Well, you are romancin to name your 
 old gowns sech hifalutin names, but I 
 dunno as you re a patch on Bella Ball. 
 
 " Bella was the most romancin gal I 
 ever see Why, anything thet grew hair 
 on the upper lip sent little shivers down 
 Bella s back. 
 
 " I remember onct, me an* Bella was 
 mere gals at the time, an we went up one 
 day to Hitchcock s farm, to git fresh eggs, 
 an we found a new man to wait on us up 
 there; Stillman B. Wickford, fresh from 
 Maine; an like all the folks I ever see 
 from there, he warn t hidin his lights. 
 
50 MINT JULEP, 
 
 :< Well, we talked casiel like, about crops 
 an weather, an when we was a goin Bella 
 looks back over my shoulder, an , says she, 
 real sweet, O-ra-ver, Mister Wickford, 
 thet s the f urrin f er good day. Well, the 
 very next day she got a letter from Still- 
 man B., saying as how her image hed 
 been constant in his heart an askin her to 
 appint a time an place of meetin . Well, 
 Bella had like to die a laffin ; twas her 
 first love letter, an mebbe twas the last, 
 cause Henery Ball was stronger on 
 greese than he was on paper, not but what 
 he could reed an write some. 
 
 " Tenny rate, I talked Bella outer 
 meetin a clandestin man, so she didn t 
 take no notice, though her vanity was 
 tickled, you can bet. 
 
 " Well, bout a week later we both went 
 agin to buy more eggs. We reeched 
 Hitchcock s big kitchen an I know 
 Bella s heart was goin pitty pat, an when 
 we knocked some one said come in, an in 
 we stept, an there sat Stillman B. a wash- 
 in his feet in a tub of water. 
 
BELLA S DIARY 51 
 
 " She turned her back on him an looked 
 outer the winder, but I could see him from 
 the corner of my eye, mop his extremes 
 as unconsarned as if he was a curryin a 
 hoss, an when he gits good an ready he 
 gits up an git us the eggs. But, law, Miss 
 Burt, do you think thet cured Bella? 
 Bless you, no. She asked me on the way 
 home if he warn t hansom an bold, an I 
 allowed as he certainly bed courage to 
 wash in publick. 
 
 " I uster think Bella would loose her 
 romancin when she lost her waist line; 
 most women do, but she never did. Some 
 females ud see a romance in a wooden 
 post if there was a man s coat hangin on it. 
 
 " An now I must quit talkin , and see 
 about gittin my dinner on." 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 BERNHARDT AND UNCLE TOM^S CABIN - 
 
 DEER AN WELL BELOVID HUSBEND: 
 I was glad to git your letter, 
 though I will say I d be ashamed 
 to write sech a short one, even to a under 
 taker. 
 
 But I know your failin William, an 
 you cant write cause writin is only talk- 
 in on paper. 
 
 Well, me an Miss Burt are gittin reel 
 soshiable, though I havent yit found out 
 a inklin of the mistery. The other day 
 she says to me, says she, what a busy 
 woman you are, Mis Julep; time never 
 hangs heavy on your hands, does it? No, 
 you bet it dont, says I; some folks has so 
 much time they dont know what to do 
 with theirselves, an others has so little 
 thet they never git a chanct to set down an 
 52 
 
UNCLE TOM S CABIN 53 
 
 git reel well acquainted with theirselves. 
 I sometimes think if I hed a chanct to set 
 down an git reel well acquainted with 
 Araminta Julep, I might find something 
 interestin to her besides washin, churnin, 
 bakin, an mendin. As it is, she s sech a 
 rushin, crushin, disapintin critter I cant 
 abide her, an I often wished I could a done 
 somethin of some account. O, you 
 musent say that, says miss Burt, think 
 what a splendid usefull life you live, says 
 she, workin an thinkin an plannin for 
 others. Thet may be says I but Ive hed 
 longings all my life to do somethin big 
 ger an better. I aint done them an we 
 dont git credit jest fer the longings. 
 Well I m not so sure of thet, says miss 
 Molly, an then she says in her prettiest 
 way, says she, 
 
 All I could never be 
 All men ignored in me, 
 This I was worth to God. 
 
 I thought it was so nice an poetkal 
 like, thet I asked her if she d jest as soon 
 
54 MINT JULEP 
 
 put it down on paper fer me. I have 
 allus liked poetkal things though I never 
 hed a chanct to do much in thet line. 
 
 Night before last miss Burt invited me 
 to a sing in a big hall. It was nice, but 
 the women dident speak plain I couldent 
 understand one word. I was jest longin 
 fer some one to come out an sing home, 
 sweet home, or old oaken buckit. I was 
 jest wishin we was at the show. How I 
 love a show, though I never go but I see 
 a great actress once, her name was Sary 
 somethin. I was at the perfessers at 
 the time an a gentleman what uster come 
 there gave me a ticket an I went an I ll 
 never for git it to my dyin day; it was 
 grand. The name of the show was Frow- 
 Frow; thets furrin for two wives. I 
 dont know what twas all about cause 
 she was a furriner, but I took it she was 
 a decent sort but the rest was jest mor 
 mons an wuss. But she hed a voice thet 
 sent little thrills up an down yer marrer, 
 an I set on the edge of my chair holdin 
 my breath most of the time. 
 
Well tenny rate I guess she d been 
 flyin round hevin a good time, an her 
 constitootion wouldent stand it so the 
 poor thing tuk to her bed at last. I knew 
 in a minit what ailed thet woman, an the 
 more I looked at her the wuss I felt, an I 
 says to the woman settin next to me, says 
 I, if some one would only tell her to take 
 some camomile tea, a good dose of camo 
 mile tea, she d be outer thet bed in no time, 
 says I. 
 
 Well thet woman whispered it to the 
 man settin alongside of her, an he said 
 he d tell her soon as the show was over, but 
 do you know them unfeelin folks sot 
 there an jest clapt an shouted till thet 
 poor thing hed to git outer thet sick bed, 
 an drag herself fore the curtain an told 
 them she was much obliged an feelin 
 better when all the time she looked as 
 white an wasted as a wilted calla. I was 
 jest thet mad I felt spiteful gainst the 
 hull crowd. 
 
 Thet was the only time I was ever in 
 a reel play house, though there was onct 
 
56 MINT JULEP 
 
 in our town a compny thet played Uncle 
 Toms Cabin, but it warnt a success. 
 Hicks Bosworth got mad at a black whis 
 kered feller struttin round in cow hide 
 boots flourishin a whip. Hicks stud 
 right up in the show an offered to lick 
 him. It made an awful commotion, but 
 Hicks was six foot one in his socks, an 
 when the boys began to urge him on an 
 throw things at the actor folks, they rung 
 down thet curtain an the show sneaked 
 outer town thet night, but old Si Banks 
 what kept the hotel said they was awful 
 mad an they left a big notice over the 
 door of the town hall in red paint; it said 
 somethin like this: If Hicks Bosworth 
 would stand up before a baby jackass, 
 we ll back the jackass fer the brains an 
 blows, an a whole lot more. I guess 
 every one of them gave us a dig. 
 
 They called us puddin heads, an pie 
 eaters an it riled up Hicks so he found 
 out where they was playin two nights 
 after an he sent a notice an paid a man 
 to reed it right out loud in the show thet 
 
UNCLE TOM S CABIN 57 
 
 said, Hicks Bosworth of Farnham is 
 willin an anxsious to meet the Jackass of 
 this show, an Hicks would like to borrer 
 the weapon the aforesaid jackass carries 
 around thets commonly used on his kind. 
 
 They said it spoiled the show in thet 
 town too. Folks dident allus approve of 
 Hicks. He was like a overheeted fur- 
 nase, ready to bust any minnit. But what 
 made him so mad at thet play acter was 
 cause Susie Hobbs was a settin right down 
 in the front row an he thot the black whis 
 kered feller was showin off an thro win 
 glances at her but if he was, Susie was 
 willin to ketch all thet was comin her 
 way an return them with intrust. We all 
 knowed Susie, all but poor Hicks, an he 
 found her out but not before she spiled a 
 good mans life. 
 
 I hate a flirt, there the meanest kind of 
 a theif, cause they often steel what cant 
 be replaced. Susie thot all men livin was 
 made to be the victim of her wiles an 
 graces. Now Bella Ball was diffrent. 
 She thot all men jest lovely, an among 
 
58 MINT JULEP 
 
 the crowd was one pertickler, made a pur 
 pose for her, so she was awful nice to all 
 for fear of missin her pertickler. I cant 
 think of no more at present, but rite soon 
 to your own 
 
 MINT JULEP. 
 P. i. 1. 
 
 Tommy is learnin to teeter beautifull 
 on thet trumpet. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 THE BERUBA PLANTATION COMPANY 
 
 WINTOP 
 
 DEER WILLIAM 
 I was reel glad to see you an 
 swered my last so quick. 
 We are all well, though the twins cant 
 sit down without pain in consequence 
 of slidin down McPeaks cellar door thet 
 hed a small nail inwisible. And this re 
 minds me thet poor mis McPeak is worrit- 
 in awful about thet money she put in the 
 Beruba Plantation company. 
 
 The company dont pay a cent of devi- 
 dends now, an she s afraid shell lose her 
 money, an wuss nor all, she s afraid Scotty 
 will find it out. She said she wished she 
 knowed a good honest lawyer to put the 
 case in his hands but she dident know 
 one. She says honest lawyers aint so 
 59 
 
60 MINT JULEP 
 
 plenty, an I told her I dident know any 
 seein as I was a stranger in these parts 
 but I d ask miss Burt if she might know 
 one. Well William it do beet all but 
 thet gal jest blushed like a biled beet when 
 I ast her an says she, yes, I know one 
 both honest and clever, an then I ast her 
 his name an address. Twas Mister Jere 
 miah Storey, but when I said I d tell miss 
 McPeak to go strait to him she said O 
 please dont, blushin more an more. 
 Well I was so supprised I jest looked at 
 her an I says, I understand miss Burt, 
 says I, thet mister Jeremiah is a good 
 honest lawyer but no dout you hev a good 
 reeson fer not wantin him to help poor 
 miss McPeak. Then she says, no I hev 
 no reeson at all, tell your neighber thet 
 she can trust him above all men. Well 
 now William aint thet the most peeculiar 
 thing you ever herd tell of. Am I get- 
 tin on the track of the mistery? What 
 has this lawyer feller got to do with Molly 
 Burt? That is what is puzzlin me. 
 
 Tenny rate misses McPeak is goin to 
 
PLANTATION COMPANY 61 
 
 see him an ask him a few questions about 
 if he thinks we can git our money back 
 outer thet Beruba Plantation, cause she s 
 most worriet herself inter a sick bed. 
 Your own 
 
 MINT JULEP. 
 
 P. i. 1. Tommy is learnin to play 
 home sweet home on the trumpit. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 SCOTTY DISCOVERS HIS LOSS 
 
 IT was Saturday afternoon. A knock 
 on the kitchen door made Mrs. Julep 
 pause in the midst of her scrubbing, 
 but before she could get to her feet, the 
 door opened and Mrs. McPeak appeared. 
 One glance at her neighbor showed Mrs. 
 Julep that something was amiss. The 
 woman s eyes were swollen and red from 
 weeping, and she stood hesitatingly in the 
 doorway, clutching her gingham apron. 
 
 " Why, what on earth s the matter? 
 What s troublin yer? Set down, woman, 
 dear," said Mint, but so astonished that 
 she made no attempt to arise from her 
 knees. 
 
 " Oh! Mrs. Julep," moaned the little 
 woman, dropping listlessly into a chair, 
 and covering her eyes with her small, 
 62 
 
SCOTTY S DISCOVERY 63 
 
 plump hands, "I ve lost the money, I ve 
 lost the money, an Scotty 11 kill me." 
 
 " He ll do nothin of the sort," declared 
 Mrs. Julep, sitting back on her heels. 
 
 "Oh! yer don t know Scotty, Mrs. 
 Julep; he s a good man, but he s got an 
 awfu temper, an he s close; Scotty s aw- 
 f u close, an it ll make him fair wild when 
 he finds out the money s gone. Oh, what 
 shall I say to Scotty? " 
 
 The tears started afresh and trickled 
 down the poor tear-stained cheeks, while 
 she tried to wipe them away with the cor 
 ner of her apron. 
 
 " Well, neighbor, don t loose courage 
 like that ; it can t be as bad as you think." 
 
 " It could na be worse, Mrs. Julep. 
 It was all a swindlin scheme ter get 
 money from simple folk that trusted em 
 and had faith in em, and I believed every 
 word that man Feather told me about that 
 plantation. 
 
 " Didn t he tell me I could go down and 
 see it for mysel , and when the first money 
 came in the letter, that was the devidend 
 
64 MINT JULEP 
 
 on what I had paid in, I was that pleased 
 I came near tellin Scotty, and I wish I 
 had, cause then he d know somethin about 
 it; but now to hear it all at once 11 make 
 him fair wild. Oh! what shall I say to 
 Scotty!" 
 
 : Well, are you sure that the money s 
 gone, Mrs. McPeak? " 
 
 " Oh! yes, on the advice of the lawyer, 
 Mr. Storey, I took a car and went down 
 to the place this mornin and I found lots 
 of others, men and women, askin f er their 
 money, but they won t give us back a cent. 
 They said as how nothin can be done un 
 til the directors has a meetin , but it s not 
 much good that ll do us, I fear." 
 
 ;< Well, Mrs. McPeak, them directors is 
 mighty smart men, and no knowing but 
 they may be able to do something fer the 
 poor people as trusted in em. While 
 there s life in our bodies, there s hope in 
 our hearts, and it mayn t be as bad as it 
 seems." 
 
 " Oh! dear, dear, to think of me puttin 
 ..Scotty s hard-earned money into sech a 
 
SCOTTY S DISCOVERY 65 
 
 wild-cat scheme. Oh, what shall I say to 
 him! The devidend they sent out in the 
 letter was jest a trick ter make folks think 
 they d be gettin more if they d buy more. 
 I see it all now. Oh! what shall I say to 
 Scotty? I dare na face him after throw- 
 in away his good money in sech a foolish 
 thing; he ll kill me. Scotty 11 kill me." 
 
 "He ll do nothin of the sort, I tell 
 yer," said Mint, who had been unusually 
 quiet during the woman s outburst. 
 
 You must spunk up a bit and we ll see 
 what can be done. Now, first of all, how 
 much money did you put inter this Beruba 
 business? " 
 
 Three hundred dollars; that was two 
 shares," said Mrs. McPeak, who was 
 calmer now that she was talking it over. 
 
 ; Three hundred dollars," repeated 
 Mint. " My lands, that s an awful lot of 
 money! My case ain t near so bad. I 
 took one of them shares, but I ve only paid 
 in fifty-five dollars on it; but that s jest 
 fifty-five dollars more than I can afford 
 to lose. But three hundred! It s a heap 
 
66 MINT JULEP 
 
 of money, there s no denyin of that." 
 " It is, it is," and once more the voice 
 was shaking with sobs. " Scotty gives me 
 every cent to save, and I keep it in a little 
 place in the bottom of my trunk ; he don t 
 trust no banks, and he s been savin till 
 he d have enough some day to buy a piece 
 of land. Oh, my! Oh, my! Many s the 
 time we ve talked it over and he told me 
 that when we had enough to buy the land 
 outright he was goin to raise a mortgage 
 and build a house. And I ve lain awake 
 nights thinkin how pleased he d be when 
 he see the extry money I d made by my 
 investment; but now I canna face him. 
 I d rather die! Oh! I could ha thrown 
 mysel in the river, I was that heart broke 
 this mornin . What shall I do and what 
 shall I say to Scotty ! " 
 
 Well, three hundred dollars is an aw 
 ful lot of money, I admit, Mrs. McPeak, 
 but a good wife s worth more n that, and 
 what you did, you done fer the best, same 
 as me ; we ll make an awful plucky fight to 
 git our money back, but if it s gone and 
 
SCOTTY S DISCOVERY 67 
 
 we can t git it back, then say I, let it go 
 and be thankful it s no wuss." 
 
 " Ohl but Scotty, Mrs. Julep; ye dinna 
 know Scotty. He ll nay listen to any ex 
 cuse when he finds his good money s gone. 
 I dare na face him. Oh, Mrs. Julep, what 
 shall I do, what shall I do! " and Mrs. Mc- 
 Peak rocked back and forth in the extrem 
 ity of her woe and looked beseechingly at 
 the woman on her heels before her. 
 
 Mrs. Julep looked thoughtfully at the 
 pail of suds by her side; she realized that 
 something must be done to help this un 
 happy woman, although she could not un 
 derstand the fear and dread that Mrs. Mc- 
 Peak had of telling her husband about the 
 loss of the money. 
 
 Giving two spots in front of the sink 
 a vigorous scrub, she threw the brush on 
 the little shelf above and proceeded to 
 wring out her floor-cloth; she wiped this 
 last portion of the floor quickly, and then, 
 jumping to her feet, stood with hands on 
 her hips and leaned against the old-fash 
 ioned sink. 
 
68 MINT JULEP 
 
 " Well, Mrs. McPeak, I suppose every 
 body on this green earth sometime is bound 
 to lose good money in a bad venture. I 
 met my shoe-string man and you ve met 
 yourn. However, I believe you can git 
 inspiration from soap suds if you re look- 
 in fer it, and right now in that very pail 
 of suds I ve jest seen a way that I can help 
 you out of this." 
 
 " Oh! Mrs. Julep, ye canna help me get 
 the money, and it s nothin less would sat 
 isfy Scotty. Oh, what shall I say to him, 
 what shall " 
 
 " You ll say nothin to him," interrupted 
 Mint. "I ll see Scotty McPeak when he 
 comes home to-night and I ll tell him what 
 he ought ter know." 
 
 Mrs. McPeak shook her head sadly at 
 this suggestion, but Mint was now thor 
 oughly warmed up to the new role she was 
 about to take upon herself, and continued : 
 
 ; When your husband comes home to 
 his nice comfortable house to-night, to have 
 his nice warm supper, he ll be dissapinted 
 fer the first time in his life ; and instid of a 
 
SCOTTY S DISCOVERY 69 
 
 lovin wife ter meet him, he ll find it 
 empty ; leastwise it shall be empty till I go 
 over there and set him thinkin on the right 
 track." 
 
 " Now, Mrs. McPeak, is there any thing- 
 special your man likes fer tea? " 
 
 Mrs. McPeak looked blankly at her re 
 sourceful neighbor, a bewildered expres 
 sion in her mild, blue eyes. 
 
 " He has a sweet tooth, has Scotty; I ve 
 known him to eat scones and jam wi a 
 boy s relish." 
 
 Then it s scones and jam fer tea to 
 night, Mrs. McPeak, and you go right 
 ahead and make the scones, and I ll bring 
 McPeak back with me fer company to tea. 
 Don t you stir outer this house till he takes 
 yer, and don t yer cry any more over that 
 money; let it go. You ve got ter mind 
 Ham and Eg while I m gittin McPeak, 
 and them twins 11 keep you from broodin 
 overmuch on yer trouble jest now." 
 
 Mrs. Julep started for the door lead 
 ing into the back hall, and turning saw 
 that Mrs. McPeak had not changed her 
 
70 MINT JULEP 
 
 position and had made no attempt to put 
 into practise Mint s plan of softening 
 Scotty s heart. 
 
 " Come, now, stir yourself, Mrs. Mc- 
 Peak, and you leave this thing to me; I ve 
 tackled worse than your Scotty, and when 
 he finds you ve got his favorite dish fer 
 tea, it ll make him feel so good he won t 
 mind the old money. Now, you start in 
 this minute and make the scones; lucky 
 I ve got a bit of jam left that old Mother 
 Allum sent me last fall ; she ll never put up 
 no more jam, poor old lady, though twas 
 good enough to tempt the saints she s 
 jined in heaven. You can give the twins 
 their supper if I ain t back a bowl of 
 bread and milk is all Gresham and Egre- 
 mont git, and then they go straight ter 
 bed. If they holler, let em go it, only 
 take a peep now and then ter see that 
 stranglation don t set in." 
 
 Mint washed and dried her hands 
 quickly, and as Mrs. McPeak still re 
 mained in the chair, the energetic Mint 
 bustled into the pantry, brought out flour 
 
SCOTTY S DISCOVERY 71 
 
 and butter, which she placed on the kitchen 
 table, hoping thus to get Mrs. McPeak 
 started on the scones and likewise divert 
 her mind from her great trouble. 
 
 " Now, I won t have any more n time to 
 git ready, and you can go right ahead 
 and make them scones, fer I m goin ter 
 bring company back to tea, and " 
 
 " Nay, nay, Mrs. Julep," interrupted 
 the woman, "I m not sa sure that ye ll 
 bring the mon from his own house; he s 
 that set about things, it s awfu ," and the 
 tears started again. 
 
 ; There, now, don t think about it any 
 more; if you watch them twins of mine, 
 takin chances ter maim theirselves fer life, 
 four minutes outer five, you won t be 
 broodin on yer trouble. I ll run upstairs 
 and jest slip my black skirt over this, then 
 I m ready. There ain t much of the faint 
 heart, nor likewise the fair lady about 
 
 me." 
 
 Mint rushed upstairs and in a few min 
 utes returned to the kitchen to find Mrs. 
 McPeak standing on tiptoe, peaking out 
 
72 MINT JULEP 
 
 of the window, while behind her the twins 
 were playing soldier, marching up and 
 down the room, with the pan of dough for 
 a drum. 
 
 " I ve been watching for Scotty," whis 
 pered the little woman; " it s most time he 
 was comin ; he gets home earlier on Sat 
 urdays. There he is, there he is, jest gone 
 in the door. 
 
 " Oh, Mrs. Julep, I m af eared ; you re 
 meanin well, but it s not the thing wi 
 Scotty. It ll make him madder to know 
 that ye know it. Oh! dinna ye go, Mrs. 
 Julep ; I m af eared of Scotty." 
 
 All the woman s fears returned with a 
 rush when she caught sight of the redoubt 
 able McPeak entering the seclusion of his 
 own door. She sank into a chair and 
 wept, clasping and unclasping her hands, 
 the very picture of despair. 
 
 Mrs. Julep put on her bonnet and shawl 
 hastily, and bidding the woman to " spunk 
 up " and watch the twins and make the 
 scones, she departed. 
 
 In answer to Mrs. Julep s short knock, 
 
SCOTTY S DISCOVERY 73 
 
 McPeak presently appeared, looking any 
 thing but pleased at the sight of his visi 
 tor. He returned her pleasant greeting 
 sullenly and held the door, waiting for her 
 to tell her errand and depart. 
 
 " I want ter come in a minute, Mr. Mc 
 Peak ; I hev somethin ter tell yer bout yer 
 wife." 
 
 She swept past him into the neat little 
 kitchen and opening her bonnet strings, 
 dropped into a chair. 
 
 The man closed the door and turned to 
 her in silence. 
 
 "I m awful sorry fer you, McPeak, but 
 I didn t come here to offer sympathy." 
 
 " Is is onything wrong wi Jennie? " 
 
 Mrs. Julep tightened her lips and bowed 
 her head. 
 
 " Somethin is wrong with your wife, 
 Mr. McPeak everything s wrong with 
 her." 
 
 "Gord! hes there been a accident is 
 she hurtit is she dead speak up, 
 woman, where s Jennie?" 
 
 " She s not dead nor hurt the way you 
 
74 MINT JULEP 
 
 mean she s alive and well ; her body s 
 all right, but her head, Mr. McPeak; her 
 head! Oh! that poor woman s head! " 
 
 : What s the matter wi her head hes 
 she gone daffy? Gord! you set there 
 blabbin bout her head as if twas a bloom- 
 in punk she d dropped on the rod side; 
 what s ailin her, woman? " 
 
 If Mint was at all cast down by the 
 testy Scot, she did not show it in word or 
 look. 
 
 " See here, Mr. McPeak, I ve come ter 
 prepare yer for a terrible loss, but I ll not 
 say a word till yer tell me what yer wife s 
 wuth; how much is she wuth ter you in 
 dollars and cents jest tell me that." 
 
 For a moment Scotty regarded the 
 woman suspiciously; she had always had 
 too glib a tongue to suit him. But now 
 he began to entertain doubts as to her 
 sanity. 
 
 He edged a little nearer the door, and 
 put his hand on the knob. Scotty was 
 cautious, and he wasn t going to take any 
 chances. Mint saw the movement, and 
 
SCOTTY S DISCOVERY 75 
 
 the meaning of his act flashed upon her. 
 
 " Scotty McPeak, I m not crazy; I m 
 usin sech brains as the Lord gave me fer 
 a purpose. You may have more n me, but 
 no one s found it out yit. You tell me 
 what your wife is wuth to you in cash, 
 and I ll tell you what yer ought ter 
 know." 
 
 " Why, dom it, woman, a mon don t 
 value his wife like thot ha ye gone daft 
 that ye ask sich a question?" 
 
 " McPeak, you re right you ve got a 
 good wife, and, as the Bible says, her price 
 is above rubies ; so yer can t put a value on 
 her in dollars and cents, can yer? A good 
 honest, sober, industrious woman that 
 thinks, and plans and saves fer you every 
 day o her life, and everything she does, 
 Mr. McPeak, she does fer the best, don t 
 for git that; when she saves yer money, 
 she saves it fer the best, and if she lost 
 it, she lost it fer the best. What good, 
 say I, would a few hundred dollars be ter 
 you if Jennie was sick or sore, or wuss, 
 laid away fer ever more. T would be a 
 
76 MINT JULEP 
 
 long time fore you d find another as good. 
 There s lots of females in the world, Mr. 
 McPeak; swarms of them, but when you 
 meet a woman, it s some different. Jennie 
 did everything for the best, and when she 
 invested that three hundred dollars, she 
 thot twas fer the best." 
 
 McPeak had listened to this onslaught 
 in sullen silence, but at the mention of the 
 money he made a wild rush for the back 
 room with such a look of ferocity that 
 Mint arose and, keeping one eye on him, 
 slowly backed to the door. 
 
 In a flash he had unlocked and slammed 
 open the treasure house, only to find the 
 money gone ! 
 
 With an oath the man turned and faced 
 Mrs. Julep. 
 
 What has she done wi my money? " he 
 shouted, shaking his fist in her face; " no 
 more o yer domned blabbin , but tell me 
 thot." 
 
 He looked so fierce that for the first 
 time in her life Mint Julep cowed percep 
 tibly, but it was only for a moment; then 
 
tarn 
 
 "Your wife HHH lost every cent of that money" 
 
 Pa*e 77 
 
SCOTTY S DISCOVERY 77 
 
 she said pluckily, her hand on the door 
 knob: 
 
 Your wife has lost every cent of that 
 money. It was jest as much hers as it was 
 yours, and more and she s sufFerin 
 from the loss of it more n you, for she s 
 thinkin o someone else, but you re only 
 thinkin of yourself, and you deserve to 
 lose more than that, f er you don t deserve 
 a good wife. You re a brute!" 
 
 Mint opened the door and stepped out 
 quickly, when an idea flashed into her 
 head, and although her heart was beating 
 wildly, she popped her head inside again. 
 
 Your wife was so heart-broke this 
 mornin she said she hed a mind ter throw 
 herself in the river, and yer better go down 
 there and see if yer can t git her back for 
 the sake o takin that miserable three hun 
 dred dollars outer her bones." 
 
 Then Mrs. Julep gathered herself to 
 gether and marched off with head erect. 
 
 She hurried along to her own cottage, 
 and on opening the door found Mrs. Mc- 
 Peak on the verge of collapse. 
 
78 MINT JULEP 
 
 " I guess after all we won t hev our 
 company ter tea, Mrs. McPeak. Scotty s 
 onlike my William in lots o ways, but let 
 me tell you one thing you don t go near 
 him, nor leave this house till he conies here 
 and begs yer." 
 
 For answer the little woman buried her 
 face in her gingham apron, crying as if 
 her heart would break. 
 
 When McPeak was alone he flung him 
 self into a chair and tried to think. The 
 money was gone ! Lost ! Yes, that woman 
 had just said " Your wife has lost every 
 cent of that money." But how? He 
 clenched his fists in impotent rage and 
 gave himself up to every bitter, angry 
 passion. 
 
 " How could Jennie have lost all that 
 money? I ll wager thot bladgin woman 
 had some hand in it," said McPeak, as he 
 arose and paced back and forth in the lit 
 tle room. 
 
 For a long time bitter anger and disap 
 pointment took possession of his being, his 
 
SCOTTY S DISCOVERY 79 
 
 mind so filled with the loss of the money 
 he could think of nothing else. 
 
 As the realization of his loss grew upon 
 him there came thoughts, too, of his wife ; 
 what could Jennie have done with all that 
 money? She had been so anxious to save, 
 and was looking forward to owning a lit 
 tle home just as much as he, and still she 
 had lost that money. It was almost in 
 comprehensible and seemed as if he were 
 in the grasp of a horrible nightmare. 
 
 Then visions of his wife grieving over 
 the loss of it came to him, and his stern 
 face softened. Other thoughts of her fol 
 lowed in quick succession. 
 
 It was the first time in their married life 
 that Jennie had been out when he came 
 home. It was a lonely, bleak place with 
 out her. He fell to wondering where she 
 could be. 
 
 All at once Mrs. Julep s words came to 
 him ; she had spoken of the river. Merci 
 ful heaven! Why had he not listened to 
 the woman! 
 
80 MINT JULEP 
 
 He caught up his hat and rushed wildly 
 out of the house, while his wife, weeping 
 softly, watched him from behind Mrs. 
 Julep s curtain. 
 
 The supper on the table " for the com 
 pany " was untouched, but in the kitchen 
 Mrs. Julep was busy giving the children 
 " a bite," when some time later Mrs. Mc- 
 Peak bounded into the room. 
 
 "He s back, he s back. Oh! Mrs. 
 Julep, and he s comin here. What shall I 
 say to Scotty!" 
 
 Mint had only time to thrust the woman 
 into the kitchen and shut the door, when 
 McPeak, after knocking, walked into the 
 little entry way. 
 
 The woman was touched by the man s 
 appearance; all trace of the sullen anger 
 had disappeared from his face and a look 
 of hopeless misery had settled there. 
 
 " I want ye to tell me aboot Jennie," he 
 said quietly, though it was evident that the 
 words cost him an effort. 
 
 "And I ll do it, Mr. McPeak, if you ll 
 
SCOTTY S DISCOVERY 81 
 
 promise me that you ll not say one word to 
 her about that money." 
 
 " Dom the money I want Jennie," he 
 replied doggedly. 
 
 There was a faint squeal behind them 
 and the next minute Jennie had thrown 
 herself, weeping, into Scotty s arms. 
 
 We ll have company to tea, after all," 
 said Mint. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 THE BERUBA AGENT SWINDLES WIDOW 
 TOBEY 
 
 WlNTOP 
 
 DEER WILLIAM 
 I have been watin for you to 
 answer my last letter. You may 
 be sick. I hope so, as nothing else would 
 xcuse a man from writin to his wife an 
 famly. 
 
 I wrote and told you all about the trou 
 ble poor Mis McPeak was in an how I 
 had broke the news to Scotty that he had 
 lost his 300 dollars. Well I feel that I 
 done my part an done it well. 
 
 It was a good thing to remind that close- 
 fisted man that he had a wife that was 
 wuth more than his old money. Every 
 man who has got a good wife should know 
 that her price is above rubes, as the Good 
 Book says. 
 
 82 
 
WIDOW TOBEY SWINDLED 83 
 
 Well I guess that Scotty s heart is all 
 rite an he thinks a lot of Jennie, cause I 
 shall never forget the look on his face 
 when he came into my entry to ask me 
 about her. 
 
 I think that he had arrived to the con- 
 clushun that Jennie had committed a sew- 
 erside, for you remember I had told him 
 she was goin to throw herself in the river. 
 I can see him now as he stood there askin 
 me to tell him, he looked like wot a 
 preacher once called chaste in by sorrer. 
 
 Jennie says he has changed some since 
 he lost the money. He dont give it to her 
 now to save. He is puttin it in the saving 
 banks himself. 
 
 Everybody I suppose has their favrit 
 place to keep their money. As for me, I 
 have allus favored my stockin, its handy, 
 without bein too handy an youve got to go 
 kind of private like to git at it an that 
 makes yer careful. 
 
 Now William if you are sick your wife 
 should know it before the world knows it. 
 
84 MINT JULEP 
 
 Remember, I am almost anxshus about the 
 stait of your helth. 
 
 Git Mr. Ogdin to write a line if you are 
 laid up William to 
 
 Your lovin wife, 
 AEAMINTA JULEP 
 
 WINTOP 
 DEER WILLIAM 
 
 There seems to be no end to this terrible 
 Beruba Plantation business. I am learn- 
 in of it at every side. 
 
 Ever sense I have come to Wintop to 
 live I have alms traded at a little grocery 
 store here that is kept by Mis Tobey. She 
 is a widder woman with seven children. 
 The oldest is a big girl and the youngest 
 is a baby in arms. 
 
 Mis Tobey is a reel delicate woman an 
 drags one foot jest a little, but she is full 
 of pluck an has alms had a smilin face 
 till lately. 
 
 I have noticed that lots of times when 
 I go inter thet store to buy she seems ailin 
 an kind of sad. She lives right back of 
 
WIDOW TOBEY SWINDLED 85 
 
 the store and when you open the door it 
 rings a bell in the kitchen an then she 
 comes. Well, the other mornin I wated 
 an wated an when she did come her eyes 
 looked red from cryin an tenny rate, 
 I got a talkin with her bout the childern 
 and sympathizin an long last says she 
 
 Oh Mis Julep says she, Im in 
 dredful trouble, says she. My husband 
 left me this house an store free and clear. 
 It made a livin for me an my childern, says 
 she, but Ive done an orful thing. I in 
 vested some money I had, says she, 
 hopin to get a fortune. An ajent 
 came to me an talked and talked, an 
 first I jest bought 2 shares, but it paid so 
 well an he kept urgin me, so that at last 
 I morgaged my childern s home, says 
 she, and put the money into it, an it is 
 not payin a cent, an the morgage is goin 
 to be foreclosed. O, what shall I do, Mis 
 Julep, an what is to become of my little 
 childern? 
 
 Says I to her, says I Mis Tobey, if 
 it aint askin too much, did you invest your 
 
86 MINT JULEP 
 
 money in the Great Beruba Plantation 
 Company. Well, she jest bowed her 
 head sobbin and sobbin. 
 
 I thot so, says I, an I done the same 
 thing Mis Tobey an others have done the 
 same. I had quite a talk with her an I 
 told her not to feel so bad the Lord 
 will provide, says I there will be a way 
 to help you, you jest see if they dont. 
 I said a whole lot to that poor worried 
 woman to cheer her up a little an at last I 
 went home. 
 
 O it is terrible sad William because 
 you see she has all those childern to be 
 looked after. It is a hard problem, an I 
 am tryin to think of some way to help this 
 poor woman. 
 
 This is all from your lovin wife. 
 
 MINT. 
 
 P. i. 1. I shall let you know how this 
 all conies out. 
 
 WINTOP. 
 DEER WILLIAM 
 
 The blow has fallen. It is too sad fer 
 words, what I ve got to write. 
 
WIDOW TOBEY SWINDLED 87 
 
 There was a drizzlin rain to-day an 
 a cold east wind. I kep all the children 
 in cept Jimmy him I let out as he s 
 tuff an hardy. Well Jimmy hadent 
 been out long bfore he came runnin in 
 Ma says he, Mis Tobey an all the chil 
 dren are turned out. The furnitoor is 
 bein put on the street an they are all 
 cryin. 
 
 Well William I grabbed my shawl an 
 out I went, an I declare the sight would 
 have made the stones melt. Two big 
 husky fellows was emptyin that house into 
 the wet street, while clingin round their 
 mother was thet groop of weepin chil- 
 dern. 
 
 Mis Tobey looked like deth a holdin 
 the baby. 
 
 Mis Tobey, says I, will you do me a 
 favor, come right home with me, you an 
 the young ones an then I ll tell you what 
 it is. 
 
 She came with me meek enuff seems 
 as if she had lost all sperrit, an I got 
 em into my warm kitchen, an I told her 
 
88 MINT JULEP 
 
 to stay there while I went back a minute. 
 Then me an Jimmy jest ran to where the 
 furnitoor was bein put. 
 
 Says I to those husky villians says I 
 if I was a man I d learn you never to do 
 anything but clean work long as you lived. 
 
 Then me an Jimmy started right in 
 an we worked hard an carried that furni 
 toor, piece by piece into my cellar 
 beds an beddin cheers an tables, tin 
 pans an all. 
 
 They are all damp of course but when 
 a good dryin day comes along I shall 
 try an dry evry one of them. 
 
 There was not sech a orful lot of stuff 
 an Im a terrible fast worker when I get 
 agoin William, an pretty soon we had 
 it all in. The beddin I put upstairs. 
 Then I went into the kitchen. 
 
 Says I, Mis Tobey, I ve got evry bit 
 of your furnitoor, says I, an youll stay 
 right here for a spell. Wont it be nice, 
 says I, for the childern. I love a house 
 ful of childern, says I an a lot more. 
 Well William she looked at me kinder 
 
mournful. She has great big brown eyes 
 an there was dark circles under them. 
 
 Oh it is too much, Mis Julep says she, 
 too much, an with that William she took 
 sech a fit of coughin an her eyes looked 
 so queer that I was scart. Her hand felt 
 hot an I see she was a sick woman an 
 I put her right to bed lucky I have a 
 foldin bed made up warm and comfitta- 
 ble in my settin room. 
 
 Then I started in an I got up a feed 
 for 12 childern, my five and her seven, an 
 when they was stuffed full they all got 
 a playin nice as could be. Jimmy an 
 Mis Tobey s oldest girl, Bess, she s an 
 orful pretty girl of 12 or so, got em all 
 playin skule. 
 
 I xpect I ll have my hands full for 
 awhile, but I ll write you a little later an 
 tell you all about it. 
 
 Well, then I gave that darlin baby a 
 nice warm bottle of milk, an got it sleep- 
 in on a blanket in my cloes basket. I 
 jest love babies, there is somethin about 
 them that allus makes me want to git em 
 
90 MINT JULEP 
 
 close, seems sorter foolish when I have 
 five, an Ham an Eg are only toddlers, but 
 I jest cant help it, there never quite so 
 dear to a mother seems to me as when 
 they are jest little helpless babies. 
 This is all from your lovin, 
 
 MINT. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 MINT SHOULDERS THE WIDOW S 
 TROUBLES 
 
 U rr^AKE this, Mis Tobey, and you ll 
 
 feel better the baby is fine 
 
 he s just had his bottle an he s 
 
 out there in his basket singing hisself to 
 
 sleep, cute as can be." 
 
 Mint Julep was standing at the bedside 
 cf the neighbor she had befriended, with 
 a bowl of warm gruel in her hand, but 
 the sick woman shook her head feebly. 
 
 ; Thank you, dear Mrs. Julep, I hate 
 to bother you, but really I don t feel like 
 taking a thing this morning." 
 
 " A course you don t; sick folks never 
 do, but they d never git their strength 
 back an git well if they didn t take some 
 nourishment; now jest set up for two min 
 utes, there s a good woman, an* take this 
 91 
 
92 MINT JULEP 
 
 little bit o gruel, then you can have a 
 nice sleep." 
 
 " It makes me feel so badly to know 
 that I am here, a burden to you," began 
 the woman as she raised herself in the 
 bed. 
 
 " Tut, tut, Mis Tobey, I won t have any 
 sech talk, you an me are Christian women 
 an we ought to consider it a favor to help 
 each other. Why good lands! I believe 
 it was the Lord himself who sent me to 
 Wintop to give you a hand jest as he 
 sent the Samaritan of old to help that poor 
 man who fell among the thieves. 
 
 You an me an lots of other honest 
 men an women has fallen among the 
 thieves of that Beruba Plantation Co. 
 
 You was fleeced a little wuss than 
 the rest of us, an bein sick, you ain t 
 jest able to go on, but I m a goin to do 
 the same as that other Christian did. I m 
 a goin to do for you with my own hands 
 an you re a goin to stay in the inn until 
 you re able to go on with your journey, 
 that s all there is to it." The sick worn- 
 
THE WIDOW S TROUBLES 03 
 
 an s lips trembled, and she took the prof 
 fered gruel. 
 
 " God bless you, dear friend, you have 
 done a far greater thing than the Samar 
 itan of old. I spoke to Dr. Roy," she 
 went on, " but he doesn t say much about 
 my going to the hospital, and so I am 
 hoping that it is because he knows I will 
 be about in a day or two." 
 
 " A course it wouldn t be wuth while 
 to go to the hospital for a short spell," 
 said Mint, " you ll be up in no time. Why 
 I should be offul lonesome not to have 
 yer here, now that I ve got used ter yer, 
 taint a mite o bother an I jest love to 
 talk, if you jest rest an save yer strength, 
 you ll be out of that bed in no time." 
 
 Yes, I feel that I shall be up soon. 
 O, I must get out of this bed, Mis Julep, 
 think of those children and all I ought to 
 be doing for them." 
 
 " Well, the very best thing you can do 
 for em now is to stay right in bed to get 
 your strength back, then you an me will 
 plan some good way to start all over again. 
 
94 MINT JULEP 
 
 I m orful good at plannin , Mis Tobey, 
 things pop inter my head at jest the right 
 moment. A woman of resources is wot 
 the prefessor said of me onct an I feel 
 it s true. An I alms look on the bright 
 side. Why! If a mile o freight cars 
 came along loaded with trouble, an 
 dumped it all into my house, I d find a 
 way to git it out, sure as my name is Mint 
 Julep." 
 
 " I believe you would," said Mrs. To 
 bey, and a smile suddenly appeared on the 
 white lips that seemed to illumine her 
 whole countenance. She started to say 
 something, but a fit of coughing seized her 
 and she closed her eyes and lay back ex 
 hausted. Mrs. Julep drew the curtains 
 down and stole softly from the room, but 
 she had not been in the kitchen five min 
 utes when the woman called her. 
 
 " I m a comin ," said Mint, reappear 
 ing at the bedside, "I ve got a stew on, 
 an I jest went out to put in my rice. A 
 stew is cheap an fillin , orful good for 
 children, an not the least mite of bother 
 
to make, now Mis Tobey, wot was yer 
 goin ter say? " 
 
 " I was thinking, Mrs. Julep, that I 
 must do something very soon. Now I 
 know I ll never be strong enough to go 
 out working by the day, I couldn t do 
 washing and ironing and cleaning, but I 
 am a real good sewer. I love to sew." 
 
 " A course you do and it s the very 
 thing for you to do," said Mint, cheer 
 fully. " Naow, if I do say it, Mis Tobey, 
 I jest hate to sew. I sew cause I ve got 
 to, there aint nobody else to do it, but 
 there must be hundreds of women who 
 don t like sewing any more an me that 
 can afford to have somebody do it for em 
 and would be glad to pay a conscenshus 
 woman like you good wages. Yes, I 
 think plain sewin would be jest the 
 thing." 
 
 " But Oh Mrs. Julep, perhaps I would 
 n t get work all the time." 
 
 " Perhaps you wouldn t, taint likely 
 you will, but you can have a little store, 
 or somethin beside the sewin an you ve 
 
96 MINT JULEP 
 
 got Bess to give you a hand with the chil 
 dren, an my stars, you ll be jest as snug 
 as a bug, an I ll go an give you a hand 
 at the spring cleanin . Then mebbe you 
 could git a roomer or two. George is ten 
 and a smart boy, he can earn a dollar a 
 week, I ll bet a hoss. Why good land o 
 livin , when you git out o that bed, an 
 me an you put our heads together, they ll 
 be sech schemes to make money as would 
 make Mr. Vanderbilt set up an take no 
 tice an learn somethin to his advantage. 
 I d only been in the city workin for the 
 pref essor three months when, I declare, in 
 that time a dozen schemes to make a livin 
 came into my head. I member one day, 
 Mr. Graves, wot had a office over the pre- 
 fessor s, came in. He was the prefessor s 
 wife s cousin, a reel nice man, a bachelor, 
 alms jokin , an this day he came into the 
 prefessor s in a rush. I ve got a train to 
 catch, says he, ain t got time to go to the 
 tailor s and here s the sleeve of my coat all 
 ripped. I spoke up, says I, it won t take 
 
THE WIDOW S TROUBLES 97 
 
 me two minutes to mend that. An I got 
 my needle quick an set to work. * You re 
 a jewel, Araminta, says he, an wouldn t 
 it be nice if a feller like me had someone 
 to sew on buttons an do the mendin , says 
 he. * Why don t you git some one? says 
 I. * No one would have me, says he, now 
 would they? I wouldn t, says I, if this 
 is a proposal, an you wouldn t if you 
 knew a thing or two bout me. Well, he 
 rolled his eyes like a playactor. Great 
 heavings, says he, * Araminta, is it possi 
 ble you have a past? Five, says I, the 
 oldest is ten an the youngest jest walkin . 
 WeU, Mis Tobey, I thot that feller would 
 die a laffin, but I tell you wot it is the thot 
 came to me then an there, that a woman 
 handy with her needle could git mendin , 
 an pressin , an fixin for busy people in 
 those big buildings most any time." 
 
 " What a good plan that would be," 
 cried Mrs. Tobey. " Oh, I feel that I will 
 be able to get on nicely if I only get well," 
 and something of Mint Julep s faith got 
 
98 MINT JULEP 
 
 into the soul of the sick woman and a look 
 of hope came into her eyes that was good 
 to see. 
 
 " Yes, there are ever so many chances 
 in a big city," she continued, " but do you 
 know that ever since I have been sick, I 
 hate the city. I have wished many times 
 that I was back in the country, and I have 
 jest longed for the sight of green fields 
 and apple blossoms." 
 
 " Well, that s a perfectly natral feelin . 
 When one is away from home an ailin , 
 it s nice to live in God s country where 
 good things are free as air, an there ain t 
 no sign to keep off the grass, but I never 
 surmised you was from the country. I 
 allus kind o* put you down for a native 
 of Wintop." 
 
 " No indeed, I lived most of my life 
 in a little town in northern Vermont. I 
 taught school up there, years ago. John 
 was a teacher too, but he always had big 
 ideas of going to the city and getting into 
 business. He did real well too, when he 
 came to Wintop, and Oh, to think of what 
 
THE WIDOW S TROUBLES 99 
 
 I have done with John s hard earn 
 ings." 
 
 There, there. Don t you begin a fret- 
 tin bout it. It ll all come out right jest 
 see if it don t. You ll do well again, 
 p r aps better than you ever did in your 
 life ; mistakes are made by everybody, they 
 come jest to make us a bit wiser for the 
 next, and a bit kinder to the feller that s 
 bound to make em. You ll be all right, 
 Mis Tobey. Why, one of these days 
 you ll be takin a trip to your old home, 
 jest to see the folks for a nice visit." 
 
 There isn t one of my folks left, Mrs. 
 Julep, and John hadn t a relative in the 
 world, but I d like to see the place again. 
 It was very beautiful, and now that the 
 Spring days are coming, it makes me 
 think of the stretches of green country up 
 there and the smell of apple blossoms." 
 
 " Well, Mis Tobey, you jest get rested 
 an* well, an everything is comin out all 
 right. I feel it, and now I want you 
 should git a little sleep if you can. Molly 
 Burt said she was goin to read to you 
 
100 MINT JULEP 
 
 when she got home to-day, an that will 
 be reel nice, for her voice is low an soothin 
 an she s as cheerful to hev round as a 
 sunbeam in a empty garret." 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 THE LORD GIYETH AND THE LORD TAKETH 
 AWAY 
 
 DEER WILLIAM, 
 Miss Tobey had been sick in 
 Thanatopsis jest a week. The 
 doctor came evry day an at the last he 
 shuck his head an told me she could not 
 live. It was on a Friday night, William, 
 an all the children were in bed. He said 
 it jest outside in the entry but the ears of 
 the sick are sometimes terrible sharp an 
 she heard him, an when I went in there 
 was a reel peaceful look in her face as 
 she turned her big brown eyes on me. 
 It surprised me, cause all the week she 
 was most ravin sayin as how she must 
 git well, she must git up an work for her 
 childern. I had all I could do lots of 
 times to keep her in bed, a coaxin an 
 101 
 
102 MINT JULEP 
 
 pleadin with her to save her strength, till 
 she got well, when she could do a lot 
 more. O, I had to say a whole lot to 
 keep her easy. Well, when the doctor had 
 gone I went in an she smiles reel cam an 
 peaceful like. 
 
 Dear friend, says she, I heard wot the 
 doctor said an I m happy. I am ready to 
 go now. I had a dream this afternoon, 
 says she, an ever sense I have felt diff rent 
 about evrything. At first it was terrible 
 to be here sick an helpless and to think 
 of all I ought to be doin for my children. 
 Why this very afternoon, dear Mrs. Julep, 
 when you left me I was going over in my 
 mind all about planning to start again, 
 I guess I got excited. I tried so des 
 perate to get out of bed, well, I got half 
 way out an then I fell back exhausted 
 and I cried from rage and disappintment. 
 But the effort to get out of the bed made 
 me so tired that I fell into a sort of a 
 sleep. An then came the dream. It was 
 all green fields, an apple blossoms, an I 
 was walking through them happy and 
 
THE LORD GIVETH 103 
 
 smiling as a young girl and John (dear 
 John, he s only been dead a year) he 
 worked so hard for that house that he 
 was bent an gray before he went, but 
 in the dream he was not bent nor gray 
 nor worried, he was smiling and straight, 
 and seemed to be just waiting for me. 
 He was standing near a tree all blossoms, 
 and I kept walking toward him, nearer an 
 nearer till all at once I heard the baby 
 cry and I stopped. I cant come, John, 
 said I, the baby needs me. John never 
 said a word, he just looked over his head 
 and smiled at something and I looked an 
 saw a woman. Dear friend, it was like a 
 picture I saw once of the blessed Mother 
 of God. She had a little child in her arms 
 and floating all around her were butiful 
 children. Oh, I said, will you take care 1 
 of my baby, and all my little ones, and 
 at that she just smiled. It was like 
 heaven so peaceful and calm and holy; 
 but a great load was suddenly lifted from 
 my heart. I had no more doubts nor 
 longings, no more fears for my babies. 
 
104 MINT JULEP 
 
 I wanted to go and I m going. Oh, dear 
 Mrs. Julep, you have been so kind to me 
 and my little ones that God will bless you 
 and if there is such a thing, says she, that 
 I can help you when I am over there, I ll 
 do it, dear friend, says she. An now let 
 me see baby onct before I go to John, says 
 she. 
 
 I went out quiet, William, an I brot 
 in the baby. He is a dear little fellow, 
 an he was sound asleep, but do you know 
 that it seemed almost as if he knew what 
 I wanted. He opened his eyes an put up 
 his little chubby hands, an I took him up 
 close to my heart. I love him already as 
 if he was my own, an I brought him in, 
 an laid his little cheek next to hers. Oh, 
 William, I can never forget the look that 
 came into her eyes. 
 
 " My little baby," says she, over an over. 
 " My little, little baby." Then she kept 
 lookin as if somethin was right over the 
 foot of the bed an I took the baby gently 
 away an went out an cuddled him up in 
 the kitchen again, an went back an there 
 
THE LORD GIVETH 105 
 
 was Bess, the oldest girl, standin at the 
 door in her night gown. 
 
 "O, Mis Julep," says she, " I couldent 
 go to sleep for thinkin of mother. Is she 
 better?" 
 
 I couldent speak, William, seemed as if 
 I would choke if I did. I jest motioned 
 to the bed an Bess went over an stood 
 at the side. Her mother knew her an 
 smiled. 
 
 The dyin woman s lips were movin in 
 prayer, but all the time she kept lookin 
 hard at Bess. 
 
 I leaned over an I heard her say in 
 broken words, " Keep her, dear God, 
 Jesus, my Savior." 
 
 These were her last words. Her breath 
 came shorter an shorter, an her life went 
 out jest like a candle. 
 
 Bess threw herself across the foot of 
 the bed an sobbed as if her heart would 
 break. I put my hands together, Wil 
 liam, an prayed as well as I knew how, 
 an I am still prayin whenever I think 
 of that pure spirit that tried an suffered 
 
106 MINT JULEP 
 
 an did so much for her children. O, 
 dear God of pity an love, look down on 
 her little ones an show me the way to do 
 what is best for each an all of them. 
 
 MINT JULEP. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 THE WIDOW S MITES 
 
 DEEE WILLIAM, 
 The funeral is over. Thanks to 
 Molly Burt, poor Mis Tobey was 
 laid beside her husband. 
 
 I had been in kind of hard straits for 
 money, as the expenses was a good deal. 
 I pawned the lamp that the pref essor gave 
 us for a weddin present, an I sold all my 
 hens but five, then Molly Burt did the 
 rest an helped me out. She could not do 
 as much as she would have liked cause, 
 you see her money is all tied up some way, 
 but she is the soul of generosity an all 
 I can say is I could have done nothin 
 without her. Well, now I have got Mis 
 Toby s belongins to settle about. 
 
 The furnitoor I am a goin to dust an 
 clean, an have an auction right on my front 
 107 
 
108 MINT JULEP 
 
 lawn. There s lots o useful things an the 
 money is needed orful bad. 
 
 The children we shall decide about later. 
 I spoke to Mis McPeak about takin one. 
 
 There s a little girl, named Jennie. 
 She s orful cute, all curls an dimples, an 
 Mis McPeak is jest crazy to adopt her 
 but she s afraid that Scotty won t let her. 
 I says to her, dont ask him at all, jest 
 take her, says I. 
 
 Mis McPeak says, she dassent do that. 
 I never see a woman that stands in sech 
 fear of what her husband will do or say, 
 but she says if she goes kinder on the 
 quiet about it, praps she can take her. 
 At any rate I send Jennie over there 
 evry day and it would do you good to see 
 Mis McPeak curlin her hair an fixin her 
 up pretty. The little thing was kind of 
 shy of McPeak at first, but now she runs 
 an opens the door when she sees him, 
 cryin out, Totty tomin, Totty tomin. 
 Well, it kinder tickles McPeak, an the 
 other night when she was sittin up at 
 the table with them she fell fast asleep 
 
over her bowl of bread an milk, an when 
 Mis McPeak got up an offered to carry 
 her home to me, Scotty spoke up an says 
 bide a wee, says he, Miss Julep has her 
 hands full. Let her stay the night, said 
 McPeak. Jennie said she was all of a 
 tremble with jest joy. She had a little 
 baby onct many years ago, but she died 
 an I can see that Jennie McPeak s heart 
 is jest achin for that little motherless tot. 
 O it would be so nice if they would adopt 
 it. 
 
 McPeak is a stiddy, hard workin man, 
 gittin good wages an more than that they 
 are terrible thrifty, what with her roomers 
 an all, Jennie saves a lot of money, little 
 Jennie Tobey would have a good home an 
 Christian parents. O, I am jest hopin an 
 prayin that this may be. 
 
 MINT JULEP. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 " A NOVEL PLAN FOR DISPOSING OF 
 BABIES " 
 
 DEER WILLIAM, 
 Sech a wonderful thing has hap 
 pened. A novel plan for disposin 
 of babies is wot Molly Burt called it. 
 Well, me an Molly Burt put our heads 
 together to see what we could do with all 
 those children. First of all, I must tell 
 you that the McPeaks have legally 
 adopted little Jennie Tobey, they are goin 
 to call her Tobey McPeak because as 
 McPeak said she had a good father an 
 mother an ought to be reminded of it 
 some way. McPeak is a wise man an 
 just gruff at times an not much for non 
 sense an he s orful close but for all that 
 the more I see of him the better I like him. 
 Well, Molly Burt is goin to take Bess 
 110 
 
A NOVEL PLAN 111 
 
 Tobey, but she wants me to keep Bess 
 until Molly herself is 21. She loves Bess, 
 she says she never had a sister and always 
 longed for one. She just loves that baby 
 too. She said she wished she could smug 
 gle him along too, but bless you young 
 gals don t know nothin bout babies. 
 One day when Molly was holdin of him, 
 same as if he was a glass vase an might 
 break, he started to holla an I thought 
 I d die a laffin , 
 
 " Oh, Mis Julep, quick, take him quick, 
 please take him," says Molly, " I think 
 he is goin to choke." 
 
 Well, Bess and Jennie were provided 
 for but they was five more, an one night 
 when we was talkin it over an sayin as 
 how there must be lots of folks in the 
 world that could love an take care of 
 such nice children, I had a insperration. 
 I told it to Molly an she went a purpose 
 an told it next day to Mr. Jeremiah Sto 
 rey, and a few days after, this notice was 
 put in a big newspaper. 
 
112 MINT JULEP 
 
 Wanted. Any honest, Christian woman 
 of means who likes children and has none, 
 will learn of something to her advantage 
 by calling at Thanatopsis Cottage, Grass 
 hopper Lane, Wintop, Mass., on next 
 Tuesday afternoon at 3 o clock. 
 
 We put the word " Wanted " in orful 
 big letters. Mr. Jeremiah said the ladies 
 were always wanting something, and that 
 word would catch their eye. 
 
 Well William Julep such a time as we 
 had. It was like a show, and best of all 
 it brought me my old friend, but wait, 
 I ll git to that. 
 
 In the mornin the hull tribe of kids 
 were playin in the dirt on my back steps 
 makin mud pies, nice as could be. I 
 guess that more dirt got into those chil 
 dren than into my steps, but that never 
 bothers me, some wise man said onct, you 
 cant raise chickens or children without 
 dirt, an I believe it. I keep mine warm 
 an dry, feed em just as well as I can, 
 lots of milk an eggs an broth, then I 
 
A NOVEL PLAN 113 
 
 let em play in dirt from Monday mornin 
 till Sateday night, when they are put in 
 the tub an scrubbed individule & Collective, 
 an I dont believe their is any healthier 
 childern in the state than mine. Well, I 
 had dinner early, an then I scrubbed an 
 scoured them children inside an out, an 
 made them look just as sweet an fresh 
 as I could. I dont know what I would 
 have done but for that sweet girl Molly 
 Burt a helpin me, an I set the children up 
 in a row in my settin room, and pretty soon 
 the bell rings an I went to the door and 
 William there stood my old friend, Bella 
 Ball, in a sweepin silk an parasol to 
 match, a hat big as a canopy an sech 
 hair. She looked perfectly bewtiful. 
 Well we jest hugged an kissed each 
 other. I alms did like Bella an the 
 strange part of it all was she never knew 
 I was Mis Julep. You see she came to 
 Farnham on a visit when the twins was 
 born an named em an after that we 
 kinder lost track of each other, but I told 
 you onct that she did not marry a Farn- 
 
114 MINT JULEP 
 
 ham boy. She married Henery Ball, who 
 came onct to Farnham on his summer va 
 cation, an tenny rate it seems he is in 
 the soap grease business in Chelsea, an 
 they own their own home an are reel well 
 off. The only thing Bella lacks for in 
 this world she says is a family. She 
 wanted one, an Henery Ball wanted one 
 orfully but they never had one and then 
 she sees that notice in the paper and she 
 gets intrusted right away and comes over 
 to Wintop, never xpectin to see her old 
 friend, Araminta Backup, that was fust 
 of all, Allum later an Mint Julep that is. 
 Well, sayse I, Bella, take your choice, 
 I d rather you d have one than most any 
 body, and I told her the whole sad story 
 of the Tobeys, but while I was a talkin 
 to Bella, the bell rang again and a lot 
 of women, some old, some young, some 
 sweet, an some sour was on the porch of 
 my house, an I welcomed them in an 
 when I gets them all inside we was so 
 crowded that some had to stand in the 
 entry way. 
 
A NOVEL PLAN 115 
 
 I stood on a little hassock in the middle 
 of the room an talked to them in a reel 
 business like way. 
 
 A course, says I, who ever wants to 
 adopt one of these childern will have to 
 have references an be willin for Mr. Jer 
 emiah Storey, the lawyer, to look them up. 
 Then I held up that darlin baby, Johnny 
 Tobey. 
 
 Here, says I, is a sweet blue-eyed baby 
 boy, healthy an good natured. Who 
 would like the dearest thing under 
 Heaven, says I, jest for the keepin, dont 
 all speak at onct, come rite up. 
 
 Well William you would think they 
 was all struck dumb, no one moved an 
 that made me mad. 
 
 Praps, says I, some of you has a puff 
 poodle at hum, that you wash an sun an 
 stuff an take out for a airin, he ll swell 
 up an bust some day an that will be the 
 end of him, but here, says I, is a little hu 
 man soul that God made for love. There 
 is good in evry human born into this 
 world but its got to be developed some 
 
116 MINT JULEP 
 
 an brought out an nothin will bring it out 
 like jest love. Now there is no knowin 
 wot that little baby may become but you 
 wont git Johnny Tobey not one of yer I 
 will keep him myself. 
 
 Well with that Bella comes up an whis 
 pers, O, Araminta, says she, I want him, 
 I would just love to have him, but I was 
 thinkin I would like to have Henery here. 
 And I want the little girl with the red 
 curls, says Bella, (thats little Margaret 
 Toby) keep em both Araminta, an I m 
 goin straight out an tellephune for Hen 
 ery to come right over here. 
 
 Well I was orful pleased at that and 
 then a reel sweet faced woman dressed 
 in black came up an said she would like 
 to talk with little Freddie. He is a hand 
 some little chap jest 4 an I told her to take 
 him out in my back yard an show him the 
 hens an she would git him talkin reel cute 
 an natral, an Freddie put his little hand 
 in hers an went with her nice as could be 
 an bime by she came back her eyes all wet 
 from weepin. 
 
A NOVEL PLAN 117 
 
 I had a dear little fellow once, says she, 
 jest like Freddie but I guess God wanted 
 him more than I did. Theres a big room 
 at home jest filled with his pretty toys an 
 a lonesome shaggy dog that watches them 
 evry day. I thot I never could do it, she 
 said, but there s a look about Freddie. I d 
 like to take him home with me an see how 
 the toys like him. If the shaggy dog 
 thinks it is all right I guess may be it is. 
 
 I felt a lump in my throat all the time 
 she was talkin William. It was jest as if I 
 had looked inside a little corner of a moth 
 er s heart an found it all bruised an achin 
 an longin. She slipped me a card with 
 her name and address on it. She s a Mrs. 
 Davis an a reel lady an best of all Mr. 
 Jeremiah knows all about her. He sent 
 her to us. I feel so happy. What a 
 great thing for that little child if he gits 
 a mother an home like this an as for that 
 sweet woman who knows but what that lit 
 tie orphan boy may do much toward heal 
 ing a poor broken heart. Oh, I know 
 dear Mis Tobey is pleased to-day an I 
 
118 MINT JULEP 
 
 thank the dear God for this favor. 
 
 Dr. Roy, who attended Mis Tobey 
 wants the boy. He is goin to take George 
 Tobey, who is ten an educate him an 
 George can do little chores for he s a big 
 strong boy. 
 
 Well then, there was only little Bud left. 
 She is a little gal of 7, with a face like an 
 angel but she s lame, and nobody wanted 
 the little lame chicken. I would not put 
 her up to talk about, William, I jest 
 couldent. I called her to me across the 
 room so thet they would all see she was 
 lame, an then I put my arm around her 
 and I said I guess I cant let Bud go, I 
 want her myself. Nobody offered to take 
 Bud so I hugged her close. I only have 
 one little gal, Bud, says I, an she s a fly 
 away, an rough as a boy. I want you to 
 be my little gal too, and see if Mamie 
 wont git to be sweet an gentle like you. 
 Well William she jest hid her face in my 
 dress. Oh, Mis Julep, says she, I d like 
 to stay here with you. And here she stays 
 William long as the dear Lords wants I 
 
A NOVEL PLAN 119 
 
 should keep her. She ll git what mine git 
 an better if I can do it, an when the day 
 comes that I shall have to render a account 
 of my stewardship I shall say I did the 
 best I knew how. 
 
 This is the whole story from 
 iYour lovin wife, 
 
 AEAMINTA JULEP. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 LOST, A Due AND OLD CURIOSITY SHOP 
 
 Dire WILLIAM : 
 Every thing is goin along reel 
 nice here. The children are well an 
 Molly; Burt seems happy an contented 
 now. 
 
 Last night I was sewing, all the children 
 cept Bess an Jimmy was in bed. Bess 
 was helpin me, she s orful handy with her 
 needle, an that oldest boy of ourn was 
 readin. 
 
 He s pesessed lately to read. I sent him 
 up stairs one day to clean up his room, an 
 after waitin an waitin for him to git 
 through an come down, I tip-toed up stairs 
 to see what was keepin him so long. 
 
 Well I never made a sound an I opened 
 the door quick an peeked in, an there was 
 120 
 
LOST, A DUG 121 
 
 Jimmy on his stummick with a book under 
 his nose. 
 
 I thot at fust he was eatin it, an I dont 
 know as it would have surprised me much 
 if he was, for boys eat most any old thing 1 , 
 an my Jimmy has a stummick that could 
 digest hoss nails. Talk about devourin a 
 book, thats jest wot Jimmy was doin. 
 
 I let a ofFul loud coif, that made Jimmy 
 jump. He was terrible supprised at see- 
 in me, Wots it about, Jimmy says I, an 
 is it as good as all that. 
 
 Mother says Jimmy, its great, they have 
 got the slooth into a hut an theres three 
 hundred Injuns guardin it, but he sees a 
 way out. 
 
 Says I you had best see a way out of 
 here to do your chores quick Jimmy, or 
 I ll be wuss nor those three hundred In 
 juns, says I. 
 
 I told Molly Burt about it, an she laffed 
 an said he was jest at the age where his 
 taste for readin is being formed. 
 
 She s offul kind, she had a reel nice talk 
 
122 MINT JULEP 
 
 with Jimmy an she let him take a book, an 
 she says now Jimmy, I want you to read it 
 an tell me honestly how you like it. An 
 Jimmy did, an the very next day he says 
 dont yer read it Miss Burt, says he, theres 
 nothin doin. 
 
 Well Molly laffed an laffed. Then she 
 let him take another. Its about the Cru 
 saders, she told him a lot about them, an 
 Jimmy liked it reel well, an when he fin 
 ished it she got him another. 
 
 Well wot I started to say at the begin- 
 nin of this letter was that the night that 
 Bess an I was sewin, an Jimmy readin, 
 Molly Burt came in an sot an we got talkin 
 about books. Molly jest loves to read. 
 
 I told her that Bella Ball was jest plumb 
 crazy, when we was gals, about readin 
 books. Bella was allus coaxin me to read 
 books that she did, but I never could git 
 intrusted in em. They was allus too long 
 gittin married to suit me. 
 
 But that Bella Ball, how she would weep 
 over them gals in the story books. I mem 
 ber onct Bella jest begged me to read a 
 
LOST, A DUG 123 
 
 book that had set her weepin for a week. 
 
 The name of it was Lost a Due or 
 Weddin the Wrong Man. Well Bella 
 cried a bucketful over that book, an at last 
 I give in to her pleadin an read it, an I 
 never shed one weep over it. I was mad 
 clean through over that book, thats what I 
 was. Says I to Bella taint strange says I 
 that the Lady Gwendolin married the 
 wrong man says I, wot surprises me is 
 that a female like her could git any man 
 rite or wrong to marry her. 
 
 O, Araminta, says Bella, have you no 
 sole. I have says I, two of them, an I d 
 take em both, fust one an then the other, 
 an boot the Due De-Swamp-Flees outer 
 Farnham. 
 
 More n that says I, I d take the Lady 
 Gwendolin an put her into a asslum for 
 the feeble minded, says I. 
 
 That was the only book I ever read all 
 through, and I didnt quite finish that but 
 Bella told me stories she had read an I will 
 say some of them warnt half bad. 
 
 Orful romancin gal was Bella. I ll 
 
MINT JULEP 
 
 never forgit one Hollow Eve night, Bella 
 an me went to a barn dance. 
 
 We ducked for apples an played games, 
 an we had a reel good time an that night 
 on the way home, me an Bella agreed to go 
 upstairs backward an git inter bed back 
 ward an do a lot of things upside down 
 to see if we would dream of our future 
 husbend. 
 
 Well I did dream that night. I have 
 never dreamt much in my life, an when I 
 do, its perfeckly ridicalus. That night I 
 was chasin naked savages all over Farn- 
 ham. Perfeck nightmare thats what it 
 was, an no wonder, for Bella an me had et 
 a whole mince pie fore we went to bed. 
 
 Well the very next day Bella ran in to 
 me breathless, O Araminta says she, sech a 
 dream as I had says she, an she acktually 
 groned, was it your future husbend says 
 I, I m not sure says Bella scairt like, I 
 dreamt of a man but O Araminta says 
 she, he looked like the devil, orful dark 
 with a mustarch that pointed upwards. 
 
 Bella says I, if you marry one of them 
 
LOST, A DUG 125 
 
 f urriners, we part friendship forever says 
 I. Well I told all this to Molly an we 
 had sech a good time laffin about books, an 
 bime-by Molly took out a book, this is one 
 of my favorites says she ; its so good an it 
 has give me so much pleasure that I d like 
 to share it with the whole world says she. 
 
 Share it with us Molly, says I, tell us 
 about it, or whats better still says I, read 
 a little, that is if you dont mind. 
 
 I d love to says Molly an I m sure you 
 will enjoy it. 
 
 Well William, Molly has a voice sweet 
 an low an clear as a bell, its a reel pleas 
 ure to lissen to her readin, it was as if you 
 was rite there with the pusson in the book 
 an seein every thing yourself. An the 
 book was diffrent from anything I ever 
 heard tell of, or anything Bella Ball ever 
 read. 
 
 The name of the book was the Old Curi 
 osity Shop. Even Jimmy an Bess got in 
 terested in a dear little creature that they 
 called Little Nell, an the way she f ollered 
 her old grandpa round, a watchin of him, 
 
126 MINT JULEP 
 
 an guardin him an tryin to protect him, an 
 she nothin but a child herself. 
 
 Well William it was wonderful and kin 
 der sad, there was other karacters in that 
 book that was reel funny an made us all 
 laff. 
 
 One was a little crooked man named 
 Danel Quilp thet I think was pesessed 
 of seven evil sperrits, he was a queer chap, 
 an O William Danel was missin fer a few 
 days an some men came to git a descrip 
 tion of him from his mother in law an 
 I ll never forgit it, for Danel came in an 
 was hidin behind the door an heard every 
 word his mother in law said to those men 
 about him. William Julep I never laff ed 
 so much in my life, I laffed so hard that 
 Molly had to stop an lafF too. 
 
 I never knew they had sech nateral goins 
 on in books as was here. Some how they 
 are so reel, that you never think of em 
 as bein in books, seem as if they was old 
 friends an might walk in any minnit an 
 set awhile. 
 
 Well we made Molly promise that she 
 
LOST, A DUG 127 
 
 would read some every night till the story 
 was finished, an Molly was jest ticklled 
 to do so. She told us about some other 
 books by the same man as wrote Little 
 Nell, Molly says they are the best books 
 ever written an she wants Bess an Jimmy 
 to read every one of them. 
 
 She knows a heep about books an has 
 wot the perf esser would call a highly cul- 
 tered mind. Molly says the greatest one 
 of all the books this man rote, is called 
 David Copperfield, an she is goin ter start 
 it fer me by readin it aloud an then she 
 says I ll finish it myself. 
 
 Well William its offul nice an cosy here 
 an I wish you was at home to enjoy it 
 all. It would make yer heart glad to see 
 Molly an Bess, with their arms around 
 each other, jest like two lovin sisters. 
 
 Molly is so sweet an lady like that I 
 cant help thinkin every time I see em to 
 gether, if Bess is like that pure, sweet gal, 
 her dear mother in Heaven must be smilin 
 an happy, 
 
 YOUE LOVIN MINT. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 WILLIAM S PAR AND MAR ARRIVE 
 
 DEARIST WILLIAM 
 Sech a surprise as I have fer 
 you, but yisterday I was peelin my 
 pertatoes fer dinner when Ham an Eg 
 walked inter the kitchin, leadin a nice ap- 
 pearin couple, gent an lady. The gent 
 put down his carpet bag on the floor an 
 says to me reel smilin, misses William 
 Julep low me to introdooce mister an 
 misses Tom Julep of Little Acres. 
 
 Yes William as I live, your par an mar ; 
 fust time they had ben away in 20 year. 
 An they never knew you was out in the 
 Rockies, which was wrong of you William 
 never to have writ a line to your folks. 
 
 You orter pray William to overcome 
 
 thet terrible f ailin of yourn of not talkin 
 
 or writin if you did you would never 
 
 go away from home an not write a line 
 
 128 
 
PAR AND MAR ARRIVE 129 
 
 to the best friends a man can ever own this 
 side of heaven. 
 
 Well William there was your par an 
 mar a standin there, an Jimmy an Mamie 
 an Tommy an Ham an Eg an Bess an 
 Bud a standin there waitin for devilope- 
 ments an I felt that pleesed I jumped up 
 an I grabbed the childern an I said wel 
 come, welcome, welcome to Thanatopsis an 
 then an there we jest played ring around 
 arosy, with par an mar an the carpet bag 
 in the middle. Your par laffed an laffed, 
 he enjoyed it I could see, but your mar 
 got nervous when Ham an Eg fit like imps 
 on the bag, to see who was goin to open it. 
 
 Well here they be an here I m agoin 
 to make them stay f er a spell an I want 
 you should write them a nice letter an 
 give them word there welcome to Thana 
 topsis. I have jest had an idee, I will 
 write the letter cause you cant, William, 
 an inclose it in this one then you send it 
 direck to your folks from the Rockies an 
 this will pleese your lovin wife 
 
 MINT JULEP. 
 
130 MINT JULEP, 
 
 P. I. L. 
 
 I should talk William if I bed to talk 
 to myself, an if you done sech a thing I 
 dont know thet you could be talkin to a 
 better man. 
 
 I wish you was comin home William, 
 we are all jest pinein to see you. 
 
 Mint. 
 
 Wintop. 
 MY DEER HUSBEND 
 
 I now take pen in hand to remind you 
 of the felicitudes of life. I bed a tela- 
 graph today from Farnham thet contained 
 sad news. William you d never guess 
 what was in thet telagraph life is made 
 up of losses an crosses an when they come 
 we got to take them. 
 
 You an me cant go slidin down the hill 
 of life without gettin some bumps Wil 
 liam Julep we ve jest bed a bump. 
 
 You an me is no diffrent from the rest 
 of creation I onct heard Mister God 
 win say thet life is how ,we take it an I 
 know now thet he meens how we take 
 losses an crosses. 
 
PAR AND MAR ARRIVE 131 
 
 William you must make up your mind 
 to beer up like a man, an dont forgit thet 
 whot ever happens you ve got your Mint 
 Julep an the childern, but if the Good 
 Lord should see fit in his all wiseness to 
 call me to my reward I ll go, not thet 
 I expect much William but I do expect 
 more than Luther Day thet uster sell coal 
 in Farnham an was up before the orthor- 
 ities more than onct f er givin short weight. 
 
 When Luther died I ll never forgit 
 what mister Godwin said, says he, our 
 brother has gone to his reward says he, 
 well I kept a thinkin of them words Wil 
 liam Gone to his reward says I, an he 
 sold coal an sold it short. The ways of 
 Providence is far seein William, Luther 
 was given his chanct in this world to see 
 what he d do with coal He was short 
 I dont beleive he ll ever be short on coal in 
 the next. 
 
 But as I was sayin William if I should 
 pass to my reward, I wouldent expect you 
 to mope around here without a wife, you 
 need a woman more than the avrage Wil- 
 
132 MINT JULEP 
 
 Ham You are one of them critters what 
 takes what ever is handy but you dont 
 never reech out, you need a wife to reech 
 out fer you. 
 
 I have been reechin out all my life fer 
 some one an when I git on the other side 
 I expect I ll have to reech out an help 
 some one over. 
 
 I dont beleeve I d ever leeve the selec- 
 shen of a female to you William, I should 
 want to see her an git her broken in before 
 I went. 
 
 I ve set my heart on it thet Tommy 
 should be a moosichen as you know, an 
 Jimmy somethin ekally as good. I hev 
 changed my mind about Jimmys bein a 
 orrater. He does hate to hear hisself talk 
 an orraters dont hev thet f ailin. A good 
 medisin docter wouldent be bad fer 
 Jimmy, half the folks you meet are allus 
 ailin an the other half thinks they have 
 ailins so them medisin fellers git all they 
 want to do. 
 
 An they dont hev to talk much either - 
 
PAR AND MAR ARRIVE 133 
 
 most of them jest set up an look wise an 
 send a bill. Pa says a boss-doctor aint 
 bad neither. 
 
 I expect Mamie will hustle all her life 
 same as me. She s jest like me ceptin fer 
 the tack, which she cant seem to git in 
 her. 
 
 Regardin the twins well Ham an Eg is 
 most too young to think of settin them up 
 in bisness, but I shouldent be surprised if 
 they d turn out painters or the like for 
 twas only yisterday thet they made a 
 border of little round holes on the kitchin 
 wall with nuthin but there naked fists an 
 molasses, t warnt tidy as your mar said, 
 but as I said it was reel cute an showed a 
 desinein mind. 
 
 But Hirams wife is dead an gone Wil 
 liam (Peggy Barnes that was) an a good 
 woman she was too though she was pes- 
 sessed to git her beans too salty, an she died 
 of a Tuesday an will be berried of a Fri 
 day. Par an Mar will mind the childern 
 while I go to Farnham, poor Hiram I do 
 
134 MINT JULEP 
 
 pitty him alone. It isent good fer man 
 to live alone William, the Good Book says 
 so. 
 
 Your sorrowin an greevin 
 
 AEAMINTA JULEP. 
 P. I. L. 
 
 It hes jest come to me that it is fittin 
 you should write a letter to Hiram consolin 
 him in this our of his bereevement. 
 
 I dont dast trust you to do it, so I shall 
 hev to write it inclose it with this an you 
 send it direck from the Rockies to 
 
 Mister Hiram Cuckoo Backup 
 Farnham. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 MOVING THE HENS TO CHELSEA 
 
 DEER WILLIAM, 
 There are some folks in this 
 world thet may have their use, but 
 its orful hard for others to figger out jest 
 what tis. 
 
 There s a cantankerous single man, wot 
 has a impedelment in his speech, roomin 
 at McPeaks. His name is Rorer, Benja 
 min Rorer. The McPeaks don t care 
 much about him, cause he s allus behind 
 in his rent. Well William it seems he 
 has made objections to my hens he said 
 the rooster crowed too loud an too early, 
 an he was loosin his sleep, an a whole lot 
 more. Did you ever hear of anything so 
 ridicalous. 
 
 I have allus felt proud of Dick He s 
 better than any alarm clock in the town, 
 135 
 
136 MINT JULEP 
 
 cause you dont never have to wind him 
 up, he s sot for four o clock for life. 
 
 Well tenny rate, I got word from the 
 authortees last week that I must part with 
 my hens. I never was so surprised in 
 my life. I felt bad an Mrs. McPeak felt 
 bad cause I often give her a fresh egg. 
 
 Your Par was mad as a hornet about 
 it, an when the Board o Health man came 
 round next day, Par said a whole lot to 
 him. Why ! says Par wots a few hens 
 I was goin ter buy a caf for Tommy there, 
 an ding me ef I dont. You better not, 
 says the health man, this aint the country, 
 you know, an you ll git inter all sorts of 
 trouble. Well after he went away Par 
 jest raved not git a calf if I want one, 
 says Par. 
 
 " Things has come to the purtiest pass 
 the world has ever sawn, ef an old duff 
 cant let a caf, chaw grass on his own front 
 lawn!" 
 
 But to git to the hens Scotty 
 McPeak who is terrible shrude an long 
 hedded, told me to send the hens away 
 
MOVING THE HENS 137 
 
 for awhile an lay low, an then bime-by 
 bring 1 em back. He xplained as how I 
 could worry out this Rorer till he quit his 
 complaints. 
 
 Well I dident know jest what to do 
 about sendin em away for awhile, taint 
 as tho you could send five hens an a rooster 
 visitin , not but what they d pay their 
 way. 
 
 However I hated to part with my hens, 
 an at last I thot of a scheme. There was 
 Bella Ball in Chelsea. Bella was from 
 Farnham, I argeyed, an as sech was allus 
 used to hens, an Farnham folks was allus 
 accommodatin , moreover Bella had bor 
 rowed off me as a gal, every thing I 
 owned cept my skin; why I ll never for- 
 git onct she borrowed my stays to wear 
 to a huskin ; I had to fill out some way 
 so I got some stiff paper an made a sort 
 of emergency stays that answered the 
 purpose all right as far as the looks went, 
 but every time I danced that paper made 
 an orful noise, an onct when Hicks Bos- 
 worth was swingin he says rite out 
 
138 MINT JULEP 
 
 " I allus thot you was thin, Mint, but I 
 never heerd yer bones rattle before." 
 
 Bella was balancin us on the opposite 
 corner, an she said she thot she d die a 
 laffin. 
 
 But to git to the hens agin, I felt that 
 Bella would help me out, an besides I 
 wanted to see the Tobey children, Johnny 
 an Margaret, so I d kill two birds with 
 one stun, git the hens over outer harms 
 way, an pay a visit all to onct. 
 
 Them health men gave us three days 
 to git rid of the hens, an on the third 
 mornin I put on my black dress an my 
 cashmere shawl, an we started, me an Par 
 an Jimmy. 
 
 Par an Jimmy had baskets with two 
 hens in each, but we couldent raise another 
 basket nowhere, so I tuck Dick right un 
 der one arm, an the brown pullet under 
 the other. 
 
 I knew my shawl would hide em so 
 that no one in the car would be a bit the 
 wiser. 
 
 Well Par had a little argyment with 
 
MOVING THE HENS 139 
 
 the cornducter when we was gettin on, 
 bout the baskits, but Par assured him that 
 they was well behaved poultry, an would- 
 ent cause no annoyance, but he insisted 
 on Pa s leavin the baskits outside ; so tenny 
 rate on we got, an Jimmy got right in the 
 farthest corner, then Par, an then me. 
 
 Now I dont never look much at folks 
 in a car, taint perlite, but direct oppsite 
 sat two Hebrew gents, an If I do say 
 it one of them was terrible cross-eyed. 
 They was talkin hard at each other in 
 a furrin tongue, seemed like they was 
 havin a seerius argyment, an all the time 
 their hands was agoin backard an f orrard, 
 then they d git their faces orful close, 
 noses most touchin an then they d back 
 out agin. Well I got so intrusted watch- 
 in them two, I never noticed right next 
 to em sot a laborin man; he had on blue 
 jeans stuffed inter his boots all spattered 
 with white stuff, looked like he was a plas 
 terer, an he wore a soft felt hat pulled 
 down over his eyes. He was sprawled 
 out dozin quiet an cam, till all to onct I 
 
140 MINT JULEP 
 
 see him give a start an he sot right up 
 starin at somethin on me ! 
 
 I looked down, an there was Dick pokin 
 his head out from under my shawl a little 
 way, an lookin right over at that man, 
 cute as could be. But I ll never for git it, 
 all in a suddent, that man in the blue 
 jeans had riz a foot in the air, an was 
 makin hot for the rear door. 
 
 He staggered orful, squeelin snakes! 
 lemme go leme go, men hollered, an 
 a stout lady near the door fainted ded 
 away. 
 
 It was so dredful suddint, I forgot I 
 had a hen an rooster tucked under my 
 arms, an fore I knew it, Dick was chasin 
 the brown hen through the car. Every 
 body had riz up an was sassin every one 
 else. Onct I see Dick light on the He 
 brew gents Derby, an onct I see Par on 
 all fours tryin to git him. 
 
 Agin I see Dick slidin down the He 
 brew s front, while that poor laborin man 
 at the door, cried like a child. 
 
 Then a short haired lady with a man s 
 
MOVING THE HENS 141 
 
 shirt boosom on, riz up an tried to hit 
 Dick with her umbrel; I couldent stand 
 fer that, I jest sassed her, Says I he s 
 mine, I ll git him an dont you dast tech 
 him. 
 
 With that I grabbed my skirts up, 
 which made em all holler wuss, an then 
 an there, if I do say it William, for jest 
 two minutes Mint Julep ran amick 
 through that car. 
 
 I never heard so many profane lan 
 guages in all my life, but when I gits 
 through I had Dick by the legs, while the 
 brown hen was restin on the Hebrews 
 front. 
 
 The other Hebrew was f annin a stout 
 lady with a little card; he was reel kind 
 an he kept a sayin to her, its nodding 
 lady, roosters do dem tings some dimes. 
 Nice of him, war nt it. 
 
 A big fat man settin next to the short 
 haired lady, most had hystericks; he was 
 wipin his face an shakin tremenjus, an 
 tears was streamin down his face, he was 
 so wrot up. The whole circumstance was 
 
142 MINT JULEP 
 
 puffectly orful while it lasted, an when 
 I sot down pantin I see strong men 
 shakin with fear. 
 
 The cornducter was furus, onct he 
 shook his fist at me an was cussin like 
 time; but then they stopped the car an 
 the laborin man was took off. A blond 
 lady who was chewin gum, was tellin 
 every one they could nt fool her, she said 
 twas plain as day that man had the hor- 
 rers. 
 
 Well when all was quiet agin an I had 
 Dick an the hen under my arm, as every 
 one knew I had a hen an rooster, I jest 
 put them boldly outside my shawl to git 
 the air an all to once Dick crowed rite 
 out spunky as could be. Every body 
 laffed fit to die, cept the lady wot had 
 the short hair an a mans boosom ; she shiv 
 ered; I bet she jest despises to see a 
 rooster. I have a orful lot of respect for 
 Dick, he blows his trumpit the best he 
 knows how, an he wants the whole world 
 to hear it. 
 
 Well after I d been settin a while I 
 
MOVING THE HENS 143 
 
 see the Hebrew gent wot caught the 
 brown hen was lookin over reel pleasant, 
 only as he was crosseyed I couldent tell 
 whether it was at me or Dick or the brown 
 hen; at last he leans way over an says to 
 me 
 
 How much you sell him for? 
 
 That s a hen says I, thinkin he was 
 lookin at it. 
 
 Veil how much you sell him for, what 
 you take for the two? 
 
 How s that says Par, scentin a trade 
 right away, want ter buy poltry mister, 
 I have two baskits outside. 
 
 Well I dunno, how much for the bunch, 
 says the Hebrew. 
 
 Then I spoke up, Mister says I, they 
 aint fer sale, I am jest takin them to a 
 friend fer a visit, says I. 
 
 So-o says he, an then he pulls out a 
 little card an handed it to Par; if you 
 change your mindt says he, let me 
 know. 
 
 On the card it said in big letters writ 
 nice and plain like this it said : 
 
144 MINT JULEP 
 
 Israel Sink 
 
 Junk- 
 
 Blosson Court. 
 
 Well t last we got to Bella s street 
 an that cornducter was sayin terrible un- 
 compliment things bout us all the way 
 out; we did nt take no notice but jest 
 walked right down to the house an rang 
 the bell, an who should come to the door 
 but Mary Banks. Old Si, wot kept the 
 hotel, his granddarter from Farnham. 
 She s been helpin at Bella s for ever so 
 long. 
 
 And war nt Bella delighted to see us. 
 Would she keep the hens, says I. 
 
 You dear droll thing, says Bella, of 
 course I will, I d do any thing for you 
 Mint. 
 
 Would Henery Ball object says I. 
 
 Never says she, he worships the groun 
 I walk on says she. An its no wonder 
 
MOVING THE HENS 145 
 
 William, Bella was a pretty gal allus, 
 but now she s more, she s a reglar raving 
 beuty. 
 
 She tuk us all over her house, It is 
 grand. I never see anything like it in 
 her parlor; you have ter wind your way 
 in an out like a mazy with statoos an 
 pottery an brick-er-brack. A gold cupid 
 with wings out-spred was swingin from 
 a hook in the middle of the ceilin, shootin 
 darts. Par dodged, but got hit twict. 
 Par s tall yer know. 
 
 Says I, Bella your home is grand, an 
 you deserve it, you was allus a good warm 
 hearted gal, says she, it only lacked a 
 baby an now I ve got two, thanks to you, 
 you dear Araminta, says she; my Hen- 
 ery is just silly over em says she, why he 
 left his factory this afternoon an has em 
 both out ridin in his buggy. 
 
 Well I was ticklled to hear that. Then 
 she goes out to git us a cup of tea an 
 me an Mary Banks got ter talkin old 
 times, till Bella Called an ast her to go 
 
146 MINT JULEP 
 
 an git me a crock of her red currants, 
 knowin that I was allus partial to her 
 way of doin them up. 
 
 Your Par was terrible imprest by the 
 house an by Bella, I could see that. 
 
 Aint Bella a handsome woman Par, 
 says I. 
 
 Yep, says Par, showy, but sound. 
 Ding me, says he, if I was twenty year 
 younger an Henery was plyin his trade 
 above, I d go in myself, says Par. We 
 was still laffin when Bella come in and 
 told us to come out to the dinin room. 
 
 My lands! sech a good bite as she had 
 got up fer us, twarn t only a lunch Bella 
 said, as they had six o clock dinners; we 
 enjyed it I can tell yer, an we talked lots 
 over old times. 
 
 Bime-by Par and Jimmy went out in 
 the yard ter fix a place fer the hens an 
 Bella takes me up stairs to her room 
 
 William Julep, a gold bed on my word 
 of honor! I was dumb at the site Is 
 it wuth a fortune Bella says I, O no says 
 she, lafHn. Then she showed me all her 
 
MOVING THE HENS 147 
 
 julery an things an says she to me, Ara- 
 minta Julep you an me are the same age, 
 says she; well no one would ever know 
 it says I, you look ten years younger than 
 me. 
 
 Course I do says she; you was a nice 
 lookin gal Mint, you allus had fine eyes 
 an was strait as an arrer, but you havent 
 kept up says she. Now Araminta says 
 she, fust of all you ve got to wear your 
 hair diffrent. 
 
 How can I says I, my hair is ofFul 
 thin, I m allus in a hurry an the quickest 
 way I can git it up, the better, says I. 
 I do go at it like I had a rake stead of 
 a comb, says I. 
 
 It has fallen out by the bushel, an like 
 the bad seed in the Bible, I have gath 
 ered em in bundles to burn. 
 
 All wrong says Bella, you must 
 brush it an you should have saved all your 
 combins an had puffs made like mine. 
 
 Says I, Bella Ball, honor brite cross 
 yer heart, is that yours, or the seven Suth 
 erland Sisters. 
 
148 MINT JULEP, 
 
 Well she laffed an she says I ll tell you 
 a secret, Mint, says she, an she opened a 
 door an I see Switches of hair, all sizes 
 a hangin . She opens a draw an I see 
 puffs, an curls an round hairy hay-lows, 
 enough to stuff a pillow. 
 
 Mint says she, you ve got to git hair; 
 you owe it to yourself an you owe it to 
 your husband to git some hair. 
 
 Now says she, Hair is my weak spot, 
 every time I go to Boston, I buy hair, I 
 simply cant help it, says she. 
 
 Now Mint says she, our hair is the same 
 shade an I m goin to arrange a coffer 
 on you. Then William she got me in 
 front of her mirror, she twined ropy hair 
 around my head, she put on a load o 
 puffs with hair pins, an hangin down a 
 bunch o curls; she called it a wata-fall 
 or catract, I disremember. Then she stud 
 off an kissed me, she s offul affectionet 
 an coaxin in her ways, Bella is. 
 
 Now you must promise me that every 
 afternoon of your life, you ll fix up your 
 hair in glory; You look like a diffrent 
 
Mint" sayn she "you ve got to git hair" 
 
 Paie 148 
 
MOVING THE HENS 149 
 
 bein says Bella, an honest I felt that I 
 did. 
 
 Now says she, you aint a goin ter wear 
 any more bonnets. 
 
 The idea of a young woman like you 
 tyin on a bonnet; she tuk it up No 
 Bella says I, I bourt that bonnet to marry 
 William Julep says I an it cost consid- 
 rable, an I like it. 
 
 Well says Bella you can never tie 
 strings over all that hair I put on yer, it 
 would be ridicalus; if you must wear it, 
 says Bella, let me loop up the strings inter 
 cute little rosetts, an pin it on like a hat. 
 
 So we got a talkin about wimmen an 
 wimmen s bewty an William I hev come 
 to the conclusion that any woman born 
 with a nose can be bewtiful. 
 
 In a big city William you can buy any 
 thing; wimmen get eye-lashes an golden 
 hair, a elegant shape an have their toe- 
 nails bewtified. Bella Ball is the same, 
 an yit not the same, but of this I am cer 
 tain, if she was a widder tomorrer, which 
 I hope she will never be while she has 
 
150 MINT JULEP 
 
 Henery, she could git any moulten mil 
 lionaire in America, an as for her ever 
 goin abroad, I dont dast think of it, 
 for they say King Edward settin over 
 there on England, is a reel nice gent wot 
 likes the ladies xtremely well. Who 
 knows William wot might happen. 
 Kingdoms has been thrun away for wuss 
 nor Bella. Bella is bewtiful William, 
 she is most too bewtiful. 
 
 Well we spent an offul nice visit, an 
 then we went. 
 
 Every body was lookin at me in the 
 car. I felt as if I was carryin a load 
 of hay on my head, but your Par likes it. 
 P. I. L. 
 
 We told Bella about the Gent wantin 
 ter buy the poltry ; she warnt surprised at 
 it. She says as how a Hebrew jest loves 
 to git hold of a live goose or any thing 
 in that line. 
 
 DEER WILLIAM, 
 
 To-day was a very warm day an I hur 
 ried up an got my work done and was 
 
MOVING THE HENS 151 
 
 jest gittin ready to go down to the water 
 with par an mar an the children when who 
 walks into my front door but a man. I 
 had my back to him as I was buttoning 
 up Ham an I turns quick to see who it 
 was an there stood Hiram Cuckoo Backup 
 in his best black suit, yaller tie an lookin 
 natral as life. 
 
 ; Why, brother, I m right glad to see 
 you, but wot ever pessessed you to leave 
 Farnham at this season of the year," says I. 
 
 " Business, Mint," says Hiram. " I 
 had pretty important business in Boston 
 an I thot I d run in an see you." 
 
 Will William seein as how he did nt 
 offer to tell me wot the business was I 
 wouldent ask him but I was jest bilin 
 with curiosity to know wot business made 
 Hiram Cuckoo Backup come clear to 
 Boston. 
 
 He agreed to stay over for a few days 
 an he was reel nice to the childern, gav 
 em all pennies, an then sot down on my 
 front porch to cool off, but bime-by he 
 got inter a dredful hot argyment with 
 
152 MINT JULEP 
 
 your par bout some man named William 
 Jennings O Brien. You know William 
 that I told you onct how Hiram Cuckoo 
 is quick tempered an has a slight imped- 
 alment in his speech. When he is cam 
 you dont never notice it but when he git 
 xcited its orful bad cause he has got a 
 most peculeer habit of raisin his right 
 leg, an his right arm to onct when the 
 words stick an seem to most throttle him. 
 Well Hiram got red in the face praising 
 this O Brien man but your par was dead 
 sot again the gentleman an long last I 
 got so dreadful nervous I ran down the 
 street an hot some ice-cream to cool Hi 
 ram off. Hiram was alms quick tem 
 pered but I have sometimes thot it was 
 kind of cruel to give him the name my 
 par and mar gave him. A name like Hi 
 ram Cuckoo would make a phonographic 
 machine stutter. 
 
 You see my par had a favrit brother 
 named Hiram, who went to live in 
 Cuckoo, Virginny. He named his fust 
 born Hiram Cuckoo an my par just to 
 
MOVING THE HENS 153 
 
 please that brother away off named his 
 own boy Hiram Cuckoo an poor Hiram 
 got into lots of trouble on account of that 
 name. 
 
 I remember onct when Hiram was off 
 on one of his walkin tours he see a quarrel 
 between two farmers that came to blows 
 an tenny rate one sued the other an the 
 case came to court and Hiram had to go 
 as a witness an when he gits on the stand 
 the lawyer feller says, whats yer whole 
 name. Well of course poor Hiram was 
 scart an kind a excited an he couldent say 
 that name to save his life. The lawyer 
 feller got mad an Hiram got madder an 
 last Hiram med a dive outer the witness 
 stand and hit him. He was fined for it. 
 
 Well, William, this is all from your 
 lovin MINT. 
 
 P. I. L. 
 
 I hev ben puzzlin my brains till they 
 ake tryin to guess wot Hiram s business 
 is. You know Hiram has a tidy fortune 
 thanks to Peggy Barnes, an not a chick 
 or child to leave it to. 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 THE HEALTH MAN IS FOILED 
 
 DEER WILLIAM 
 I am all through with keepin 
 hens. Sorry as I am to say it, I 
 have come to the conclushon that Thana- 
 topsis aint the most comfitable place to 
 keep five hens an a rooster. 
 
 It was like this, you see Bella Ball kept 
 my hens two weeks, an then Henery sent 
 them back in a big wooden box, cosy as 
 could be. They arrived in the afternoon 
 an I put them in their old place in the 
 back yard. Well the very next mornin 
 Dick crowed as he never crowed before 
 in his life an Benjamin Rorer came to 
 the winder in his night shirt, an he threw 
 boot- jacks an othe? things in my yard 
 tryin to hit that poor Dick. 
 
 Me an Par heard the racket an we sassed 
 154 
 
HEALTH MAN FOILED 155 
 
 him an then Hiram got up an sassed him 
 too. 
 
 Well bime-by after breakfast Par said 
 he thot twas kind of foolish to be havin 
 trouble all the time on account of the hens, 
 seein as how Rorer had the law with him. 
 You best git rid of them, says Par to me, 
 but says I, I ll move away first, wot good 
 would that do, says Par, there s a Rorer 
 in every community says he, well your 
 Par is wise William an I respec his opin 
 ions, an I thot it over, he advisin me 
 strong ter sell em. 
 
 You just say the word, Araminta, says 
 Par, an I ll drop a post card to the He 
 brew gentleman wot was so taken with 
 Dick that day on the car, that he offered 
 to buy the hull lot. Says I praps its all.fer 
 the best Par, go ahead an write to him says 
 I, an then an there Par sot down an wrote 
 to the Hebrew gent, that he could buy 
 five hens an a rooster most any time. 
 
 Now I was kinder sorry that Hiram 
 Cuckoo should have happened to be vis- 
 itin at the house jest when we was havin 
 
156 MINT JULEP 
 
 the trouble, cause his temper gits to the 
 bilin pint on the slightest provocashun; 
 an all the time he was eatin his breakfast, 
 he was xpoundin his way to Par to git 
 even with Benjamin Rorer. Well he 
 was so powerful wrot up I see its about 
 time to say somethin to Hiram, so I spoke 
 up an I says to him, 
 
 Now look here, Hiram says I, you 
 mustent think no more about this affair, 
 this aint Farnham an folks are diffrent 
 here, it aint Christian to be talkin of 
 gettin even, remember Hiram says I, 
 Vengence is mine, sayth the Lord. Let 
 you an me be charitable, Hiram, who 
 knows but this Benjamin Rorer may have 
 some secreet sorrer nawrin at his witals, 
 so that he cant stand a rooster crowin. 
 He is a lone man Hiram, an who knows 
 wot akes an longins may pesess his sole. 
 But taint no use, you might as well talk 
 to the habitants of a graveyard as ter try 
 to make a impression on my brother Hi 
 ram or git him to cool off his rath. 
 
 Well William that same afternoon sech 
 
HEALTH MAN FOILED 157 
 
 a thing happent as I ll never forgit long 
 as I live. 
 
 The childern was all down to the water 
 with your Mar, for wich I must say I was 
 thankful, an Par an Hiram was havin it 
 out on the front porch about Mr. O Brien 
 an free silver. 
 
 I was dustin in the parlor, when all at 
 onct the two Hebrew gentlemen wot was 
 on the car that day we went to Chelsea, 
 walked rite into my front gate. They 
 was reel nice an familiar to Par an he gave 
 them a introduc to Hiram Cuckoo. 
 You d most think they was old friends, 
 they shook so sosial like. 
 
 Well I stept out an said how do, an 
 talked a little an bime-by we all went into 
 my back yard to look at the hens. 
 
 Long last we came to terms, the price 
 was paid, an then I told them to go into 
 my parlor with Par to wait while me an 
 Hiram started to git the hens ready for 
 them. 
 
 We got Dick an the hens into the 
 kitchen when I happent to think of the 
 
158 MINT JULEP 
 
 big box wot Henery Ball had sent em 
 home in. 
 
 I sent Hiram down the cellar for it, an 
 while he was gone I stept over to the 
 winder, an who should be standin in my 
 back yard but Benjamin Rorer an a 
 strange gent. 
 
 Like a flash it came to me that it was 
 the Health man for the hens, an I made 
 a dive an grabbed up those hens, two at 
 a time, an I ran an threw em into the 
 parlor at Par an the Hebrew Gents. 
 Them two strange men dident know what 
 ter make of me doin sech a thing, they 
 jumped an the hens made a orful fuss, 
 cacklin an flyin, but I was reel excited, 
 says I keep em out of sight, hide em, 
 quick, the Health man is comin. Then 
 I went out quick an shut the door. 
 
 It was kinder hard I know to shut three 
 grown men, five hens an a ofFul stirrin 
 rooster, in one little room, but it was a 
 desprit case an had to be. 
 
 Well I got back into the kitchen jest 
 as the door opened an that cantankerous 
 
Rorer an the Health feller walked in, an 
 trouble allus does come in a heep, Wil 
 liam, for no sooner did they set foot in 
 that kitchen, than my cellar door opened 
 and Hiram Cuckoo sticks in his head, 
 draggin the big box behind him. 
 
 But Glory! when he sees Rorer he lets 
 that box go slam bang down the cellar 
 stairs, an in he falls rite on his stummick, 
 in his haste to git into that room; but he 
 gits on his feet quick, w-w-w wot d-d-d-d- 
 dy yer w-w- want h-h- here, says Hiram 
 to Rorer, trying to stiddy hisself, an hold 
 hisself . in like. 
 
 Th-th- those d-d-d- dam hens, says 
 Rorer. 
 
 O the pity of it William, that Hiram 
 Cuckoo Backup did not know that Ben 
 jamin Rorer had a impedelment jest like 
 hisself, but he did not. 
 
 D-d-d-d dont d-d-dare m-m-mock m-me 
 
 you white 1-1-livered the rest I will 
 
 not write William, because it would be 
 wrong. You are not a profan man, nor 
 yit a heavy talker, enufF to say that the 
 
160 MINT JULEP 
 
 words stuck in his throt, which was right 
 seein as they were not good words. But 
 I see that Hiram had reached that stage 
 of his impedelment, where he had to raise 
 a leg, an I knew there was goin ter be 
 offul trouble. 
 
 I allus think quick, I ran to the door 
 an threw it open, go go says I to 
 Rorer and the Health Gent who looked 
 orf ul dazed ; go go says I while 
 there is yit time, he s armored says I 
 an not responsibel, well they got out quick 
 into the yard; I cast one look at Hiram 
 Cuckoo, still rastlin hard with hisself . I 
 rushed to the parlor door an opened it. 
 O sech a sad sight William, my foldin 
 bed was let down, they had shooed the 
 poltry under it an Par an them Hebrews 
 was all spread out guardin them. Git 
 them hens out an go, go quick says I, or 
 you ll lose them. 
 
 The cross-eyed feller threw up his 
 hands, but he closed in on Dick, an the 
 other Hebrew lay on his stummick an 
 
HEALTH MAN FOILED 161 
 
 pulls out two hens from under the bed. 
 
 Par grabbed up two more an I picked 
 up the last, an run her rite into Hirams 
 arms, who was standin swettin at the door. 
 
 Take her Hiram says I or Rorer will 
 git her, hes layin for her ; I knew by sayin 
 them words that Hiram Cuckoo would 
 never let go that hen while he had life. 
 Then I opened my front door an got them 
 men out with the hens. 
 
 The Hebrew went out caushus like till 
 all to onct he spies Rorer an the Health 
 Gent comin out of the yard, then he made 
 a dash down the street as if twas fer his 
 life, holdin that rooster on his chist with 
 both arms. 
 
 The other Hebrew, an Pa an Hiram, 
 runnin like mad behind him. 
 
 I was so wrot up an excited that I ran 
 to the gate, a-ringin my hands, an jest 
 then a butcher man came along in his 
 team; he stops an looks fust at me, an 
 then after the men runnin with the hens, 
 an all to onct, like a ragin id jit, he hollers 
 
162 MINT JULEP 
 
 out, perlice, perlice till he was red in the 
 face. That started a lot of boys after Par 
 an the Hebrews, shoutin Stop Theef. 
 
 Well William Julep I got terrible ex 
 cited, I wanted to tell those bad boys that 
 the men warnt theeves, so I started an 
 ran as fast as I could down the street, an 
 O William, in a minute, the hull town was 
 out, chasin those poor incent men, as if 
 they was huntin down wild beasts. I ll 
 never forgit it to my dyin day, an I 
 prayed that no one would ketch Hiram 
 or try to take his hen away. 
 
 At last, O joy, at the corner of the 
 street a car came along an stopped to let 
 out a lady, I see Hiram git on the car 
 fust of all with his hen, an Par an the 
 Hebrews pile rite in after him. 
 
 I stood there pantin on the corner, with 
 a crowd around me like I was one of them 
 Salvation gals, an all of a sudden, a big 
 perliceman came rite up twirlin his 
 stick, 
 
 Whats the matter says he, but before 
 
HEALTH MAN FOILED 163 
 
 I could git breath to answer, one of those 
 bad boys says, they pinched the loidys 
 birds. 
 
 With that the big perliceman turned to 
 run f er that car to arest those poor hunted 
 Hebrews. But I had presents of mind 
 to grab hold of his coat tails, dont go 
 mister I hollers, there not hurtin that pol- 
 try a mite, they bot an paid fer them 
 an they cant help pinchin them a little. 
 Says I let the poor men be mister, they 
 have been hounded like wild beasts. 
 They paid for them, paid cash fer five 
 hens an a rooster. Then what in time 
 are you chasin them for, says the perlice 
 man. Well I xplained a little seein as 
 how he was a officer of the law, an then 
 I went home. 
 
 Benjamin Rorer an the Health Gent 
 was no wheres to be seen, which was a 
 good thing for them, for I was mad 
 William. 
 
 If I do say it, the Backup temper is 
 orful, an I have my share of it. I dont 
 
164 MINT JULEP 
 
 git plum crazy like Hiram Cuckoo, cause 
 my speech stays limber, but I was cer 
 tainly mad that day. 
 
 An I had provocashun goodness knows. 
 
 Par an Hiram got to Thanatopsis an 
 hour later. They said the Hebrew Gents 
 got home safe and sound with the hens; 
 but I am all through keepin hens, while 
 I am livin here. 
 
 YOUR LOVIN MINT. 
 P. I. L. 
 
 Aint it strange when you stop to think 
 of Dick an those hens travellin on the 
 cars twict to take up their abod in Chelsea. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE QUEEN o SHEBA APPEARS 
 
 DEER WILLIAM, 
 There is lots goin on here but 
 fust of all I must git to the part 
 that is leadin slow but sure to the mistery 
 that I hev allus felt has been a hovrin 
 over Molly Burt. 
 
 To-day I was scrubin the porch, when 
 a big ottermorbeel drew up an stopped 
 at Thanatopsis, an a lady stepped out, 
 sech a stilish lady I never see in all my 
 life. Not that she was titivated in silk 
 or satin not at all, she had on the plainest 
 dress I ever see, but it fitted her like she 
 was born into it, an she held her head in 
 sech a way. My lands, an ter clap the 
 climax she had a pair of specks on a han 
 dle that she held up bfore her eyes, an she 
 stud outside the gate an studied the sign 
 165 
 
166 MINT JULEP 
 
 over my front door as if she was readin 
 the price of admission to the circus. I will 
 admit William that I forgot myself an 
 stared tell I see she has turned the specs 
 on me an was lookin at Mint Julep as if 
 she was a specimin. Well I aint no 
 specimin. I m a freeborn American 
 woman an I dident jest like the way she 
 turned those speck on me an I stud up 
 an walked to the gate. 
 
 " Good morning, missus," says I, reel 
 naborly. 
 
 Well, William her shoulders went up 
 an the handle specks went up an she 
 looked me all over again. 
 
 " You have the advantage," says she. 
 
 " Of course I hev," says I, " you need- 
 ent feel bad bout it. My manners comes 
 from the inside, they are never put on 
 or taken off to suit the occasun," says I, 
 " they are alms the same an I m sorry 
 that yours aint the same brand. Now," 
 says I, "your sight pears like aint good 
 for you have been lookin me over as if you 
 was tryin to find somethin that warnt 
 
THE QUEEN O SHEBA 167 
 
 visible to the nakid eye, wot is it?" says I. 
 
 Well William, she dropped them specks 
 quick, they was attached to a chain on her 
 neck an they dangled where she dropped 
 em. 
 
 "Madam," says she, "Is there a Miss 
 Burthere?" 
 
 "What, Molly Burt? To be sure there 
 is an if you know that sweet girl you re 
 welcome specks an all." An I opened the 
 gate an she walked in like the Queen o 
 Sheba, an I escorted her up-stairs an I 
 knocked on Molly s door, but just then, 
 William, there was a dull thud behind. 
 Ham an Eg had started to follow me up 
 stairs and had landed on their heads. I 
 ran down to see if they was kilt or maimed 
 an the Queen o Sheba went inside. Well, 
 bime-by I had to go into the entry again 
 to keep Mamie an Tommy from payin a 
 visit to Molly. You see she takes them 
 in her room sometimes an gives them 
 pretty boxes an things an they never knew 
 she had compny, an was way up at the 
 head of the stairs, and while I was calling 
 
168 MINT JULEP 
 
 them down in a loud whisper I heard 
 Molly say plain as day, " home, I never 
 had a home. You were abroad all the 
 years that I needed one most. My home 
 was fashionable boarding schools, where 
 I existed from one weary year to another, 
 eating my very heart out for loneliness. 
 Why this little cottage has been my first 
 glimpse of what home might be." William 
 I did not wait to hear any more. I got 
 the children down stairs and I went into 
 the kitchen to do my work. But that 
 woman was up there a powerful long time 
 William an bimeby I went into the entry 
 to git Ham an I heard Molly sobbin as 
 if her heart was breakin. It stirred me 
 all up, William, for I hev grown to 
 love that girl as if she was my own. She s 
 so simple an lovin in her ways, so willin 
 an helpful an sweet that the sound of her 
 weepin set my heart thumpin queer like. 
 I was filled with animosity for that fe 
 male, be she ever so like Queen Sheba, an 
 it came to me that I hadent ever axed her, 
 her name or business, sposin she was a 
 
THE QUEEN O SHEBA 169 
 
 enemy of that gal. There had heen a 
 somethin hangin over Molly Burt ever 
 sense she came to me an as she did not ap 
 pear to have any natral gardeens, wasent 
 it my business I argyed to myself to watch 
 out for her intrusts, an not be havin fe 
 males come around that made her weep 
 an sobb an when I came to this conclushun 
 I went boldly up them stairs an knocked 
 but bless yer they was so terrible excited 
 inside they never heard and I hear Molly 
 say " I shall never marry him." 
 
 ; What," cried the other, " would you 
 refuse to do this for me after all I have 
 done for you. I have taken your moth 
 er s place, remember that, Molly, and I 
 am doing it all for your own welfare." 
 
 " My mother would never try to force 
 me to marry a man I loathed," said Molly. 
 Then the Queen o Sheba began to weep 
 an plead. You must, Molly, you owe 
 it to me, to your self, to everything to 
 marry this man," says she. Would you 
 see me a beggar, Molly, cast into the 
 street without a penny." 
 
170 MINT JULEP 
 
 " No, no, no," says Molly, " I have 
 plenty, take all I have, it is yours." 
 Well, William, with that, the Queen 
 
 Sheba began to cry somethin terrible. 
 " Oh," she says, " forgive me, Molly, 
 yours is gone too. I did not mean to do 
 it. I was led on an tempted. I thought 
 it was for your good. I invested it with 
 the rest. Say you forgive me, Molly." 
 
 Well I knocked again but they never 
 heard, an then Molly gets calm. " There 
 is nothing to forgive," says she, " I dont 
 care a snap for the money. If it were not 
 that it would be helpful to you now I 
 would be glad, glad, that it is gone." 
 
 " How can I face the world in want," 
 sobbed that woman, " Oh, the pity of it, 
 the horror." 
 
 Well, William, she was cryin, an my 
 heart was beatin, but I see that she was no 
 enemy an it was none of my business, so 
 
 1 swallowed a lump in my throat an went 
 down stairs to do my work. An at last, 
 oh, sech a long, long time I hear talkin 
 on the stairs an out I went again into 
 
Molly Burt 
 
 171 
 
THE QUEEN O SHEBA 171 
 
 the entry an the Queen o Sheba was jest 
 goin an my lands her face was all smiles, 
 she was feelin so good natured thet she 
 forgot to hold up the specks with the han 
 dle when she sees me, and at the door she 
 says to Molly, standin there orful pale, 
 " Good-bye, dear, be sure and come 
 early." 
 
 Then she gits into the ottermorbeel an 
 the shover shoved off, and she looks back 
 as smilin an self -satis fyin as if she had 
 not a care in the world, an Molly slid out 
 an stood on that little porch behind the 
 honey suckle vine, an gazed, an gazed, an 
 gazed at jest nothin an all to onct she cov 
 ered her face with her hands an cried as 
 if her heart would break. Well I let her 
 cry a spell but at last I couldent stand it 
 no longer, William, and I went out an put 
 my arm around her, " Molly," says I, 
 " what s troublin you, You aint never 
 told me your business," says I, " an no 
 more have I ast it," says I, " but we re all 
 humans," says I, " an the Good Book says 
 we should bear one another s burdens. 
 
172 MINT JULEP, 
 
 Dont tell me if you dont want to, Molly," 
 says I, " but sometimes it makes us feel 
 better to tell some one about our troubles 
 an things goin wrong. I hate to see you 
 f eelin bad, Molly, cant you tell me like I 
 was your mother." 
 
 " Oh, I cant to-day, Mrs. Julep," says 
 Molly, gittin calmer, " but I will tell you 
 all another time. I am afraid you will 
 think me a very silly girl," she tried to 
 smile at me an hide the tears, but they just 
 welled up in her blue eyes and rolled 
 down her cheeks in big drops. 
 
 " I would jest like to ask one question, 
 Molly," says I, "an that is are you goin 
 to leave here." 
 
 " Not to-day Mis. Julep," says she, " I 
 would like to stay for a few days longer 
 if you dont mind." 
 
 ; The longer you stay the better I ll 
 like it," says I, " and with that she arose 
 and went in quiet like and up-stairs. 
 
 Oh what a pitty to see a pretty crea 
 ture like this at a time of life when the 
 whole world orter be a smile grieven an 
 
THE QUEEN O SHEBA 173 
 
 pinein. There is something wrong some- 
 wheres, William, of that I m sure, but it 
 aint Molly Burt wotever it is, wotever the 
 mistery, she is sufferin for others of that 
 I m sure. Your own, 
 
 MINT. 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 THE MYSTERY DEEPENS 
 
 DEER WILLIAM, 
 The very morning that the 
 Queen o Sheba had called on 
 Molly Burt and Molly had felt so bad 
 that same afternoon the ottermorbeel 
 drew up again an it had not been watin 
 long when Molly came down stairs. O, 
 she looked jest like a picture. She was 
 all in white, but her face was whiter than 
 the dress she had on. I went into the 
 entry. ; Wait a minute, Molly," says I, 
 " I ll git a bunch of pansies," says I, 
 " they ll give a little dash of color to 
 your dress," says I. 
 
 Well she came into my settin room an 
 I got her a reel pretty boquet, an I tried 
 to cheer her up while I was pinnin it on, 
 " you re dress is awful pretty," says I, 
 
THE MYSTERY DEEPENS 175 
 
 " an becomin.. You look lovely in white, 
 Molly," says I. 
 
 " I wish it was black," says Molly. 
 
 Well I tried to lafF at that William 
 jest to spunk her up a bit, " black," says 
 I, " why any one would think to hear you 
 say that you was a goin to a funeral." 
 
 " I am," says she, " to-night I bury all 
 my hopes of future happiness." She 
 looked terrible sad an I jest started won- 
 drin wot she could mean an at last she 
 says, "I m going to a dinner party, that 
 is all, dear, Mis Julep." After a minute, 
 she added, " but to-night I am going to 
 promise to marry a man I abhor." 
 
 Then you are going to do a grievous 
 wrong, Molly Burt," says I, " to him an 
 to yourself." 
 
 " Not to him, not to him," says Molly, 
 quick, "he knows it well, he is willing to 
 take me at any price." 
 
 " Molly," says I, " dont you do it, you ll 
 regret it long as you live, if you do." 
 
 " I must, dear friend," says she. 
 " There s been an awful conflict between 
 
176 MINT JULEP 
 
 love and duty and duty has won, not that 
 I deserve any credit for it," she went on 
 softly. " I am not doing it willingly 
 at all. Oh no, not the least bit willingly 
 though sometimes it seems as if I just 
 don t care and so Mrs. Julep I am going 
 to sell myself to-night for a little piece of 
 paper." 
 
 " Molly Burt," says I, " wot ever do 
 you mean?" 
 
 " Only this," she went on bitterly, " the 
 woman to whom I owe a debt has lost the 
 only thing she cares for in this world, 
 wealth, she was a rich woman, Mrs. Julep, 
 and she invested all her money in this very 
 Beruba Plantation Co, that has caused so 
 much sorrow. She not only invested her 
 own money, she took most of mine* hop 
 ing to pay it back, ten-fold. Well, she 
 holds a check for the entire sum of money 
 invested and when I give my word to 
 night to marry this man, he will sign that 
 check and pay her every penny. It is a 
 bargain, dont you see," she said, with a 
 
THE MYSTERY DEEPENS 177 
 
 bitter little laugh, and then suddenly she 
 covered her face and wept bitterly. 
 
 " Molly," said I, " dont cry, it cuts me 
 like a knife to see you feelin like this," 
 says I, " its all wrong, its wicked an on- 
 natral. I d like to see the woman git her 
 money back," says I, " out of that terri 
 ble Beruba Company, but not at any sech 
 price, you have no right to sacrifice your 
 self, Molly," says I. 
 
 Then she sighed. William how that 
 poor girl sighed, but she stud up, Wil 
 liam, and she drew on her wraps an she 
 was gone, as there was a queer sinkin of 
 my heart as I watched her an I put the 
 children to bed, an I wated an wated an 
 wated, settin there at the window behind 
 that honeysuckle vine, an quite late it was 
 when the otter drew up to Thanatopsis 
 an a tall man in evening dress steps out 
 an he helps Molly out. It was half -moon 
 light but I did not get a look at his face 
 because of the vine, but Molly seemed to 
 hurry away from him, He was right at 
 
178 MINT JULEP 
 
 her heels and at the porch she stopped an 
 said: "Good night, Mr. Somethin " I 
 couldent catch his name, sounded like 
 Trend. " Good night, Molly," says he, 
 an then he caught her hand an bent over 
 to kiss it, but Molly snatched it away 
 quick an like a flash she was up the stairs. 
 I wouldent be sure but it seemed as if I 
 heard a low kind or sarcastic laugh from 
 the man as he stood an looked after her. 
 However he turned quick on his heel an 
 got into the otter an went off. 
 
 Your lovin and sorrowin 
 
 AEAMINTA JULEP 
 
MYSTERY DEEPENS (Continued) 
 
 DEER WILLIAM, 
 The mistery is gittin deeper an 
 deeper. The morning after Molly 
 went in the ottermorbeel to that dinner 
 party I went to see Mr. Storey in his of 
 fice. Mis McPeak had been to see him 
 an had spoke for me but I wanted to hear 
 from his own lips jest wot he thot about 
 the chances of me gittin back my money. 
 
 Well he was reel pleased to see me an 
 I had a nice long talk with him about it 
 an jest when I was goin I told him I 
 trusted him cause Molly Burt did, an had 
 come to him cause she had given him sech 
 a good recommend. Well he looked orf ul 
 pleased at that an seein as he was sech a 
 good friend to Molly I knew hed be 
 sorry to hear that her money was gone too 
 179 
 
180 MINT JULEP 
 
 in that dreadful Beruba thing so I told 
 him. Well William Julep his whole face 
 lit up you d most think he had heard good 
 news stead of bad. Are you quite sure of 
 this Mis Julep, says he. Positive, says 
 I. I had it from Molly s own lips yester 
 day, says I. 
 
 Well William that very afternoon I 
 was in my settin room alone as the chil 
 dren was gone to the water with mar an 
 par an Hiram. Pretty soon Molly comes 
 along an opens the gate. Well my blinds 
 were closed but I couldent help seein her. 
 I jest love to look at Molly Burt, she s 
 so pretty an her cloes seems to set on her 
 diffrent from most gals an tenny rate she 
 had only reached the porch, when the gate 
 clicks again and there was Mr. Storey. 
 Molly turned an looked so surprised I 
 thot ,she d drop, but he came right up an 
 he says, " Molly," an she says " Jerry," 
 an then he tuk her hand an held it an I 
 could see the color comin in the gals face. 
 Well says I to myself it looks like they 
 was sweethearts. If them two aint in love 
 
MYSTERY DEEPENS 181 
 
 with each other I dont know the symbols, 
 says I, an then it came to me that it was 
 only the night before that she had gone 
 to that party to give her word to marry 
 another man. O, the pity of it, here was 
 a reel, manly young man that I could see 
 jest thot the world of her why hadent Mr. 
 Jeremiah spoken fust, but perhaps he did, 
 how did I know, an then like a flash I re 
 membered how his face lit up that very 
 morning when he heard her money was 
 gone, an he says to me, are you quite sure, 
 an he had lost no time in gittin to see her, 
 and tenny rate, I was sore puzzled, an I 
 couldent jest figger it all out an as they 
 decided to sit down on the settee, I got 
 right up an went into the kitchen or I 
 would have been a eaves-dropper to have 
 stayed as I could not help hearin every 
 word they said to each other. 
 
 Well, while I was busy at my work 
 about an hour later, I happened to go 
 out into the yard an Mis McPeak came 
 to the fense an told me that Scotty told 
 her that Orrin Feather, the head of that 
 
182 MINT JULEP 
 
 Beruba was going to be put to jail for 
 fraud. 
 
 You dont tell me," says I, an then I 
 told her that the lawyer Mr. Jeremiah 
 was on the front porch with Molly Burt. 
 
 Likely he came down to tell her, says 
 I, for she has lost her money in Feather s 
 schemes as well as you an me. Just with 
 that I heard the gate click an I see Mr. 
 Storey goin out. He walked away fast 
 an never looked back. Well I was orful 
 anxious to tell Molly about that man 
 Feather so in I ran an out to the front 
 porch to Molly. She was settin on the 
 bench, and I ll never forgit the look on 
 that gal s face. It was as if all that was 
 sweet an good in life had suddenly gone 
 from her for-ever. 
 
 At first she never noticed me but after 
 a moment she turned and smiled at me. 
 
 " I think I ll go up stairs now and pack 
 my things, Mrs. Julep. I am sorry to 
 say that I leave here to-morrow." 
 
 " I m sorry too," says I, an then thinkin 
 to cheer her up a bit an git her intrusted, 
 
MYSTERY DEEPENS 183 
 
 I says, " did Mr. Storey tell you the lat 
 est about the Beruba Plantation Co?" 
 
 " No, he never mentioned it, what is the 
 latest, Mrs. Julep?" 
 
 " Why," says I, " that man Feather at 
 the head of it, is going to be put in jail for 
 fraud." 
 
 Well, William Julep I had hardly got 
 them words outer my mouth, when Mollie 
 Burt fainted dead away. 
 
 Mebbe twas the heat. I dont know, 
 but be that as it is, she has looked poorly 
 for some time so I jest gethered thet poor 
 child up an put her to bed an tended her 
 with my own hands. Well the next day 
 a high fever sot in an I hed to call in the 
 docter, an later when she cammed down I 
 ast her if there warnt some relative as 
 she d like to see. I said as how they ought 
 to know she was so sick, an tenny rate 
 William at last she gave me the address 
 of her ant Mrs Lida Ryerson an tomer- 
 rer I m goin to git mar an Bess Toby to 
 stay with Molly an I ll go an see her ant 
 if I m livin. 
 
184 MINT JULEP 
 
 But I do feel thet I m on the track of 
 that mistery whatever it is, at last. 
 In hast 
 
 MINT. 
 P. i. 1. 
 
 I m jest pinein to git you William so 
 as I can talk this to you, cause theres lots 
 you cant set down in pen an ink. 
 
CHAPTER XXIVi 
 
 MINT BREAKS UP THE BERUBA STOCKHOLD 
 ERS* MEETING 
 
 MY DEERLY BELOVIN HTJSBEND., 
 Shall I ever forgit all that has 
 expired sense I wrote you that 
 last letter. 
 
 Well I started out the very next day to 
 see Molly s ant, mis Ryerson. I found 
 the street an number all right, the house 
 has a brown stone front on a reel stylish 
 street, but William Julep jest as I was 
 goin to go up them steps the door opened 
 an a man came outer mis Ryersons house. 
 I jest gave him one look an I knew him 
 an I would have known him if twas in 
 the bottomless pit. William that man 
 was the shoe string feller an I vum I for 
 got all about miss Burt an my errant 
 185 
 
186 MINT JULEP, 
 
 an I jest turned an follered him every; 
 step he tuk. 
 
 I had quite a walk you bet, an onct I 
 allmost lost him at a crossin an came near 
 puttin a fat man s eyes out with my um- 
 brell thet I carried under my arm, but I 
 kept his gray tweed back in sight an at 
 last I was rewarded for he turns into a 
 big buildin, an in I went after him, an 
 follered him strait acrost the corridoor to 
 a big room where there was lots of people, 
 some settin down and some standin around 
 the walls; he walked up an sot himself 
 down, an I ast a little man at the door, 
 says I scuse me sir what place is this, 
 this is a stock holders meetin says he, are 
 you intrusted in the Beruba Plantation 
 says he, if you are jest set down cause 
 this is a mass meetin of all the folks in 
 trusted, says he. 
 
 Well I did set down where I could keep 
 my eye on that shoe string feller an then 
 I looks round an lissens. 
 
 There was a man on a platform makin 
 a speech again the Beruba Plantation, he 
 
BREAKS UP A MEETING 187 
 
 talked awful he said it was a fraud from 
 the beginnin, thet they dident raise 
 enough coffee down on that plantation to 
 supply the help around the place, an a 
 lot more. At that a smooth face chap 
 got up an he began to stick up fer that 
 Plantation, says he Ladies and Gentle 
 men, says he, the man what has jest spoke 
 is mistaken, says he, this could not be a 
 fraud, impossible, says he, with sech a 
 man as Orin D. Feather at the head of it. 
 Do you know Ladies and Gentlemen says 
 he, how Orrin D. Feather is regarded in 
 the West where he come from, why my 
 dear friends says he, they name their ba 
 bies after him. Yes my friends says he, 
 that is how they think of him out in In- 
 diany, their dear little babies, says he. It 
 couldent go wrong with Orin D. Feather 
 at the helm, says he. 
 
 Well then another chap, tall with specs 
 on, jumped up an shook his fist at the 
 smooth face feller. You re in it too says 
 he an I can prove it, you travel around 
 the country says he, stoppin at the best 
 
188 MINT JULEP 
 
 hotels, posin as a gentleman of leesure, 
 with your money invested in the Great 
 Bemba Plantation Company jest to boom 
 the company in a quiet way, and you are 
 paid a princely salary by the company to 
 do this spoutin for them, an I know it, 
 says he. 
 
 Well before he had finished the people 
 got excited an they hollered out 
 Feather Feather he s here let him 
 speak. Well at that the shoe string 
 feller that I had follered stood up. 
 You could have knocked me over with a 
 puff of wind at the sight. He smiles 
 kind of sarcastick like, an he said a whole 
 lot in favor of that Beruba, no one has 
 denide says he, that we own these tropi 
 cal acres, there are vast possibilities says 
 he an let us reorganize why says he, 
 look at the men who have faith in it says 
 he an own stock in it. He mentioned 
 some names but a big light haired feller 
 jumped up an said those men never 
 bought a share of Beruba says he, but 
 were made a present of hundreds of 
 
BREAKS UP A MEETING 189 
 
 shares for the use of there names says he 
 an I can prove it. Well Feather said a 
 lot more about these men an at last he says, 
 ladies and gents says he, I have nothing 
 more to say, by there fruits ye shall know 
 them. 
 
 Well William that speech an the sight 
 of that man riled me to bilin pint, I 
 forgot every thing an I jumped up on 
 my chair an shook my umbrell at that 
 man. I dident come here to talk says I, 
 but I couldent let a chanct like this go by 
 an when that raskil takes to quotin scrip- 
 ter says I, its time I spoke up. an then an 
 there I told those people that the man 
 they called Feather was the shoe string 
 feller that bed come to Farnham years 
 ago an swindld me an all the folks outer 
 good money. 
 
 Well William fact is I made sech a 
 desprit speech, an I shook my umbrell so 
 it scairt the wimmen. I was gittin mad 
 der all the time an at last when I sees that 
 feller smilin at me, I hollers out you ras 
 kil, thet in juiced people to give up there 
 
190 MINT JULEP 
 
 hard earnt money says I, an tells them 
 to buy a piece of the earth at Beruba an 
 git a income fer life, says I, I ll git my 
 money back, says I, see if I dont, an I 
 jumped over the sects to git at him, af 
 ter that pandemony rained, wimmen faint 
 ed, an men squeeled. A lot of them got 
 me an held me back, an Feather cleared 
 out. 
 
 An then all to onct I see a sight that 
 froze my marrer. Direct oppsite near a 
 post, was a man with a yaller tie an curly 
 hair an a crowd around him. There was 
 somethin f amilyar about his back an then 
 an thar I see him shake his fist an raise a 
 leg. There was no mistakin that sign, 
 t was Hiram Cuckoo on the rampige. I 
 knew now wot business had brung him to 
 Boston Hiram was in the Great Beruba 
 too. 
 
 O William Julep you never see sech a 
 sight of pantin men an hystericky wim 
 men, I ll never for git it to my dyin day. 
 
 Then I cammed down an went home to 
 my children. I dident menshun a word 
 
BREAKS UP A MEETING 191 
 
 to Molly Burt about meetin the shoe 
 string feller comin out of her Ants house. 
 But tomorrer I m a goin to that house an 
 find out mong other things, what that 
 swindler was doin there. Mebbe he s 
 playin his tricks on the ant of this poor 
 gal. 
 
 Your lovin Mint 
 P. i. 1. 
 
 Hiram never come back to Thanatop- 
 sis. I guess he was so mad he went strate 
 home to Farnham. 
 
THE SMOKE-LADY 
 
 Wintop. 
 
 DEEREST WILLIAM 
 I hope your well as this leeves 
 me at present, though I ve been 
 through so much lately I feel like a dif- 
 frent woman from what I used to be. 
 However I went to see the ant the very 
 next day after that orful time at the Be- 
 ruba meetin an I ll never for git that visit 
 if I should live to be Methusalem. 
 
 It was a terrible stilish house, sech pic 
 tures an furnitoor an what-nots an things 
 I never see I hed a mind to put my 
 shawl over a nakid statur left out careless 
 in plane sight of any mortal man thet 
 came inter thet entry. 
 
 Well I rung the bell an a young gal 
 came to the door, I guess she s helpin 
 192 
 
THE SMOKE-LADY 193 
 
 there, an when I told her I wanted to see 
 miss Ryerson, she said as how I must hev 
 a card with my name on it well thet 
 made me mad an I jest told her I was old 
 enough to go out without a tag, an a lot 
 more. I want to see miss Ryerson says 
 I, about her neece, Molly Burt an here I 
 stays till I see her, says I. 
 
 Well she said to wait a minnit, an she 
 went off an bime by a man with stuffed 
 legs an boys pants on, came out, looked 
 like he was a play acter, an he put up one 
 finger and beckened me to foller him up 
 stairs, he opened a door an med a low 
 bow and said, miss Julep, then he bows 
 agin an gits out an I walked inter that 
 room an there settin back at her ease, was 
 the Queen o Sheba smokin a little seegar. 
 I ll never forgit the sight of her layin 
 back an blowin puffs of smoke till I die. 
 
 She waved me to a sect with thet seegar, 
 but I jest stud at the door an wouldent 
 budge. Take a sect, says she, no marm, 
 says I, I wont take no sect nor nothin else 
 till you quit, taint perlite to smoke in the 
 
194 MINT JULEP 
 
 presents of ladies. O says she, laffin like, 
 do you object to smokin. Not at all says 
 I, do I object to smokin by them as was 
 made to smoke, if a man wants to smoke 
 thats his own business says I, he can git 
 comfort an a bad liver for all of me says 
 I, but when a clean female puts one of 
 them little pizin things in her mouth, its 
 diffrent says I. Taint nateral nor Amer 
 ican, says I. I hev heerd that them ter 
 rible Turkish wimmin smokes, well let 
 them says I, the hethen in them has got to 
 come out some way an I dunno what bet 
 ter way it could than in smoke, but I never 
 surmised that you was a smoke-lady. 
 
 Madam says she state your business, 
 your opinions dont intrest me says she in 
 the leest. Mebbe not says I, if I was a 
 smoke lady they would be flavered more 
 or less with tobaccy, an be apt to leeve a 
 bad taste in the mouth, they d likely soot 
 then. Look a here says I, Satan must 
 feel right to home with smoke ladies when 
 there smokin there not prayin. With that 
 she straitend right up an says she I shall 
 
THE SMOKE-LADY 195 
 
 hev to ask you to state your business at 
 onct, says she, or leeve my presents. 
 
 Then she threw away the little seegar, 
 an I ups an tells her all about miss Burt 
 bein sick at Thanatopsis an I told her 
 about thet shoe string Beruba swindler 
 they called mister Orrin Feather. 
 
 I warned her agin him, an I told her as 
 how I bed seen him comin outer her house 
 an how I bed follered him to the meetin 
 an I told her not to buy shoe strings, nor 
 let him in juice her to put any of her 
 money in that Beruba on the promise of 
 gittin a income f er life. 
 
 Well she seemed to know thet I ment 
 it all fer her good, and she warnt a bad 
 lookin woman, light complected with a big 
 lot of hair, looked like there was about ten 
 pounds, arraigned like a hay-lo around 
 her head, the goldenist hair I ever see out 
 side a wax lady on Washton Street. 
 
 Well then I went home William an I 
 couldent help thinkin this is a queer world 
 anyhow, there must be some good in thet 
 Ryerson woman to be the ant of that 
 
196 MINT JULEP 
 
 sweet Molly Burt, but think of her bein 
 a smoke lady. You should be thankful 
 you dident git her but did git your own 
 
 MINT JULEP. 
 P. I. L. 
 
 I allus felt thet I would hev made as 
 good a man as any male I ever met in my 
 karreer, but it never made me take to 
 smokin to try to prove it. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 MORE THAN-A-TOP-SIS 
 
 DEER WILLIAM 
 I was reel pleased to see by your 
 letter that you was intrusted in 
 Molly Burt an the smoke-lady an no won 
 der, for sech happenings dont come every 
 day in ordnery folks lives. 
 
 Naow I am happy to tell you William 
 that the mistery is out at last, everything 
 is cleared up an I feel more satisfied than 
 I have for months. 
 
 The very day that I went to see Mis 
 Ryerson that evening I sat with Molly in 
 her room. We talked until it was mid 
 night, an she told me the story of her life. 
 She jest took my hand an talked to me 
 like I was her mother. 
 
 Its a sad story, an its jest as I expected. 
 197 
 
198 MINT JULEP 
 
 Molly has been made to suffer for others. 
 But to git to Molly s story. 
 
 It seems her own ma an pa died when 
 she was very young an Mis Ryerson, who 
 is her mother s half sister (they had the 
 same father, but Mis Ryerson s ma was 
 a play-actor that this man married when 
 his first wife died) Well it seems Mis 
 Ryerson, the half-sister brot Molly up. I 
 fear she is a very worldly woman, an to 
 make a short story she wanted Molly to 
 marry Mr. Orrin Feather. A course that 
 ant dident know he was a swindler, all 
 she knew or cared was that he was orful 
 rich, an he wanted to marry Molly but 
 Molly would not have him because she did 
 not care for him at all. Well it seems 
 he jest haunted the house an he got her 
 ant to invest all her money in the Beruba 
 Plantation Co. The ant even sold her 
 beautiful summer home to put the money 
 into his schemes, he assurin her all the 
 time that it would bring her back mil 
 lions. 
 
 An Mr. Orrin Feather was offul kind to 
 
MORE THAN-A-TOP-SIS 199 
 
 the ant. He has a elegant mansion at the 
 shore, called The Anchorage, an he puts 
 it at the disposal of Mis Ryerson, an her 
 neice for the summer. I suspect that he 
 did this jest to have Molly under his eye 
 all summer because he is bound to marry 
 that girl. Well the ant accepts an Molly 
 Burt went with her ant to The Anchor 
 age, but she was dreadful unhappy there 
 all the time because her ant kept urgin her 
 to marry this man, an the more her ant 
 urges her the more Molly refuses till at 
 last one day Molly gits desperate and she 
 pleads with her ant that she wants to con 
 tinue with her painting. She is an art stu 
 dent an she has a little studio in Boston, 
 so she leaves the gay life at the Anchor 
 age an comes to the city to go on with 
 her studying. An as she loves the water 
 she wanders down to Wintop to git lodg 
 ings. Well, she said, as how the name on 
 our cottage struck her fancy, she was in 
 that mood, she said, when life looked sad 
 an a lot more, an she liked the little porch 
 with the honey suckle over it, an last but 
 
200 MINT JULEP 
 
 not least, I guess she kinder liked Mint 
 Julep. Well she was reel happy here an 
 everything went along nicely till that day 
 the Queen o Sheba (wich is her ant Lida 
 Ryerson) drew up in the ottermorbeel. 
 Her ant made her see that day that it was 
 her bounden duty to marry Feather, be 
 cause if she did not the ant would be a beg 
 gar. If she did Feather agreed to pay 
 back evry cent, an a lot more beside. 
 Well, William, poor little Molly sacrificed 
 herself, as you know. That night her ant 
 arranged the dinner party Molly Burt 
 gave her word of honor to marry Orrin 
 Feather, an now comes the sad part about 
 Mr. Jeremiah Storey. 
 
 He an Molly had thought the world 
 of each other since they first met. He 
 was too proud to tell her because Molly 
 was a very rich girl an he a poor, strug 
 gling lawyer, who worked his way 
 through college, an has had an uphill fight 
 to make his way, but the minute he hears 
 that Molly s money is gone (an by the 
 way he doesent know she still has a for- 
 
MORE THAN-A-TOP-SIS 201 
 
 tune comin to her when she is 21 that 
 the ant Lida couldent touch) but just as 
 soon as Mr. Jeremiah hears that Molly s 
 wealth is gone he is happy. He came to 
 her an told her how he has always loved 
 her an asked her to be his wife, an poor 
 Molly jest worships him but she has given 
 her word to that other. An when she tells 
 Jeremiah Storey that she is going to 
 marry Orin Feather, there was an orful 
 scene. She never told him that she was 
 doing it to save her ant. She says she 
 let him go away thinking she was marry 
 ing Feather because he was rich an could 
 give her back the fortune she had lost. 
 That was the hardest thing of all to bear, 
 says Molly, an she jest sobbed at the recol 
 lection of it. 
 
 " How he must despise me," cried this 
 poor girl. 
 
 "Nothing of the sort," says I, "he 
 loves you yet an everything will come out 
 rite," says I. 
 
 " He could never care for me now, an 
 it can never come out rite for me," said 
 
202 MINT JULEP 
 
 Molly, terrible sad. You dont know 
 the man," says she. 
 
 Well William it seems that the ant has 
 kept an eye on Molly all the time she was 
 at Thantopsis, unbeknownst to the girl, 
 for she told me so when she was here this 
 afternoon, an she an Molly have made it 
 up, an I guess that ant feels sort of gilty 
 for the papers to-day are jest full of the 
 Big Beruba Swindle an that man Feather. 
 
 There s a whole collum in the paper on 
 his wealth, his fast horses, his ottermor- 
 beels, an his town an country houses. O, 
 I never hearn tell of sech a raskil, an jest 
 to think that a few years ago he came to 
 Farnham an swindled the folks there out 
 of money in that shoe-string company. I 
 tell you wot, it is a lesson for me long as 
 I live an I ll never invest money in any 
 schemes again. 
 
 When Molly s ant was jest outside my 
 door she turned an looked at the name that 
 I had painted an nailed over the porch, 
 and she ast me how I came to name the 
 cottage Thanatopsis. I told her that I 
 
MORE THAN-A-TOP-SIS 203 
 
 heard it at the perfessor s onct an I liked 
 it, and what do you think it means, says 
 she. " Mis Ryerson is this a riddle," says 
 I, " it means jest wot it says," says I, 
 " some big words are kind of hard to say, 
 an the meanin is hard to git at," says I, 
 " but here s a name, Mis Ryerson, that is 
 as plain as your face," says I. 
 
 " Yes, yes," says she, kind of persistent 
 like, " but wot does the name convey to 
 your mind," says she. 
 
 " Sence it seems to be troublin you," 
 says I, " its jest like this, a boy thinks a 
 lot of a top, dont he now," says I, " he 
 gits a lot of pleasure a spinnin of it an 
 showin it off, dont he," says I, " an wot 
 more natral than hed say to his sister or 
 some other gal, look at it goin Sis, aint it 
 fine an a lot more, now heres a nice cosy 
 cottage, an I can say to you, Mis Ryerson, 
 or to anyone, young or old, its wuth more 
 than-a-top-sis, that is how I figger it out," 
 says I. " McPeak s cottage is named 
 Idle Nook," says I, "an that name is a 
 lie, cause she works like time from mornin 
 
204 MINT JULEP 
 
 till night, an they aint a idle nook in the 
 hull house. Mis Kelly s cottage is The 
 May Flower, wich is not true either. My 
 name is the best," says I. 
 
 Well at that Mis Ryerson looked at me 
 reel serus like. Says she, " Mis Julep, 
 you are wrong about that name, it is not 
 at all appropriet for a cottage. The name 
 is a Greek word," says she, " an means a 
 View of Death." 
 
 " I dont care wot it means in Greek," 
 says I. This is America an we speak 
 the English langwidge an I know jest wot 
 it means in plain english an that s all I 
 care about." 
 
 Now William, did you ever in your life 
 hear tell of anything so perfectly redicalus 
 as to be puttin furrin meanins to plain 
 names like Sis an top. That Ryerson 
 woman is terrble hif alutin. I bet she calls 
 her underwear lingerins or some sech fool 
 name like a gal in a store one day when 
 I went into git some stockins for my 
 Mamie ups an told a reel nice gent I 
 wanted red hose. 
 
MORE THAN-A-TOP-SIS 205 
 
 " Nothin of the sort," says I, " Mister. 
 I dont want a hose, an I aint never seen a 
 red hose yit." Then she explained a 
 whole lot to me but I declare I thot it was 
 plumb foolish. 
 
 Your lovin wife 
 
 AKAMINTA JULEP. 
 
 iWintop. 
 DEER WILLIAM, 
 
 To-morrow Bella Ball is goin to come 
 over to Wintop an she an Henery are 
 goin to take your par an mar up Bunker 
 Hill Monument. 
 
 I think they are havin a reel nice time. 
 The very fust mornin after they landed in 
 Wintop I sent em out to take a bath, as 
 your par said he loved the salt water an 
 par has been in every day sense. 
 
 To-day in the afternoon they went to a 
 corp house. A nice gent wot lives on the 
 next stret was layin away his mother-in- 
 law an I thot your mar would enjy the 
 celemony, folks have, I never. 
 
 It is strange William wot names city 
 
206 MINT JULEP 
 
 knowed that there was anybody dead in 
 the neighborhood till I met Mis Kelly on 
 my way to the sto?e. She was all dressed 
 up in her best an she stopped an spoke reel 
 pleasant. 
 
 I m on my way to the cop-house, says 
 she. 
 
 My lands, says I, is anyone arrested. 
 
 " No," says she, " but there s lots that 
 orter be." 
 
 Well, says I, if I may ast it wot are you 
 going to the cop-house for? 
 
 Why, says she, to pay my respects to 
 the family, says she. 
 
 Miss Goodcowski is wakin her mother 
 to-day, says she. 
 
 Has she been asleep long, says I, dread 
 ful puzzled. 
 
 " She s dead, woman dear," says Mis 
 Kelly. Old lady Rosenberg is dead an 
 gone an I m goin up to the corp -house to 
 see what the rabbit is goin to do." 
 
 Well, William Julep, I was that puz 
 zled I jest could nt speak an long last she 
 told me that old lady Rosenberg was a 
 
MORE THAN-A-TOP-SIS 207 
 
 friend of hers. A reel pleasant old lady, 
 and she had been sick a week an then died, 
 an when they is anyone dead in the house 
 Mis Kelly says its proper to call it a corp- 
 house, an when they are dead, she says, 
 they re wakin wich I can t make out no 
 how. I did n t want to press Mis Kelly 
 too hard to xplain, but told par all about 
 it. He says its furrin but he was reel 
 curus about it an he an mar went in the 
 afternoon. Par said it was reel nice an 
 jest like any other buried service that he 
 had ever seen. He said he got orful in 
 trusted watchin a little man, cryin dread 
 ful hard an most tearin his beard. When 
 it was over par edged up to the man to con 
 dole with him. " Dont feel so bad," says 
 par, " losses come to everyone, Mister." 
 
 " O, it was too much, too much," says 
 he to Par. 
 
 " Well I know of course we all feel that 
 way," says par, " but you ll git over it in 
 time." 
 
 " Never," said the man, " I tell you I 
 never get over dis." Then he takes par by 
 
208 MINT JULEP 
 
 the button-hole an he talks reel confidin 
 like, says he, 
 
 " I tell you this, when Fannie Rosen 
 berg marry Jake Goodcowski, I lend her 
 mother $200 to swell de dowry. I ll never 
 get it now, never, never, never." 
 
 Well Par was dumb, he said his knees 
 got weak an you could have knocked him 
 over plumb. He says to me, Mint I m 
 gittin homesick for my own town for 
 ding me says he, but this Wintop is a 
 queer place. Your own 
 
 MINT JULEP. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 A BUNCH OF PUFFS AND CURLS 
 
 Wintop. 
 
 DEER WILLIAM 
 Sech a pleasant supprise as we 
 this day had. A trunk druv up to 
 Thanatopsis addrest to your Par an we 
 all got round an opened it. 
 
 There was a note inside from Bella Ball, 
 an my lands, thet trunk was jest filled 
 with bewtiful cloes for all. 
 
 There was a smokin jacket for your Par 
 that jest ticklld him to pieces. Bella said 
 Henery only wore it a few times, it was 
 brown and Bella said the paper in her 
 smokin room was pale blue, so she made 
 Henery git a pale blue smoker. 
 
 Then there was a purple wrapper for 
 your Mar an a pink one fer me. There 
 was two fine suits of Henerys in thet 
 209 
 
210 MINT JULEP 
 
 trunk, and your Mars eyes stuck out when 
 she see them. She picked out a reel nice 
 plaid one, orful large plaid, an she made 
 your Par go rite up stairs an put em on. 
 Well when Par come down we had to laff 
 some, because you know Par is orful tall, 
 an Henery some shorter, but Henerys sol 
 diers are broad so the coat looked reel ele 
 gant, but the pants, Glory, Par looked 
 down at his legs, says he, I m goiii back 
 ter short pants, mother, says he, I m 
 shrinkin, but your Mar see theres a good 
 hem an she said as it would be a easy mat 
 ter to let them down. 
 
 Then there was two of the handsomest 
 hats in that trunk I ever see in my life, 
 one for me an one for Mar. Says Mar it 
 is bewtiful, but I have never wore any 
 thing but bunnets on my head, says she, 
 for thirty year. Well I jest grabbed up 
 a little, round turban made all of vilets 
 xcept on the tip top was a golden plume. 
 The vilets were some faded but the plume 
 was perf eckly bewtiful. I gave it to Mar 
 an I took a grate big canopy hat loaded 
 
PUFFS AND CURLS 211 
 
 down with birds an grapes. Mar looked 
 kinder scairt of the turban, but Par says 
 to her, put it on, put it on mother, ding 
 me says Par if you wear that home, they ll 
 think we ve been on a wedin tower, an its 
 mighty becomin mother, says Par. Well 
 your mar looked reel pleased at that, would 
 you dast to wear it Mint says she, 
 sertainly wear it says I, Bella Ball has a 
 perfeck taste for cloes, says I, an she 
 knows wot is becomin an she sent that vilet 
 turban to you because she knowed it was 
 the proper thing. 
 
 Well there was a stack of neckties in the 
 trunk, I never see any thing like it, all the 
 shades and colors any gent could wish. 
 Par said he had a good mind to start a 
 necktie shop when he went home ; he said 
 as how he would nt have ter lay in a stock 
 f er years in Little Acres. 
 
 Then there was a nice gray dress only 
 wore a few times, for Mar an other things, 
 a silk waist fer me an way down at the bot 
 tom of the trunk was a paper bag. Par 
 went to open it an we all jumped, thot 
 
212 MINT JULEP 
 
 it was alive for a minit; it was only hair, 
 lovely hairy hay-los an puffs an bunches 
 of kurls, Bella is bound I ll have hair on 
 me. 
 
 But I know why she sent them, you see 
 I lost some of the puifs an cataracts she 
 gave me before, twas this way, one af 
 ternoon I had arraigned a bewtiful coffer 
 on me, I used the haylo an puffs an a great 
 bunch of kurls hangin down behind an I 
 drest up an went to visit at May Flower 
 cottage, me an mis Kelly was settin on her 
 piazza nice as could be. I was a talkin to 
 her an I guess in some way some of them 
 puffs got loose, tenny rate they have a 
 terrible mischeevus little Tarrier dog 
 named Funze, Danel Kelly sets him ter 
 shake rags an things. Well Funze was 
 layin on his paws a watchin us, an all on a 
 sudden he jumps up on the back of my 
 chair an grabs that bunch of kurls Bella 
 gave me, an three or four puffs. He 
 shook those kurls tremenjus an when Mis 
 Kelly ran to git them away, he ran off 
 like mad down to the water. Mis Kelly 
 
PUFFS AND CURLS 213 
 
 felt offul but I said let them go, an we 
 haint never seen them sense. I told Bella 
 about it one evenin when she an Henery 
 came over. 
 
 Now I have more hairy puffs an cata 
 racts an kurls etcetras than I can ever use, 
 an I made your Mar take some ; they airit 
 a xact match for her hair of course, your 
 Mars hair is brown sprinkled over white, 
 an mine is kinder red, but I told her that 
 dont make no difFrence these days, an 
 when your Mar goes home I m a goin ter 
 arrainge a coffer on her to sute thet ele 
 gant turban wot she s goin ter wear. 
 
 Well there was a few other little odds 
 an ends an in the note Bella said Par could 
 keep the trunk cause it would be handy to 
 pack his stuff in when he was goin home. 
 
 Bella is offul generous an warm hearted. 
 I am reel glad Henery has done so well 
 in the soap greese business. She s been a 
 good friend ter me. 
 
 This is all from your 
 
 LOVIN MINT. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 MINT S FIRST AUTOMOBILE RIDE 
 
 DEER WILLIAM 
 I am goin to write you this let 
 ter before I say my prayers this 
 blessed night because I want you should 
 know of the narrer eskape you this day 
 had. 
 
 You should be ticklled William for you 
 come nearer to bein a widder man this day 
 than you ever did before in your life, an 
 nearer than I hope you ever git, while you 
 got me. 
 
 I was settin on the porch mendin with 
 par an mar, it was a reel hot day, an all to 
 onct right before our eyes a reel stilish ot- 
 termorbeel druv up an stopped at Thana- 
 topsis. I hadent ever seen the shover be 
 fore, but settin in the back sect was Molly 
 214 
 
Burt, a blue scarf round her pretty head 
 an her lookin sweeter than ever. 
 
 She jumped out an shook hands an said 
 she was glad ter see me an I said it was 
 off ul nice thet she hadent forgotten Mint 
 Julep. Forgit you dear mis Julep, says 
 Molly, no indeed says she, but I onct 
 heard you say thet you had never been in 
 a ortter, an so I hev jest run down this 
 afternoon says she, an I m goin to take 
 you through a bit of our prettiest country 
 says she, an I would like to hev mister an 
 misses Julep come too says she. 
 
 Well William what a chanct thet was, 
 but your mar looked kinder scairt an said 
 thankee an she d rather not, but your par 
 rubed his hip pockit an smiled tremenjus. 
 Well says I if mar Julep will keep an eye 
 on Ham and Eg, I ll git my sun hat on an 
 go. O says Molly I m afeard your hat 
 will blow to pieces, jest tie something soft 
 round your hair says she, an come along. 
 Well I ran up stairs, I dont own no vale 
 so I tied a big red handcurcheef of yourn 
 
216 MINT JULEP 
 
 William on my head and par fished up a 
 little cap of Tommys thet jest covered his 
 bald spot, an we got in, par settin in front 
 with the shover an me beside Miss Molly. 
 
 Go kinder easy at fust says par to the 
 shover till I git used to it, well that shover 
 cast a look side-wise an all around an he 
 began to work the pedal with his feet an 
 turn the switch with his hands an right 
 away he shoved off. Cashunk we was 
 down thet rode like a flash of light leavin 
 a cloud of dust behind thet was like a fog 
 settlin over Wintop. 
 
 Onward we rushed like Injuns in a wild 
 race, houses an bill posts began to look 
 dizzy. I see par git his chin down onter 
 his chest an hunch up like he was a cripple, 
 an every now an agin give a squeal right 
 out. As f er me I was holdin onter the 
 side of the ortter with both hands a jouncin 
 up an down for all the world like one of 
 them gals at the circus, an before I hed a 
 chanct to ketch it pars hat was gone an 
 we was miles ahead before par got his 
 speech. Hi there says par, back up, back 
 
THE AUTOMOBILE RIDE 217 
 
 up will yer, I lost my cap. Well thet 
 shover turned to par he talked reel snarlie 
 tween his teeth, looked like he hed a big 
 wad inside his cheek. Ar come off, says 
 he, does yer tink yer can find dat top-not 
 in dis maze. At this Molly who hed been 
 shakin all over with forbodin, though I 
 thot her eyes looked laffin like, says she, 
 stop a minit Mikeal please, well Glory 
 he stopped so suddint thet I was bounced 
 up like a fizz cork. 
 
 The shover turned an looked at Molly 
 an she says to him, do you think we could 
 git the little cap Mikeal, if we went back. 
 
 Naw, says he reel forbiddin like, an he 
 pulls outer his pockit a leather cap an 
 passes it to par. Clap your paw onto that, 
 says he an your dome wont git a burn. He 
 talked orful peculeer. Thankee says par, 
 an he put on the leather then par smiles 
 kinder confidin like to the shover, hold her 
 in a leetle, son, says par, she s a fast one 
 aint she now kinder swift, says par. Why 
 she s a bubble she is, said the shover, now 
 yer see her, now yer dont, but we aint got 
 
218 MINT JULEP 
 
 her goin yit says he, Ise only jest been 
 f eelin her sec, an with that we started onct 
 more but William words fail your Mint 
 Julep for the first time in her life, an I m 
 dumb when it comes to tellin about the 
 rest of that ortter ride. 
 
 I can only say thet no bird thet ever flew 
 the azure felt so light an giddy as me, till 
 all to once I reelized that the shover had 
 gone crazy, a suddint attack of Ortter 
 Vitus or something ekally bad had got him, 
 cramped his witals an made him hunch up 
 to look like a demon. He was tryin to git 
 to Hell William, an he most succeeded. 
 
 I yelled an hollered at him, but twas 
 no use an when I hed got winded from 
 screamin, I made the orful diskovery 
 that his eyes was shut, he was asleep, 
 William. 
 
 "O GAWD asleep at the switch," 
 many a time I hed heard them words at 
 the perfessers an now I knew the orful 
 meanin. I see poor par writhin in agony 
 on his sect, as we went up one hill an 
 
THE AUTOMOBILE RIDE 219 
 
 down another. For a second I shut my 
 eyes to pray, yes William twas as bad as 
 that, then I hollered agin but twarnt 
 no use, I looked at Molly but she had 
 covered her face with the blue scarf, an 
 her shoulders were shakin tremenjus, 
 thet poor gal was hysterrick. 
 
 Then I see we was nearin a steep hill 
 an the shover was gittin up speed to shoot 
 the shoots on the other side. I cast a 
 glance at par. A resined look was on his 
 brow, though the sweat was oozin out 
 under the leather. I got a wild longin 
 on me to keep the infernal from its mad 
 kareer cost what it may, an then an there, 
 I riz up an threw myself on the shover. 
 I klutched him round the neck with both 
 arms while I swung a leg side ways, to 
 hit his ribs I wouldent let go though 
 he shuck hard, twas a desprit sight Wil 
 liam, cause I allus ware white stockins, 
 though the stores are filled with black 
 ones. People inside should be white an 
 spotless. It has allus been a soss of pride 
 
220 MINT JULEP 
 
 to me that Jamesey Allum was picked up 
 dead at the town pump, but he was picked 
 up clean inside an out. 
 
 Well I see the shover lookin down to 
 see what was hittin him, he shuck hisself 
 to git free of me but I held on like grin 
 deth. 
 
 I heard folks shoutin at us an hollerin 
 an then before I could reelize it that 
 ortter was frothin in front of Thanatop- 
 sis Par was standin on dirt rubbin his 
 hip pockit, Miss Molly was laffin fit to 
 die an I was tryin to git breath trembly 
 like. 
 
 Thankee sir says par to the shover, I 
 wouldent a missed it fer a prize cock, but 
 I wouldent go agin fer a pair of them, 
 says par reel smilin. Shake says the 
 shover, puttin out his hand an squeezin 
 pars orful hard, your a ded game sport 
 says he, but your mudder, screw on de 
 nuts, screw on de nuts, says he. What 
 he means me an par dont know fer he s 
 a queer chap an talks wuss than furrin. 
 
 I wanted Molly to come in an git a 
 
THE AUTOMOBILE RIDE 221 
 
 cup of tea but she said her ant expected 
 her back right away. And she said she 
 never enjyed a ortter ride so much in 
 all her life. It was fear full William but 
 grand. Twas like startin out fer Heaven, 
 but feelin all the time thet you was jest 
 missin the other place by a hair 
 
 No more at present from your 
 
 LOVIN MINT. 
 
 DEERIST HUSBEND 
 
 we got your letter tellin us thet you was 
 comin home at last an tho you say you are 
 goin off again to Canady soon we was all 
 glad to git the news an mighty pleesed. 
 
 Your par an mar will now stay till they 
 see you an then they must start fer Little 
 Acres. I shall be sorry to see them go. 
 
 I have enjied evry day they hev been 
 a visitin me. I like your par reel well 
 Him an me git on reel well together, your 
 mar is a reel nice woman too though dred- 
 ful proper. 
 
 She ast me yisterday if I warnt some 
 older than you course I am says I, I 
 
222 MINT JULEP, 
 
 aint never denide it, an par spoke up an 
 says to mar, an aint you glad thet she 
 is Smart of par warnt it. 
 
 Well William there ain t much news 
 here. The childern are well though Ham 
 got his front tooth knocked clean out the 
 other day Eg struck him in the jaw 
 with a mallit, though twas all a accident. 
 
 The more I see of childern the more I 
 wonder thet so many grown up folks hev 
 all there members on them. Thet mine 
 hasent been maimed fer life over an over 
 agin is only due to the speshial dispensin 
 of Providence. 
 
 Your pa thinks my Jimmy would make 
 a better surgin or barber than anything 
 an I guess par is right Jimmy has a 
 nateral gift fer cuttin, the only time thet 
 boy looks wise is when he is whittlin a 
 stick. 
 
 No more fer the pressent from your 
 lovin an affecshunit wife 
 
 MINT JULEP 
 
CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 PLANS TO WELCOME WILLIAM 
 
 MINT JULEP was a social being. 
 She thoroughly enjoyed that 
 friendly intercourse between 
 neighbors which to her meant " runnin 
 in " for a minute or two, at any time of 
 the day. 
 
 She had as keen a relish for a bit of 
 gossip over the back fence, as a lady of 
 leisure might have at an after-noon tea. 
 But more than all Mint liked to shine 
 as hostess. 
 
 As she had once expressed it to Mrs. 
 
 McPeak, " I do jest love to have parties 
 
 an intertain, I could jest die intertaininV 
 
 To invite the neighbors to come and 
 
 spend an evening in her little sitting room, 
 
 where among other things they could hear 
 
 and see her talented family, was a wish 
 
 223 
 
224 MINT JULEP. 
 
 dear to the heart of Mrs. Julep. But 
 alas! like most of our dearest wishes, it 
 had never been fully gratified. 
 
 Now however, Mint believed that the 
 time had come, when it was almost a duty 
 to entertain. 
 
 William Julep was coming home and 
 it rested with the wife of his bosom to 
 make that home-coming an auspicious one. 
 
 She had fully made up her mind that 
 she would give a party in honor of the 
 occasion, and as she was finishing the 
 white-washing of her little kitchen one 
 bright morning, she planned out the 
 whole affair with a nicety of detail that 
 would have done credit to the late, la 
 mented Ward McAllister. 
 
 As the woman of fashion has her vis 
 iting list, so Mrs. Julep had carefully 
 gone over in her mind and made her list 
 of those who were to be her guests on 
 this memorable occasion. 
 
 She would invite Mr. and Mrs. McPeak 
 and Mr. Voneye. 
 
 Mr. Voneye was Tommy s teacher, and 
 
WILLIAM S WELCOME 225 
 
 had always shown a friendly interest in 
 her welfare. 
 
 Then there was Mrs. Kelly whom she 
 had met frequently at the corner grocery, 
 and her daughter Mazie who was always 
 very nice to the children. 
 
 These with the members of her own 
 family, including Pa and Ma Julep from 
 Little Acres, would be about all that the 
 little sitting room of Thanatopsis, would 
 hold. 
 
 At last the white-washing was com 
 pleted, the paint around the windows care 
 fully washed and the windows " rubbed 
 up " until they were clear and shining as 
 crystal. 
 
 Mint regarded the result of her labor 
 with satisfaction, and having carried the 
 brush and pail to the back shed, she re 
 turned to the kitchen for the more im 
 portant matter of the invitations. 
 
 From a drawer in the closet she took 
 a box of pink paper, and from the top 
 shelf, a bottle of red ink. 
 
 Thus equipped, Mint seated herself at 
 
226 MINT JULEP 
 
 the kitchen table ; taking the pen from its 
 resting place in the box of paper, she 
 proceeded to " try " it on the cover of the 
 box; a few flourishes on this hard surface 
 proved to her satisfaction that the pen was 
 still " working " and Mint carefully 
 started an invitation on the delicate pink 
 paper. 
 
 Mis Kelly dear friend 
 
 I am goin to have a party to 
 celabrate William Julep, my hus- 
 bend, huntin wild beats in the Rock 
 ies an hes comin home. I want you 
 should come also your darter Mazie. 
 You shall have a plessant evenin with 
 
 Mint Julep 
 
 Mint held this up and read it over sev 
 eral times before she finally put it in an 
 envelope and sealed it. 
 
 It looks fine and I think it s a real good 
 invite, thought Mint, but dear me what 
 a lot of time it is goin to take to write 
 them all; and having arrived at this con- 
 
WILLIAM S WELCOME 227 
 
 elusion, Mint decided that she would 
 write only one more, and that to Mr. 
 Voneye, whose social position in the 
 neighborhood, she thought, rather enti 
 tled him to the distinction of a written in 
 vitation. 
 
 The others she would tell by word of 
 mouth, and " any way," said Mint, " it s a 
 orf ul waste of time to write anything that 
 you can say over the back fence." 
 
 But Mrs. Kelly s invitation was written 
 and it was too good to keep, so hastily 
 summoning Mamie, who was busy " hang 
 ing out " her dolls wash, Mint placed the 
 pink envelope in her hand. 
 
 Mamie was not unlike her resourceful 
 parent. She was slight, indeed a very 
 wisp of a child; a mass of dark red hair 
 tumbled over a broad childish forehead; 
 a pair of bright eyes looked confidently 
 at the whole world; the small, retrousse 
 nose, and wide mouth always grinning, 
 hinted at a nature at once generous and 
 mischievous. She looked eagerly at her 
 mother and said : 
 
228 MINT JULEP, 
 
 "What is it, Mor, another letter to 
 For? " 
 
 " No it tain t. I want you should take 
 this letter over to Mis Kelly, you know 
 the nice lady wot squints a little, lives 
 next door to the grocery, you know who 
 I mean don t yer was up here one day 
 to see my hens - 
 
 " You mean miss Schworer." 
 
 " No I don t mean miss Schworer at all. 
 Miss Schworer has shingles an is drefful 
 sick. I mean Mis Kelly, the stout lady 
 right next to the grocery, wot squints a 
 little, in May Flower Cottage, there now 
 do you understand? " 
 
 " O yes now I know." 
 
 Well then you go an give her this let 
 ter, don t forgit now who it s for, Mrs. 
 Kelly, the nice lady right next door to 
 the grocery an there ain t no answer; jest 
 give it to her an then run home here, I 
 want yer." 
 
 Mamie started and was off like a flash, 
 waving the pink envelope over her head, 
 but Mint had only got fairly settled at 
 
WILLIAM S WELCOME 229 
 
 the table to write Mr. Voneye s invita 
 tion, when the door opened and Mamie 
 burst into the room, the pink envelope still 
 clasped tightly in her small fist. 
 
 " Mor, she says she don t." 
 
 "Don t wot? Land o goodness Ma 
 mie didn t I give you that letter to take 
 to Mrs. Kelly?" 
 
 " So I did mor, an she says she don t 
 and slammed the door." 
 
 " Mamie you tell me at onct, jest wot 
 you did an said," and Mint well aware 
 that something was amiss, stood up and 
 regarded her offspring with a very stern 
 face. 
 
 " I ran all the way Mor, and I rang 
 her bell and I says it s for Miss Kelly, the 
 nice lady what squints, and she says she 
 don t, and slammed the door." 
 
 " O Law, Mamie! You air enough to 
 clip the wings o Gabriell, an you haven t 
 any tack bout you at all. I do hope you ll 
 git it some way, fore you grow up, for 
 I jest despise a female without it. A 
 woman without tack is like a barrel with- 
 
230 MINT JULEP 
 
 out hoops, all that s in her is bound to 
 come out an she ll flop every time. Try 
 an raise a little tack ! Don t you know it 
 warn t nice to tell the lady she squints 
 you must never tell folks they squint or 
 have a onnateral def eck. 
 
 " Jest the same if that woman s eyes 
 ain t allus tryin to locate her nose, I m 
 tongue tied. 
 
 " Now give me that invite; I shall have 
 to put myself in her way an make it all 
 right. I might have knowed that a fly- 
 a-way like you would have done some sech 
 fool thing. 
 
 " I wish I had sent Bud with it, nice, sen 
 sible, stiddy little thing that she is, an I 
 will next time. Now git out." 
 
 Mamie did not need a second bidding 
 to get back to her play, but as she was 
 about to open the door, her mother said 
 
 " Wait, there s something on the pantry 
 shelf behind the sugar crock, I hid em 
 there from Ham an Eg go git em, 
 give one to Bud an one to yourself." 
 
 Mamie s grin was something very wide 
 
WILLIAM S WELCOME 231 
 
 and good to see as she emerged from the 
 pantry a moment later, a doughnut in each 
 hand, leaving Mint Julep, her arms out 
 spread like wings of a great bird, writing 
 Mr. Voneye s invitation to the party. 
 
 That evening after supper Mrs. Julep 
 told the children about the party. 
 
 " Hurray," shouted Tommy, " will 
 there be lots of good things to eat? " 
 
 " There ll be cake an lemonade, Tom 
 my, an don t you take more n one piece 
 of cake on your life, remember that, the 
 cake is for the compny." 
 
 " Wish I was goin to be the compny," 
 said Tommy. 
 
 " You air goin to help entertain them, 
 Tommy, you stand right up when they 
 all git here an play Home, sweet home, an 
 then set down an say nothin like a gentle 
 man; that s what you are goin to do. 
 You ll be all right I know, it s Jimmy I m 
 af eared of; I ll begin this minute to prac 
 tise Jimmy, for I m bound he won t be a 
 dumb waiter the night of that party." 
 
 Jimmy whittling a long stick in the 
 
232 MINT JULEP 
 
 corner, cast a doubtful look at his ener 
 getic parent. 
 
 " Yer aint a goin ter make me speak 
 fore all those people, are yer? " 
 
 Yes I am Jimmy, an you can jest 
 drop that stick an stan right up in the 
 middle o the room an say the piece I ve 
 been larnin yer fer weeks." 
 
 Jimmy laid the stick carefully on the 
 floor, and arose with a most dejected air; 
 thrusting both hands deep into his pock 
 ets, he advanced to the centre of the room. 
 
 : Well I never! I declare to goodness 
 Jimmy, after all I have said, you would 
 do it wouldn t yer ! Take them hands out 
 o yer pockets, quick; now make the bow 
 I learned yer, stand up straight like a man, 
 throw out your chist a little an try an 
 be some one even if it hurts yer." 
 
 When Jimmy found that he could not 
 hide his hands in any safe place out of 
 sight, he braced them squarely a little 
 above the knees, then having tried in vain 
 to recall the Mint Julep bow, he gave his 
 head a sudden jerk forward, and stood 
 
WILLIAM S WELCOME 233 
 
 like a wooden image looking fearfully at 
 his mother. 
 
 " No Jimmy, that won t do, there s bows 
 an bow-wows, that looked like yer head 
 was on a hinge an yer slammed yer face 
 at some one jest fer spite. You should 
 make it sorter graceful an sweepin like 
 this "- 
 
 Mint stepped forward in the act of in 
 structing her young hopeful in the art of 
 making what to her mind was an ideal 
 bow; she had not however measured her 
 distances in the small kitchen correctly 
 and had backed into Ham and Eg, who 
 in all the innocent sweetness of childhood, 
 were smearing each others faces with 
 black from the stove. 
 
 The twins were knocked down, and sup 
 posing this was some new and fearful 
 punishment for their misdemeanors, they 
 immediately set up a terrible howl which 
 had the effect for a few minutes at least, 
 of spoiling Mint s lesson in deportment. 
 
 At last quiet was restored and Jimmy 
 made another bow. 
 
234 MINT JULEP 
 
 " Wot makes him throw out his stum- 
 mick so," whispered Tommy. 
 
 " Hush Tommy, that was a real good 
 bow, that was wot the perf essor would 
 call tryin to emphasize hisself, which he 
 has a perf eck right to do. Now Jimmy, 
 look the world an the devil right squar 
 in the eye an say your piece." 
 
 If Mint Julep represented both sub 
 jects of this proposition, Jimmy could not 
 have looked with more awe and fear in 
 his boyish face, as he struggled through 
 his lines. 
 
CHAPTER XXX 
 
 A BASHFUL HERO 
 
 4 6 Tt yrOTHER. who be that comin up 
 I yj the beach, carpet bag, slouch 
 hat?" 
 
 Mrs. Tom Julep of Little Acres, sit 
 ting beside her husband in the sands at 
 Wintop looked up quickly and gave a per 
 ceptible start at sight of the young man 
 approaching. " My sakes, father, it looks 
 like our William." 
 
 " That s jest who tis, Phoebe, we ll not 
 say one word, we ll jest give him a sur 
 prise when he gits near," but strange to 
 say William Julep did not come near. 
 Instead of taking the path that led home, 
 he kept on his way and passed his parents 
 without ever seeing them. Tom Julep 
 jumped to his feet. " Come on Mother, 
 we ll f oiler ; tarnal strange thet a man ain t 
 235 
 
236 MINT JULEP 
 
 going direc home who has been away 
 from his wife an family all this time." 
 
 " They ain t his family," observed 
 Phoebe, tartly. 
 
 " Wa al if they ain t his then whose be 
 they I should like to know. Don t ye lose 
 sight of the fact, Mother, that when Wil 
 liam Julep married Mint, he tuk her an 
 wot belongs to her ; them childern are hers, 
 they are bone of her bone an flesh of her 
 flesh, she has marriel William an they 
 are one, therefore ain t it common sense 
 thet them children belong to him too? " 
 
 Phoebe pursed up her lips and did not 
 answer. There was much about Mint 
 Julep that did not wholly please the 
 mother of Mint s husband. If she had 
 the selecting of her son s wife she never 
 would have chosen Araminta which only 
 goes to show that she was not unlike all 
 the other mothers of sons in this old world. 
 But she had lived long enough with Tom 
 Julep to know that he always had the 
 best of an argument and in some mys 
 terious way which she could never quite 
 
understand he gained his point and led 
 her into the paths of his wisdom. There 
 fore she found herself hurrying along be 
 side him, wondering and anxious because 
 William Julep whose coming had been 
 looked forward to, was not going home, 
 and disappointed that this was so. 
 
 Where in ternation is that id jit a goin 
 I should like to know," observed Tom, 
 when William, after walking briskly for 
 about a quarter of a mile, suddenly turned 
 into a bit of woods. His parents follow 
 ing closely suddenly perceived a huge 
 bowlder lying in his path. Behind this 
 bowlder William Julep disappeared from 
 sight. 
 
 Tom Julep stood as if rooted to the 
 spot and ran a long finger through his 
 sparse locks. Wa al I ll be dinged if 
 thet ain t the strangest thing I ever see. 
 Wot in time is he doin behind thet rock 
 mother? " 
 
 " I m sure I don t know, father. Wil 
 liam was allus kind of distant, he s orful 
 bashful an " 
 
238 MINT JULEP 
 
 Tom interrupted her with a chuckle. 
 He rubbed his hip pocket and as Mint 
 would have said " smiled tremenjus." 
 " I have it, mother, come on, follow me." 
 Tom Julep ran ahead like a boy and in 
 another minute was on top of the rock 
 looking down on William sitting on the 
 grass wiping his face with a red hand 
 kerchief. 
 
 " Howdo, father," said William, look 
 ing up as if it was the most natural thing 
 in the world for his parent to be smiling 
 down at him from that lofty position. 
 
 " Naow, William," said Tom, stepping 
 down from the rock, " I jest want to know 
 what in tarnation air you doin here? 
 Here s mother jest arrived, she wants to 
 know too." 
 
 " Howdo, mother," said William, still 
 wiping his face vigorously with a red 
 handkerchief. 
 
 " Wot are yer doin behind this rock, 
 William? " 
 
 " O, I m just restin ." 
 
 " Restin , well I ll be dinged. You ve 
 
A BASHFUL HERO 239 
 
 been restin on steam kyars for bout a 
 week now hain t yer? " 
 
 " Ya as." 
 
 :< Wa al I should think you d got so 
 much settin that ye d want to git out an 
 swim on dry land somewhar. Naow it 
 beats my sense of reason, William, that a 
 man who has got the best wife in the 
 world, an who has been away for months, 
 ain t a hurryin home to her." 
 
 William looked quickly at his father a 
 gleam of interest in his mild blue eyes, 
 " Yer like Mint, father? " 
 
 " Like her. Course I like her. She s 
 a woman in ten thousand. Why, ding 
 me if Mint Julep was a man, she d be 
 runnin a circus or the President of the 
 United States." 
 
 During this eulogy Mrs. Tom Julep 
 pursed up her lips but maintained a dis 
 creet silence. William s face broke into 
 a smile. 
 
 " Ya as I think she s right smart, 
 father." 
 
 " Smart ain t the word. She s a born 
 
240 MINT JULEP 
 
 genus, that s wot she is. Yer ot to be 
 proud of a wife like that William." 
 
 " Wa al I be." 
 
 " Then why in time ain t yer home a 
 tellin her so. Here she s been expectin 
 of yer, an plannin fer yer, an stead of 
 runnin home to greet the best wife a man 
 ever had yer sneak off an hide behind a 
 rock. I ll be dinged if it ain t enuff to 
 make a woman like Mint git a deevorce." 
 
 " I didn t mean nothin , father," began 
 William, looking scared. " I think a lot 
 of Mint but I jest wa al twas like 
 this. Yer see Mint is orful courageous. 
 She could face a army an give em talk. 
 She likes a lot of folks round an some- 
 thin to stir yer up an all that, an I al 
 lowed as how I d jest lay low so to speak 
 till it got a leetle dark an then I would go 
 home quiet like an there wouldn t be no 
 fuss nor nothin an no folks round to see." 
 
 Tom Julep thought of the party 
 planned in William s honor and his shoul 
 ders shook with mirth but he said soberly, 
 
 " Git up, William, an go home." 
 
CHAPTER XXXI 
 
 THE PARTY 
 
 4 4T Tf TILLIAM I think it s no more 
 
 y y n fair that you should say 
 
 somethin to-night when the 
 
 folks git here. They all know I m havin 
 
 this party jest for you an it s only right 
 
 an proper that you should make a speech 
 
 ter welcome em. 
 
 " They ll expect it ; people have parties 
 to bring folks out ; makin a depew is what 
 the perfesser called it. Now a depew is 
 nothin without a little speech." 
 
 It was early evening in the Julep 
 kitchen the night of the party. 
 
 Mint in a ferment of excitement, was 
 putting away the supper dishes while 
 " Par " Julep, and her silent partner, sit 
 ting on opposite sides of the stove, were 
 having a quiet smoke. 
 
 241 
 
242 MINT JULEP 
 
 "Don t you think Par that William 
 ought ter make a little speech tonight? " 
 said Mint. 
 
 " A course he d ought ter." 
 
 " Speechifyin ain t so hard," continued 
 Mint encouragingly, " tain t so much wot 
 you say, it s how you say it ; look at them 
 politician fellers that all the people go 
 to hear, tain t wot they say so much that 
 counts." 
 
 " No," said Tom with a chuckle, " it s 
 wot they don t say sometimes, thet counts. 
 But jest the same Mint speechifyin ain t 
 so easy neither." 
 
 " It has allus seemed to me the easiest 
 thing in this world ter do," declared Mint. 
 " A man can say a word any wheres cept 
 at his own funeral; any one with a live 
 windpipe can make a speech. I shall 
 never forgit one Saturday night, jest af 
 ter William had come here from Little 
 Acres; me an him was doin our mar- 
 ketin an we see a torch light wagon with 
 a feller standin in it makin a speech, an 
 
THE PARTY 243 
 
 a great big crowd standin around listenin 
 to him. 
 
 " Don t you remember that, William? " 
 
 At the mention of his name William 
 looked up to see his spouse pointing a cup 
 at him; he removed his pipe and bowed 
 affirmatively. 
 
 " Of course you remember, William, 
 an the very words he said comes back ter 
 me now, for we stood with the rest to 
 listen. 
 
 " I tell you friends, says he, some 
 thing is wrong somewhars, says he, some 
 thing is rotten in Denmark ; an they 
 clapped an cheered an shouted an gev him 
 a pitcher to drink, they was so pleased." 
 
 " I bet he was a Democrat," observed 
 Tom Julep. 
 
 " He was a plumber cause I heard a 
 man say so, but I shall never forgit 
 them words, an the way they clapped him 
 for say in em Something is wrong 
 somewheres, something is rotten in Den 
 mark. I know em by heart. You 
 
244 MINT JULEP 
 
 know them words, don t yer William? " 
 
 " Ya as." 
 
 Well all you ve got ter say tonight is 
 stand right up an tell the folks your real 
 glad to be t home, pleased ter see them. 
 Think of that feller in the torch light 
 wagon and say something smart like him; 
 them words were easy enough, a child 
 could say em, something is rotten some- 
 wheres, ain t thet so Par? " 
 
 ; Why thet s the whole campaign 
 speeches in a nut shell," said Par, " ding 
 me f thet feller warn t bright. But look 
 a here, Mint, don t yer think seein as 
 William ain t much on talkin , thet you d 
 better let him go long kind o easy like, 
 an never mind the speech? You could 
 say somethin yerself, an that d take the 
 cuss off it." 
 
 Course I ll say something," said 
 Mint, " but I know human nater an I 
 don t want ter disappint folks; they ll be 
 twice as pleased if William says some 
 thing. " 
 
 " Now I have no more n time to put 
 
THE PARTY 245 
 
 Ham an Eg to bed an then help Bess 
 to dress the other childern." 
 
 The twins paddling their fingers in a 
 huge bowl of lemonade were immediately 
 pounced upon by Mint and carried off 
 upstairs, one under each arm. 
 
 " You ll git nothin more than a lick 
 an a promise to-night," said Mint, " for 
 I ve got ter fix my hair an lots o things 
 yet fore them folks gits here." 
 
 At last the twins were snugly tucked 
 in, and Mint proceeded to make a hasty 
 toilet. She arranged her hair with the nu 
 merous puffs, curls, and " hay-lows " that 
 Bella Ball had given her and putting on 
 her best black dress and white apron, she 
 descended to the sitting room to find the 
 children all dressed and looking fresh and 
 sweet as could be, thanks to Bess Tobey. 
 
 A wooden bench from the back yard 
 was brought into use and Mamie and 
 Tommy and Jimmy warned to sit on it 
 and " not git off," till told to do so. Bud 
 had a small chair all to herself; Mint pat 
 ted her on the cheek and told the child 
 
246 MINT JULEP 
 
 she was proud of her, because she was 
 " sech a little lady." 
 
 Ma Julep was given the rocking chair, 
 and to Mint s practical eye it was 
 very evident that there would not be 
 chairs enough for everybody. Bess To- 
 bey declared that she and Mazie Kelly 
 could sit very nicely on the folding bed, 
 and if necessary they could borrow a few 
 chairs from Mrs. McPeak. 
 
 At this point Pa Julep appeared and 
 seeing the difficulty said not to bother 
 about him as he d just as soon " roost " 
 on the window sill; but Mint insisted on 
 his having a chair and putting a hassock 
 under his feet, and Pa being tall, his knees 
 were very much in evidence. 
 
 Mint was still bustling about, putting 
 a finishing touch here and there, when the 
 first guest arrived in the person of Mr. 
 Voneye, the stout little German. 
 
 His broad face was rounded in smiles 
 under the soft Alpine hat which he waved 
 aside with a low bow as he entered the 
 room. 
 
THE PARTY 247 
 
 Almost on his steps came Mrs. Kelly 
 and her pretty daughter. When Scotty 
 McPeak and his wife arrived, a few mo 
 ments later, a constant chatter was kept 
 up, Mint leading of course, with the 
 little German a close second. 
 
 Suddenly Mint glided from the room; 
 she rushed into the kitchen to find Wil 
 liam Julep smoking peacefully, to all ap 
 pearances utterly unconscious of all that 
 was going on in the little sitting room in 
 his honor. 
 
 " Why William Julep git up at onct, 
 the folks hev arrived an their waitin fer 
 
 you." 
 
 " Waitin fer me? " asked William in 
 nocently. 
 
 " Yes waitin fer you ; good lands you 
 ain t got on thet red necktie I bought, 
 neither. I ll git it." 
 
 Like a flash Mint turned and flew up 
 stairs, reappearing in a moment with the 
 new necktie. 
 
 " Naow William stand up an put this 
 on, you ve got enough ile on yer hair 
 
248 MINT JULEP 
 
 ter grease a steam enjine; but you look 
 real nice an that tie is becomin cause it 
 matches yer complexion. 
 
 " An you must say somethin William, 
 folks allus do at a time like this; jest some 
 little thing." 
 
 " Wot? " asked William struggling to 
 arrange the tie. 
 
 " Why say you re glad ter see em, tell 
 em how a man goes off an is glad to git 
 back; think o that politician feller in the 
 torch light wagon - 
 
 " Look here Mint, why couldn t you go 
 in thar an tell em all that f er me." 
 
 "William Julep!" 
 
 " Fact is Mint, I ain t feelin real 
 spunky tonight, an I d kind o like to go 
 to bed." 
 
 "Hounds o Goshen! William Julep 
 if you was ter go to bed tonight, I d be 
 disgraced fer life. Ain t I havin this 
 party jest fer you? " 
 
 "Ya as." 
 
 " There s no reason in this world that 
 would send a "man to bed the night of 
 
THE PARTY 249 
 
 his depew, onless he was struck by light- 
 nin or chills an fever or somethin ekally 
 bad. An if you was struck William, af 
 ter all the plannin I hev done fer this, 
 I d hev you carried inter thet room with 
 ice on yer head. Now come along." 
 
 The next moment Mint Julep appeared 
 before the guests, leading in the conquered 
 hero of the occasion. 
 
 " Ladies and Gentlemen," said Mint, 
 holding William s arm at the threshold, 
 " this is my husband, William Julep, 
 who s been away as yer know, an he s 
 offul pleased ter see you all; he s goin ter 
 say a few words ter express his pleasure 
 at meetin yer, jest a little speech." 
 
 Silence and expectation now reigned 
 supreme. Mint nudged William furi 
 ously and William straightened up and 
 coughed, then coughed and straightened 
 up again. Mint smiled into his face en 
 couragingly and once more William 
 coughed. 
 
 A sharp pull inside his coat reused Wil 
 liam to action. 
 
250 MINT JULEP 
 
 " Wa al friends, I m right glad ter be d 
 home agin, hope yer ll be the same. A 
 man goes off an gits back, an-an goes 
 off agin. There s somethin wrong some- 
 where s somethin is is rottin in in 
 in Maine, an I alms vote the straight 
 Republican ticket." 
 
 " Do you know what iss rotten in dot 
 place, dot Maine? Brohibition," declared 
 Voneye bringing his fist down on the arm 
 of the chair, while William was led tri 
 umphantly to a seat by his proud partner, 
 the guests still clapping his speech. 
 
 " You say dot you always votes the 
 straid Republican ticket, my friendt," said 
 Mr. Voneye, " if you do dot, you makes a 
 meestake." 
 
 " Haows that," said Tom Julep scent 
 ing a political argument. 
 
 " Why are you Republican, tell me dot," 
 said Voneye. 
 
 "Well," said Tom, "fust place my 
 father was a Republican and my grand 
 father was a Republican, an twouldn t 
 surprise me if they was yit." 
 
THE PARTY 251 
 
 " So-o? a man iss Dutch, his fader was 
 a Dutch und his great grandfader wass a 
 Dutch he couldn t helb it, see? but 
 dots not de way to git your polidicks. The 
 Republican pardy iss good for someting, 
 de Democratic party iss not bad for nod- 
 ing und which I take? I don t know 
 yet. I picks oud de best man ever time 
 und votes for him no pardy owns me." 
 
 " Wa al we don t do it that way mis 
 ter," replied Tom, " I d vote the Repub 
 lican ticket if they digged up the mouldin 
 remains of one, and put him up for Presi 
 dent." 
 
 "Well I never," said Mint, who had 
 listened intently during this argument; 
 " Par is offul strong in his faith an poli 
 tics." 
 
 You are wrong my friendt," said 
 Voneye, " de best man de best way for me, 
 and Von Groll find dat oud he came to dis 
 country ven he vas only nine years old." 
 
 You know my friendt Von Groll? " 
 asked Voneye turning suddenly to Wil 
 liam, who shook his head in denial. " Veil 
 
252 MINT JULEP 
 
 he can pull your jaw oudt vile you vait, 
 mit shust his fist." 
 
 William looked mildly surprised at this 
 remarkable statement, but Scotty McPeak 
 who up to this time had maintained a dig 
 nified silence, laughed aloud. 
 
 " What s thot ye say? " asked Scotty. 
 
 Von Groll can pull you oudt mit his 
 fist, he is a tood extractor, vat you call a 
 dentist," replied Voneye. 
 
 " I want ter know," cried Tom Julep, 
 " quite a feat! " 
 
 " No feet, he does it mit his thumb und 
 finger, so." 
 
 The little German opened his mouth 
 very wide, placed his thumb and finger on 
 a side tooth, and proceeded to demonstrate 
 the movement. 
 
 Jimmy was so intently interested in this 
 performance, that he arose from the bench 
 and tried to look down Mr. Voneye s 
 throat. Mint coughed twice, and finally 
 had to pull Jimmy into position. 
 
 " Seems ter me kind o dreadful," said 
 Mrs. Julep, who in spite of family cares, 
 
THE PARTY 253 
 
 did not lose her hold on the conversation. 
 
 " Don t it seem so ter you? " 
 
 Mrs. McPeak and Mrs. Kelly thus ad 
 dressed, declared it must be " perfectly 
 horrid." 
 
 " I heard tell of a man onct," said Tom 
 Julep, " who could rub yer rheumatiz away 
 with his hand. I alms thot thet there was 
 some kind o witchcraft in it; as fer me 
 I ve carried a hoss chestnut in my pocket 
 fer upward of twenty year." 
 
 At this point in the conversation there 
 was a dull thud over-head and Mint 
 jumped to her feet and made a hasty exit. 
 
 " Guess them twins has fell outer bed," 
 observed Tom. 
 
 " O I hope the little darlin s don t get 
 hurtit," said Mrs. McPeak, while every 
 body looked anxious. 
 
 " No more than if they was inja rub 
 ber," said Mint reappearing just in time 
 to hear the solicitous remarks. " Don t 
 you never worry too much about babies; 
 lots of things that would kill a man jest 
 tickle a baby. When my Jimmy there 
 
254 MINT JULEP 
 
 was a baby he swallowed a whole bottle o 
 bluein . I was washin at the time, well 
 I made him drink soapsuds, till his insides 
 had a regular Monday wash." 
 
 All eyes were now directed toward 
 Jimmy, who bore these glances bravely; 
 then all at once his mother said " Jimmy 
 has a real taste fer ellercootion ; Jimmy 
 rise up an say yer piece fer the compny." 
 
 Jimmy cast one look at his mother and 
 then evidently made up his mind that "if 
 t were done when tis done, twere well it 
 were done quickly." 
 
 With hands thrust deeply into his pock 
 ets, Jimmy advanced to the centre of the 
 room, gave the title of his piece, and then 
 remembering the bow, stopped short, 
 gazed at his mother and jerked his head 
 forward twice. 
 
 " Charge o the Li Brigade," repeated 
 Jimmy, after the second jerk, and then 
 being fairly started, he went along with 
 out a pause for breath or anything else, 
 until he reached " the mouth of Hell," 
 and there he stuck. 
 
THE PARTY 255 
 
 In vain he went back into " the jaws of 
 death," and repeated the lines over and 
 over, all the while looking fearfully at his 
 mother, whose mouth twitched nervously 
 as she watched Jimmy s desperate encoun 
 ter with his memory. 
 
 " That s very good, son, now go on," 
 said Mint and again Jimmy, with a great 
 gulp, repeated, " into the jaws of death, 
 into the mouth o Hell," but it was no use, 
 that was as far as he could get. 
 
 " Well Jimmy let em be, yer can t very 
 well get em back anyway," said Tom 
 Julep coming to the rescue of the fright 
 ened boy. 
 
 This remark caused Scotty McPeak to 
 laugh immoderately, while Jimmy backed 
 to his seat, and in lieu of handkerchief 
 which his mother had carefully placed in 
 his outside pocket, he wiped the perspira 
 tion from his boyish brow, with the sleeve 
 of his blouse. 
 
 The guests applauded Jimmy s efforts 
 vigorously, and Mrs. Kelly declared that 
 it was " perfectly splendid." 
 
256 MINT JULEP 
 
 " Now Tommy," said Mint, " you stand 
 up an play Home, Sweet Home, for the 
 ladies an gents." 
 
 Tommy picked up his cornet and ad 
 vanced directly in front of Mr. Voneye. 
 Mint sat very straight, every nerve on the 
 alert for the proud performance, which 
 she felt in some measure would make 
 amends for Jimmy s short-coming. 
 
 Tommy had on a pair of red trousers 
 which Mint had made for the occasion out 
 of an old shawl. An immense red bow 
 stood out almost to his ears. 
 
 All the ladies present except Ma Julep, 
 cast admiring glances at Tommy s trous 
 ers, and whispered, loud enough for his 
 fond mother to hear, very complimentary 
 remarks about them. 
 
 Whether it was the tight little trousers, 
 and they were very tight, or the great bow 
 under Tommy s chin, certain it is that 
 Tommy looked ready to burst, before he 
 even started to play. 
 
 The company were silent again, and 
 Tommy raised the cornet to his lips, while 
 
THE PARTY 257 
 
 uneven strains of Home, Sweet Home is 
 sued forth as it were, in gasps. 
 
 As Tommy proceeded, his little fat face 
 began to rival the red trousers in color. 
 
 Tom Julep eyed the boy anxiously. 
 Everybody felt there was a crisis coming, 
 and it seemed to Tom there was a strong 
 possibility of Tommy s swelling to the 
 bursting point. 
 
 At last Tommy gave one long, final 
 blow as a sort of climax, when suddenly 
 Mr. Voneye, gazing calmly at the ceiling 
 all unconscious of impending danger, was 
 struck fairly on the stomach by a large 
 button from the little trousers. 
 
 " Gott you vas too dight, Tommy," 
 flashed Voneye, risking a stroke of apo 
 plexy in his efforts to catch the button that 
 had dropped to the floor and had rolled 
 away under the voluminous folds of Mrs. 
 Kelly s dress. That lady jumped to her 
 feet quickly and then everybody in the 
 room tried to get that button. 
 
 Mazie Kelly, her pretty rosy face 
 wreathed in smiles, cried " button, button. 
 
258 MINT JULEP 
 
 whose got the button." All at once Jim 
 my who had followed its course with the 
 trained eye of a marble player, suddenly 
 pounced upon it and held it up in triumph. 
 
 If Mrs. Julep felt uneasy for a moment 
 at this slight mishap to Tommy, the pride 
 she had in his musical performance soon 
 dominated every other feeling. 
 
 With beaming face Mint looked around 
 from one to another, as if to challenge 
 them to state whether or no they had ever 
 heard anything quite so clever. 
 
 " It was perfectly grand, wasn t it Ma," 
 said Mazie Kelly, but her mother was 
 squinting so hard at the little trousers to 
 see if they were going to hold, she did not 
 hear the first part of the remark, and sup 
 posing that her daughter referred to the 
 accident, said quickly, " twas orful, twas 
 a shame, his troath was chokin him, the 
 poor boy, and med him swell up and bust 
 his buttons." 
 
 " It s better to be too loose than too 
 tight, hey Tommy?" said Tom Julep, " es- 
 
THE PARTY 259 
 
 pecially when yer not playin a shrinkin 
 part." 
 
 Mint, smiling and happy, whispered 
 something to Bess Tobey and they left the 
 room, reappearing shortly with the lem 
 onade and cake. 
 
 Tommy in spite of his mother s warn 
 ing ate three pieces, and asked everybody 
 in the room if they wanted theirs. 
 
 It was while the merry guests were par 
 taking of the refreshments that Mr. Von- 
 eye, who up to this time had been the life 
 of the party, grew strangely quiet. 
 
 Tom Julep said afterward that he 
 thought the little German looked home 
 sick. Whether it was the glass of lemon 
 ade, which he held on his knee but did 
 not drink, or whether Tommy s playing 
 Home, Sweet Home, had brought on this 
 tender feeling, I cannot say. 
 
 He was the first to arise and declare he 
 had to leave the " blessant compny." 
 
 " Gid more vind, Tommy," said Mr. 
 Voneye, patting the boy on the head, " gid 
 
260 MINT JULEP 
 
 more vind, and you be a right, you will 
 yet be a great moosician." He then made 
 a nice little speech, at the end of which he 
 bowed individually and collectively to all 
 present. Indeed Mr. Voneye s speech and 
 generous bowing, set all the company bow 
 ing. 
 
 Mrs. Kelly began to drop courtesies to 
 everybody as if she were dancing the min 
 uet; and after squinting hard at a plaster 
 cast of Miles Standish, which she mistook 
 for Voneye, she courtesied several times 
 to Miles. 
 
 Scotty McPeak shook hands with Tom 
 and William Julep and said he hoped they 
 were well. 
 
 Tom said he was feeling " tolerable an 
 good as could be expected." 
 
 Then the ladies said they must go, and 
 that they had " enjoyed it most onusual." 
 Mrs. McPeak said she never had such a 
 perfectly lovely time. 
 
 When the door had closed on the last 
 guest, Mint, tired but triumphant, looked 
 at the man for whom all this honor and 
 
THE PARTY 261 
 
 glory had been consummated. There was 
 a look of benign satisfaction on her honest 
 face and she felt that her husband must be 
 duly impressed with the grandeur of his 
 reception. 
 
 " William if I do say it, I hope you see 
 how your fam ly done you tonight, an* 
 done you proud! I ll bet your Mar and 
 Par was intertaint this night as they never 
 was in Little Acres." 
 
 "I m bound your fam ly 11 hev a cultur 
 on em." 
 
 " I onct heard the perfesser say that lots 
 o people in Boston was more intrested in 
 prize fights than cultur but you d never 
 think so if you see the money they spent 
 to git cultur from the perfesser." 
 
 " William you have got a wife an fam ly 
 that s got a cultur on em an that s all I ve 
 got ter say." 
 
 " William Julep didn t you feel proud 
 this night?" 
 
 "Wa alya asMint,Idid." 
 
CHAPTER XXXII 
 
 PAR AND MAR SAY GOOD-BYE 
 
 4 4 "IT JT TELL this time tomorrer morn- 
 
 V y in you ll be havin your coffee 
 
 d home in Little Acres," said 
 
 Mint, as she lingered at the breakfast table 
 
 with her guests, the morning after the 
 
 party. 
 
 "Yep, that s right, Mint," said Tom 
 Julep, " so we will an though I shall be 
 glad to git home once more, I m reel sorry 
 to be leavin yer all as I have enjiyed my 
 stay tremenjus, ain t we, mother? " 
 
 " Yes, indeed we have, but I m gettin 
 kinder anxious now to git back. It s most 
 time I was startin on my preserves. Wot 
 time did you say the train started, father? " 
 
 " Great Mespotamy ! Did you know 
 the time was gittin close," said par, taking 
 out his timepiece. 
 
 " Guess I ll haul that trunk out an be- 
 262 
 
GOOD-BYE 263 
 
 gin ter pack. I ve got lots more goin 
 home than I had comin here. I guess 
 mebbe you have got enough for the carpet 
 bag and trunk too, hain t yer, father? " 
 
 " Yep, I think likely I have. Yer see 
 we have all those does that Miss Ball sent 
 over." 
 
 Yes, an you orter wear that plaid suit 
 of Henery s home," declared Mint. " Mar 
 let down them pants an I bet they re jest 
 right now, besides they will look reel nice 
 to travel in." 
 
 " Think so, Mint?" 
 
 " A course I do, they are reel stylish, 
 an jest the thing for a gent." 
 
 " Well, ding me, I ll wear em if you 
 say so, Mint. I ll git the trunk and carpet 
 bag filled fust an then I ll git the plaid 
 suit on." 
 
 " Mar," said Mrs. Julep, " I m a going 
 to make a coffer on you right away. It is 
 too bad not to use up them puffs an cata 
 racts an things. Jest let down yer hair 
 an I ll fix yer up so that Little Acres ll set 
 up an take notice an reelize that you have 
 
264 MINT JULEP 
 
 been to Boston. I should make it a pint, 
 ma, if I was you to call around on every 
 livin soul in taown when yer git home for 
 fear anyone would miss sech a sight. You 
 tell em about Bella Ball bein rich an 
 handsome, tell em that in these days in 
 Boston, women are buyin jest two things, 
 cultur an hair, tell em you ve seen enuff 
 cultur right in your own William s flock 
 to last yer all yer life in Little Acres. A 
 course I hain t braggin bout Tommy, but 
 you could say with truth that for his age 
 the way he tutes on a brass trumpet is 
 nuthin short o marvelous. Jimmy s 
 mem ry went back on him the night we had 
 our party, to be sure, but nevertheless 
 that boy has got it in him to be a Hello- 
 quoshunist. There now, Mar, I dew think 
 them puffs look lovely. Looks as if your 
 hair was shadin off to all sorts of colors 
 and with that little turban it s jest grand." 
 " Well, Mint, I was jest thinkin that if 
 you d jest as soon I d rather have the big 
 hat than the turbin cause it shades yer eye 
 from the sun." 
 
GOOD-BYE 265 
 
 " Certain sure it does an you shall have 
 it if you want it. You look jest lovely, 
 ma, in all them puffs. I bet the folks in 
 Little Acres will jest admire to see yer, 
 but yer don t want yer hat on yet. You re 
 a goin up stairs to change your cloes fust 
 hain t yer? " 
 
 Yes, I guess I d better be gittin ready 
 too." 
 
 When Mint was alone in the kitchen 
 she started in to get up a little lunch to be 
 eaten on the train by the travelers. Shi 
 had hardly finished her task when Tom 
 Julep burst into the room, collar and 
 necktie in hand. 
 
 " Look here, Mint, it jest popped inter 
 my head that we had a trunk." 
 
 : Well, what difference does that 
 make," returned Mint. 
 
 " Haow are we goin to git it to the 
 depot?" 
 
 " Why, par, I never thot of that. 
 Warn t it stupid o me. Yer see you didn t 
 have it comin so a course it never onct en 
 tered my head. Now you d orter had a 
 
266 MINT JULEP 
 
 express man call to git it. I wonder if 
 it s too late now?" 
 
 " Too late, nothin . I wouldn t go with 
 out that trunk no how." 
 
 " Where s William?" asked Mint, as an 
 idea flashed into her head. 
 
 " He smokin out back." 
 
 4 William, William, come here a sec 
 ond," called his wife, running to the door. 
 
 Very shortly William pipe in hand ap 
 peared. 
 
 William, I want you should run down 
 to Moon-light Avenue, jest around the 
 corner from the enjine house, there s a 
 furnitoor movin man lives there an mebbe 
 he could come rite up here an take pa s 
 trunk. Run now, cause pa s in a hurry. 
 An warn t it too bad that we forgot all 
 about that trunk yesterday." 
 
 William departed while his father went 
 up-stairs to change his suit, but in a very 
 short time William returned and informed 
 Araminta that the man who owned the 
 furniture team could not be found. 
 
 " Naow, ain t that jest too bad," said 
 
GOOD-BYE 267 
 
 Mint, " how are we goin to git that trunk 
 to the depot." As she said the words a 
 butcher boy stopped his team at Mrs. Mc- 
 Peak s door, and another idea flashed into 
 Mint s mind. 
 
 She ran out and asked him if he couldn t 
 take the trunk in his butcher team, but 
 the boy declared he had lots of orders to 
 deliver and could not. 
 
 ; Well, ding me," said par coming into 
 the room, " but this here place ain t much 
 for accommodation. In Little Acres any 
 one would give yer a lift without askin ." 
 
 " I d pay a half a dollar to git that trunk 
 to the depot. Seems too blamed mean 
 that we can t." 
 
 ; We ll git it there if I have to buy a 
 wheel-barrow an have William wheel it for 
 yer," said Mint, " but wait, I ve jest had a 
 insperration. I ll git a team. P r aps I 
 could borrer one from Mrs. Kelley s son; 
 he has loads of horses an carts in his busi 
 ness." 
 
 ; What is his business? " asked par. 
 
 " His mar told me once that the city 
 
268 MINT JULEP 
 
 made holes for Danel to fill." So saying 
 Mint threw her apron over her head and 
 flew out of the house and down the street 
 to Mayflower Cottage. She hurried 
 around to the back door and after knock 
 ing walked in to find Mrs. Kelly standing 
 at the sink washing the breakfast dishes. 
 
 " Good mornin to you, Mrs. Julep, sit 
 right down," said Mrs. Kelly, her face 
 wreathed in smiles. 
 
 " I can t set down, Mis Kelly, I m in a 
 dreadful hurry, an I ve come to ask you 
 to do me a great favor." 
 
 " Indeed I ll do anything I can for yer," 
 said Mrs. Kelly, wiping her hands. 
 
 " It s jest like this, Mis Kelly, you 
 know William s folks are goin to-day, 
 an they have a trunk an* we never thot 
 of that trunk till the last minute, an 
 par wants orfully to take it along on the 
 same train with him. He s got a big car 
 pet bag too, an tenny rate I thot seein as 
 your son had a lot o dump carts and bosses 
 you might let us have the use of one for 
 
GOOD-BYE 269 
 
 a couple of hours. I don t believe it will 
 even take that long." 
 
 " Well now, Mrs. Julep, if my Danny 
 was here, it s himself would take the trunk 
 for yer, but he s away at his work, tho 
 I do think there s a cart out back. We ll 
 go out an see. An the hoss yer welcome 
 to along with the cart, only he s rale blind 
 an he s kinder balky at times. Come on 
 an see Maudie." 
 
 " Maudie " was the superannuated beast 
 that Mint was taken out to view in the big 
 barn, at the rear of the house. 
 
 " That ll be jest the thing, Mis Kelly. 
 Oh! I m ever so much obliged, an par 
 Julep will be delighted." 
 
 :< Well, indeed, he s welcome to them an* 
 twenty more if I had them, an a fine old 
 gentleman he is and the old lady too an it s 
 sorry I am that they are goin to lave us. 
 Can yer back up a hoss, Mis Julep?" 
 
 " Yes, indeed, I can. Wish I had a dol 
 lar for ev ry hoss I ve driv from Farnham 
 to Farnham Corner." 
 
270 MINT JULEP 
 
 Whist now, come Maudie, there s a 
 good girl, come, now back up." So say 
 ing Mrs. Kelly backed Maudie out of her 
 stall, and the two women, with no little 
 difficulty, finally succeeded in getting the 
 harness on, and hitching her to the dump- 
 cart. Mrs. Kelly perspired freely over 
 her part of the task and frequently wiped 
 her face with her gingham apron. It was 
 no easy matter harnessing " Maudie," and 
 once the good lady lost her temper com 
 pletely, and cried lustily, " back up yer 
 ould divil yer, back up, or I ll break the 
 ligs o yer." 
 
 " She s some contrary, ain t she," said 
 Mint, " but then bosses alms are when yer 
 want em in a hurry." 
 
 Then Mint Julep took the reins and 
 climbed up into the dump-cart seating her 
 self on the swinging leather seat attached 
 to two chains from the sides of the cart, 
 and started. 
 
 " Yer look as natrul up there as Danny 
 himself. Good luck to yer," shouted Mrs. 
 Kelly, waving her hand. 
 
Good luck to yer" shouted Mrs. Kelley 
 
 Paie 270 
 
GOOD-BYE 271 
 
 " Git up now Maudie, git up," said 
 Mint, giving the horse a slap with the 
 reins. " Maudie " seemed to be in good 
 spirits; she started ahead at a brisk jog 
 that almost upset Mint off the leather 
 seat, and caused a boy who had followed 
 the cart to shout in derision. It was a 
 very short ride, and the distance was soon 
 covered. Mint rode up in triumph to 
 Thanatopsis and stopped at the gate. 
 She opened the door of her cottage to 
 find the whole family in the sitting room 
 around Tom Julep. " Mar " was on her 
 knees trying to pull down the plaid trous 
 ers, but it was no use ; par s red socks were 
 plainly visible. 
 
 " Let em go, ding me, if I care," said 
 par, " they ain t time to change my pants 
 now, and besides ev ry ding thing is locked 
 up in the trunk." 
 
 " Mint, I hev alms said you was a 
 genus. You ve got a turn out fer us, 
 ain t yer. Come on, now William, give 
 us a lift with this trunk an we ll git this 
 trunk out." 
 
272 MINT JULEP 
 
 Suiting the action to the word Tom 
 Julep and his son carried the trunk be 
 tween them and put it in the cart. When 
 this was done Tom stood off rubbing his 
 hip pocket, and looked at " Maudie." 
 
 "Well, I ll be dinged, that ain t jest 
 exactly wot ye d call a choice piece o hoss- 
 flesh, hay, William?" 
 
 " May be a better goer than a looker," 
 said William. 
 
 " She s real blind, an yer better not take 
 chances," said Mint, " William can lead 
 her when we git where it ain t easy 
 goin ." 
 
 " Pshaw! yer don t hev ter do that," said 
 Pa. 
 
 " Well, I d feel lots better, if yer did," 
 said Mint. 
 
 At this point all the children were beg 
 ging for a ride, till at last Mint had an 
 other " insperration." 
 
 " Par you drive. William can lead 
 Maudie/ Mar an me can set on the 
 trunk an the childern pile all round." 
 
 " Well git in lively," said Tom, look- 
 
GOOD-BYE 273 
 
 ing at his watch. " There now are ye all 
 ready, mother? Git up, Maudie, 
 G long." 
 
 It was a funny sight, and as the cart 
 jogged along loud was the laughter that 
 greeted them on all sides. Tom Julep, 
 his tall form dressed in the gaudy plaid 
 suit, stood up leaning forward a little 
 every now and then giving the horse a slap 
 with the reins. 
 
 " Mar " Julep s face was lost to view 
 under the immense hat she wore as she 
 sat on the trunk. There were many con 
 jectures among the people who saw them 
 as to the whereabouts of the little party 
 in the tip-cart. Indeed John Gilpin s 
 famous ride of old never occasioned more 
 remark. 
 
 But " Maudie " began to lose the good 
 spirits which had sent her along so well at 
 first. Her steps began to lag perceptibly, 
 and all at once to Tom Julep s indigna 
 tion she stood perfectly still on the road 
 and refused to budge an inch. In vain 
 did Tom and William apply all the arts 
 
274 MINT JULEP 
 
 known to the trade to make Maudie " git 
 up." The party got out and the children 
 played tag while Tom gave vent to his 
 wrath, alternately looking at his watch and 
 trying to move Maudie. At last a car 
 riage came along and its occupant, a 
 young man with a pair of keen dark eyes, 
 stopped and examined the stubborn beast. 
 
 ; That horse wants a good feed of oats. 
 Guess she ll go all right then." 
 
 " She ain t my hoss, Mister," said Tom. 
 " I ve got to git a train. Naow, what in 
 tarnation am I goin to do? " 
 
 " Get in all of you," said the man. 
 
 Once again the little party piled into 
 the tip-cart, and lo, the stranger had looked 
 at Maudie s front hoof and the trick was 
 done before their very eyes. " Maudie " 
 jogged along and never stopped until 
 they reached their destination. What a 
 send-off that was. What shaking of 
 hands and good wishes and promises of 
 future visits. 
 
 " Good-bye, William," said Tom Julep. 
 " I s pose you ll be startin off yourself 
 
GOOD-BYE 275 
 
 pretty soon, when do you calkelate to go 
 to Canady?" 
 
 " To-morrer," said William. 
 
 " The idea," said Mint, " why didn t yer 
 mention it. I thot sure ye d be d home 
 another week or so anyway." 
 
 " Well why didn t you tell us, William," 
 said his father, with a dry smile, "so as 
 Mint could git up another party for ye." 
 
 " I only got word from Mr. Ogden this 
 morning," returned William. 
 
 " Well, I should be orf ul pleased, son, 
 an mother would to git a line from yer up 
 thar in Canady." 
 
 " An I promise you shall git a line from 
 him," said Mint, " an* now best git on, 
 that s a whistle." 
 
 When the little party had shouted itself 
 hoarse, and every hand had waved the 
 train out of sight, Mint Julep and the 
 children got into the cart again and Wil 
 liam drove them home. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII 
 
 MOLLY AND BESS RUN THE HOUSE 
 
 THE morning that William Julep 
 said farewell to Araminta, on his 
 trip to Canada, had been hot and 
 sultry. There was not a hint of breeze in 
 the torrid air and Wintop fairly sizzled 
 in the heat. 
 
 Mint Julep was taking a batch of bread 
 out of the oven when a breath of cool air 
 from the window told her that there had 
 been a change. An east wind as sudden 
 and refreshing as an ocean wave on a sun 
 burned rock swept over the little town. 
 
 She took out the browned loaves from 
 the pans, and stood them on the kitchen 
 table. Then she hurried to the door and 
 looked at the children playing in the back 
 yard. 
 
 She wondered if the sudden change 
 276 
 
MOLLY AND BESS 277 
 
 would affect Bud Tobey who had a slight 
 cold. She called the child and asked her 
 if she needed her little coat. Bud de 
 clared she was " nice and warm " and 
 Mint stood there for a moment talking 
 about the change in the weather. 
 
 From the open windows of the sitting 
 room could be heard the sweet, childish 
 treble of Bess Tobey singing " Rock of 
 Ages " as she busied herself putting the 
 room in order. 
 
 For a moment the picture of the girl s 
 mother, as she lay peaceful and calm in 
 death flashed into Mint s mind, and all 
 that had transpired in that very room, 
 where the child was now singing happily. 
 " Poor, motherless Bess," said Mint. 
 " Yet she is happy," and the thought came 
 to her what a blessed thing it was that Bess 
 was happy. 
 
 Her thoughts were suddenly inter 
 rupted by the postman, who had just 
 come from McPeak s. He stepped to the 
 fence and held up a letter for her. 
 " Thank you," said Mint, " I wasn t jest 
 
278 MINT JULEP 
 
 expectin one, post-marked Farnham. 
 Well, I never. Who ever has been writin 
 me a letter from Farnham." 
 
 Clasping the missive tightly in her hand 
 Mint entered the kitchen, where she hastily 
 tore open the envelope and read the con 
 tents. 
 
 " Well, I never," she exclaimed, again 
 and again. 
 
 " Sech a surprise. Bess, Bess, come here 
 a minute, till I tell you the news. 
 
 " Jest read that," said Mint, thrusting 
 the letter into the hand of Bess Tobey the 
 moment she appeared on the threshold. 
 " My brother Hiram is sick an* wants to 
 see me particular, jest read it." 
 
 " I m real sorry he is sick," said Bess, 
 as she returned the letter which she had 
 glanced through hastily, " he writes that 
 he wants you to go at once," she added. 
 
 " Yes, right away," said Mint, " an that 
 is exactly like Hiram Cuckoo; when he 
 wants anything he wants it quick; there 
 never was a man had so little patience. 
 Of course I know that it must be some- 
 
MOLLY AND BESS 279 
 
 thin impartant but I don t jest see how I 
 shall be able to git up an git out of here, 
 because who is to look after this houseful 
 of childern while I am gone I should like 
 ter know." 
 
 ; Why, Mrs. Julep," exclaimed Bess, 
 her pretty face eager and smiling, " I can 
 look after them nicely, while you are gone 
 to Farnham. I would like to do it." 
 
 " D yer think yer could, Bess, all 
 alone?" 
 
 " Of course I could, why, they are all 
 able to do for themselves very nicely with 
 the exception of the twins, and I m sure 
 I could look out for them." 
 
 " Yes, but Ham an Egg are sich imps 
 of mischief, Bess, it sort of worries me." 
 
 " Now, Mrs. Julep, Ham and Egg are 
 perfect little angels with me. I can do 
 anything with those children, and don t 
 you worry in the least. You must go and 
 I ll do everything here. I m so glad of a 
 chance to do something for you." 
 
 " Bess, you are a good girl an I m awful 
 glad you re here. I believe I will go. 
 
280 MINT JULEP 
 
 " I ll git ready at onct too. Poor Hi 
 ram. He s had a peck o trouble lately an 
 somehow or other he allus did expect me to 
 help him out o trouble, an I should hate to 
 disappint him now by not goin . Yes, I 
 believe I ll go. I don t spose I ll be gone 
 more n a day or two any way." 
 
 So saying Mint hurried out of the room 
 to go up-stairs. She reached the little 
 hall just in time to see Molly Burt opening 
 the front gate. 
 
 " How do Molly. I m awful glad ter 
 see yer. You come right in an set down. 
 Bess ll talk to yer an tell yer all about it. 
 I m goin up-stairs to put on my black 
 dress an git ready to start for Farnham 
 fast as I can go. Hiram s in trouble o 
 some sort an has ast me to come." 
 
 " Oh," said Molly, with a smile, stepping 
 into the entry way while Mint paused for 
 breath. " Isn t that singular. Aunt Lida 
 has gone visiting for a week and I got 
 her consent to let me stay with you until 
 she returns. I came all prepared as you 
 
MOLLY AND BESS 281 
 
 see," she added laughingly, pointing to 
 her dress-suit case. 
 
 " Well, naow, ain t thet too bad," said 
 Mint, " there wouldn t be a soul to git you 
 a mite o vittles fit ter eat, an yer never 
 could stand the childern if I was away." 
 
 " Oh, aren t you going to let me stay," 
 pleaded Molly, "I ve never quite finished 
 a little sketch that I made down here and 
 I want to ever so much." 
 
 " Let yer stay. Bless yer heart. I d 
 like ter keep yer forever, but land o good 
 ness, Molly, you wouldn t want to stay in 
 this place if I was away, would yer? Jest 
 you an Bess an those noisy childern? " 
 
 " Wouldn t I, just try me, Mrs. Julep. 
 Bess and I keeping house! Oh, how jolly," 
 cried Molly, with the eagerness of a child. 
 " It s what I ve always wanted to do." 
 
 Then go ahead an do it," returned 
 Mrs. Julep, with a decided nod. " I 
 warned yer, remember that Molly, those 
 children are perfec imps fer gitten inter 
 mischief an cuttin up." 
 
282 MINT JULEP 
 
 They are dears, every one of them," 
 declared the girl. 
 
 " May I have carte blanche to run the 
 house," cried Molly, just as Mint reached 
 the head of the stairs. 
 
 " There s no cart, Molly. Jimmy has 
 a old truck, two wheels, ain t much good 
 though." 
 
 Thanks ever so much," said the girl 
 with a ripple of laughter and the next 
 minute bounded into the kitchen and pro 
 ceeded to kiss the surprised and happy 
 girl who was sweeping the floor. 
 
 " Oh, Bess, isn t it splendid, you and I 
 keeping house. I ve always wanted to 
 keep house, real, truly house and now you 
 and I can do it just like two sisters. No, 
 not like sisters either. I ve thought of 
 something even better. I ll be the mother, 
 because I m ever and ever so much older 
 than you. You are very young yet," 
 added Molly with a patronizing little pat 
 on the girl s cheek. 
 
 " I m twelve," declared Bess, straight- 
 
MOLLY AND BESS 283 
 
 ening up and trying to look dignified, 
 " that s not so young." 
 
 " But I am twenty, think of that, Bess 
 Tobey. The audacity of a girl like you 
 talking to one old enough to be your 
 mother. I cannot allow it," declared 
 Molly with a pretty assumption of sever- 
 ity. 
 
 " The idea," said Bess, and thereupon 
 the very walls of the little kitchen rang 
 with the laughter of the two girls. Sud 
 denly Mrs. Julep appeared on the thres 
 hold, bag and baggage, all ready for the 
 trip to Farnham. " Now, girls, I m a 
 goin . Take care of yerselves, and take 
 care of the childern. Don t let them git 
 cold. Bud is apt to ketch cold easy, she 
 needs extry wraps on the minute east wind 
 comes up. Make her eat an watch Ham 
 an Egg close when you go down ter the 
 water. Mrs. McPeak will be glad to tell 
 yer anything you want to know. I ll jest 
 run over there an tell her I m a goin , an* 
 don t tell the childern till I m gone nothin 
 
284 MINT JULEP 
 
 bout it. I ll give them a s prise. Naow 
 don t work too hard, girls, an jest git all 
 the fun outer housekeepin yer can git." 
 With several more reminders Mint de 
 parted to bid a hasty farewell to Mrs. 
 McPeak and to ask that worthy neighbor 
 to " keep an eye " on the girls till she re 
 turned. 
 
 Molly and Bess in the little kitchen pro 
 ceeded to begin housekeeping in real 
 earnest. 
 
 " Can you cook, Molly?" asked Bess, 
 taking a spring that landed her on the 
 kitchen table, where she sat swinging her 
 feet. 
 
 " I can make fudge, lovely fudge," said 
 Molly. 
 
 " Oh, I don t mean candy. Can you 
 make biscuits an things? " 
 
 " Biscuits. Oh, I never did but 
 wouldn t I just love to try to make some. 
 Lets have some for tea," cried Molly en 
 thusiastically. " Hot biscuit for tea, and 
 I shall make them. Er, did you ever 
 make any Bess?" 
 
" Oh, yes. I can make real good bis 
 cuit, and bread and cake and lots of 
 things." 
 
 " Goody, then I ll get the pan and you 
 tell me the ingredients to put in and let me 
 make them, you can teach me how to make 
 biscuit and things. That will be splen 
 did." 
 
 " What, teaching the mother," said 
 Bess, with a ripple of girlish laughter. 
 
 " Bess, we ll forget the mother part 
 of it when ever there is any cooking to be 
 done, because you know, little girl," said 
 Molly, gravely, " that I have never had 
 any good opportunities to learn all about 
 it. Here s the pan, now what shall I do 
 first?" 
 
 : Well, mother," said Bess, with mock 
 earnestness, " first take a quart of flour." 
 
 "A qu A quart?" repeated Molly 
 doubtfully. 
 
 " Yes, a quart, mother dear, why do you 
 hesitate about a quart of flour." 
 
 " Why, it seems so funny to measure 
 flour by the quart," said Molly innocently. 
 
286 MINT JULEP 
 
 " One hears of a quart of milk or a quart 
 of vinegar, but I always thought of a 
 barrel of flour." 
 
 Well, please don t for biscuit," said 
 Bess. " It would be awful to handle so 
 much dough and besides the biscuit would 
 be heavy I know." 
 
 " Well then just one little teeny, weeny 
 quart and here it is," said Molly, " and 
 what comes next?" 
 
 " Now, sift it, mother." 
 
 " S sift it sift flour" exclaimed 
 the girl. 
 
 "Well, why not?" 
 
 " Why. I know that people sift ashes 
 but I never, never knew that they had to 
 sift flour." 
 
 "Well they do, sift that twice," said 
 Bess, laconically. 
 
 The biscuit making continued until 
 Molly had actually rolled out the spongy 
 dough on the board, shaped the biscuit 
 with the cutter and placed them side by 
 side in the pan. 
 
 " How perfectly lovely they look," 
 
MOLLY AND BESS 287 
 
 cried Molly, " and isn t it easy when you 
 know how," she added. 
 
 " The oven is good and hot," said Bess, 
 trying it, " and that is proper because they 
 must raise right up in the oven to be light 
 and flaky." 
 
 When the biscuit were safely in the oven 
 the two girls their arms around each other 
 went out to watch the children at play. 
 
 "Be sure and look at your watch, 
 Molly, very often, because they ought to 
 be done in twelve minutes," observed Bess. 
 
 " I m so glad you mentioned it, Bess, 
 I ll look at the time every other second." 
 
 At this point Bud and Mamie, Jimmie, 
 Tommy and the twins, surrounded the 
 two girls and a jolly game of " tag " 
 was soon in progress. Afterward they 
 played the merry game of hide and go 
 seek until Bess ran in breathlessly to look 
 at the biscuit in the oven. The new cook, 
 as it often happens with amateurs, had 
 quite forgotten about them. 
 
 " Done to a turn," exclaimed Molly, 
 while Bess held up the pan that all the 
 
288 MINT JULEP 
 
 children might see what good things were 
 in store for them. : They would have 
 been done to a burn only for me," laughed 
 Bess, " while mother played tag." 
 
 " Jimmy," said Molly, laughing joy 
 ously, " don t you think my biscuit are de 
 licious ? " 
 
 They look good," replied the lad with 
 a grin, " if yer gimme one I ll tell yer 
 better." 
 
 " Let s save them for tea, and they 
 will taste all the better," said Molly. 
 
 When Molly Burt awoke the next 
 morning she ran to the window and looked 
 over the little stretch of Wintop that lay 
 before her eyes. 
 
 There was no sign of life in the cot 
 tages scattered here and there, but the 
 rumbling of a heavy milk wagon on the 
 street below told her that it was very 
 early. 
 
 In the distance a wooded hill loomed 
 a mass of blue and green and purple out 
 of the rising mists and beyond was the 
 sea, stretching away into illimitable shad- 
 
MOLLY AND BESS 289 
 
 owy depths. She smiled suddenly as the 
 thought came to her that as a child she 
 used to ask if the " big sea stayed in the 
 same place all night." A sudden impulse 
 seized the girl to go out doors and down 
 to the gray sea before the little town was 
 astir. 
 
 She dressed hurriedly and tip-toed out 
 of the house without waking a soul in it. 
 Molly s feet seemed winged as she flew 
 over the road that led to the beach. Five 
 minutes brisk walking brought her to the 
 water s edge and she stood and drank in 
 deep draughts of the delicious air. 
 
 " It s clear and cool and morning sweet, 
 it s good enough to eat," said Molly, think 
 ing aloud, but the thought had no sooner 
 flashed into her mind than it was followed 
 by a more practical one, that of breakfast. 
 
 There was a houseful of hungry chil 
 dren at home. They could not eat the 
 air, however tempting it might be to her 
 in the early morning. Molly laughed 
 softly to herself and immediately retraced 
 her steps, reaching the little gate of Mint 
 
290 MINT OTJLEP 
 
 Julep s cottage just as the front door 
 opened and Bess looked out. 
 
 ;< Why, where have you been at this 
 hour, I would like to know," said Bess by 
 way of greeting. 
 
 " Down to the sea, Bess, and I found 
 there all the sweet smelling breezes in the 
 world waiting for me." 
 
 " Come in and make some sweet smell 
 ing coffee, please," said Bess, " I m real 
 hungry." 
 
 " So am I," laughed Molly. " Are the 
 children still asleep ? " 
 
 " Sound. Let s go around as still as 
 mice, so as not to wake them. The longer 
 they sleep the better. That is what Mrs. 
 Julep says." 
 
 The two girls entered the little kitchen 
 and were soon busily engaged in prepar 
 ing breakfast. They had hardly com 
 pleted the task when a warhoop from a 
 room above told them that one little In 
 dian was awake and on the warpath. In 
 a short time all the children were up. 
 What a busy time it was for the next hour 
 
MOLLY AND BESS 291 
 
 or two. As Bess said afterwards they 
 had to be washed and brushed and combed 
 and dressed. But it was all new and in 
 teresting to Molly. She discovered that 
 Ham in some mysterious way had gum 
 on his hair. Molly tried to remove the 
 sticky substance in vain whereupon Jim 
 my appeared with a scissors and informed 
 her that " mor always cuts it out." " But 
 it will take some of his hair, too, if I cut 
 the gum away," said Molly, " and that 
 might spoil his head." 
 
 Yer can t spoil Ham s head no wuss 
 n it is," said Jimmie. " Mor says so." 
 
 After breakfast the children were sent 
 out to play and Bess and Molly began in 
 earnest to enter into the joys of keeping 
 house. 
 
 For joyous it was indeed to the two 
 girls. In a most systematic way they 
 aired the beds, cleared away the dishes, 
 swept and dusted, and then sat down to 
 plan the dinner. 
 
 Of course things did not always run 
 smoothly and there were many interrup- 
 
292 MINT JULEP 
 
 tions. Three or four lively children can 
 turn the best regulated household in the 
 universe up -side down in a few min 
 utes. 
 
 Egg got a splinter in his finger and 
 howled so dismally after Molly had deftly 
 removed it with a needle that she let him 
 sit on the kitchen floor and make houses 
 out of cakes of soap. 
 
 Then Ham toddled in covered with 
 mud from forehead to feet. " I felled 
 in a puddle," he sobbed. 
 
 " I do think Jimmy ought to mind the 
 twins while we are so busy," said Bess, 
 " I m going to tell him so." 
 
 " Say," said Jimmy, confidingly when 
 Bess at the door had reminded him of 
 this duty to perform, " when we re orful 
 good mor takes us to Barr s Float for a 
 picnic; we bring lunch an have lots o 
 fun." 
 
 " Wouldn t that be jolly," cried Molly, 
 coming to the door, " that s just what 
 we ll do, Jimmy, to-morrow, we ll have a 
 real nice little outing. Now you be a 
 
MOLLY AND BESS 293 
 
 good boy and don t let anything happen 
 to the twins while Bess and I are getting 
 dinner." 
 
 " Hurrah," cried Jimmy, turning a 
 cartwheel from the steps to the middle 
 of the back yard. " We re goin on a pic 
 nic to-morrow. Hurray, hurray." 
 
 In the early evening of that first day 
 of " keeping house " a drizzling rain kept 
 the children indoors. When the supper 
 dishes had been cleared away and Ham 
 and Egg were safely in bed all the others 
 gathered together in the sitting room. 
 They played games and told riddles, with 
 Molly the life of the little party. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIV 
 
 ALMOST A TRAGEDY 
 
 ARR S FLOAT, a collection of 
 rafts, boats, and old lumber was sit 
 uated on a little curve of Wintop 
 about a mile beyond the cottage. As it 
 lay close to a pretty stretch of pine wood 
 it was a favorite place for family outings. 
 Thither the little party from Thanatop- 
 sis Cottage wended its way on the morn 
 ing that Molly had set apart for the picnic. 
 The twins Gresham and Egremont 
 safely tucked into their carriage were 
 wheeled over the road by Bess Tobey. 
 The lunch for the party had been stowed 
 away in the two wheeled truck which 
 Jimmy pulled along proudly. One little 
 corner of it had been reserved for Bud 
 to ride on when she grew tired. 
 
 Room was also made in the twins car- 
 294 
 
ALMOST A TRAGEDY 295 
 
 riage for Tommy and Mamie when their 
 little feet began to lag perceptibly. 
 
 The day was warm and clear and the 
 little group of picnickers were bubbling 
 over with chatter and good cheer. Ev 
 erything gave promise of a most enjoya 
 ble trip. After a short walk devoid of 
 incident save that Egremont had fallen 
 fast asleep, the bit of wood was reached at 
 last. 
 
 A large rock served as a sort of hiding- 
 place for the wraps and the lunch, while 
 the party started to explore the wood. 
 
 When an hour had been spent in this 
 happy manner, they all gathered at the 
 rock for dinner. 
 
 Molly and Bess spread a tablecloth on 
 the grass and proceeded to arrange the 
 feast as daintily and artistically as possi 
 ble. It was not, strictly speaking, a suc 
 cess, however as the twins thought it a 
 novel place to walk. They chased each 
 other across several times in spite of Mol 
 ly s remonstrances and finally fell flat on 
 a little mound of jam tarts. Everybody 
 
296 MINT JULEP 
 
 laughed because everybody was good-na 
 tured and happy. The lunch proved to 
 be a veritable " feast of Lucullus " to the 
 hungry picnickers. When it was over 
 Bess and the children started to look for 
 berries leaving Molly free to sketch under 
 a great oak. 
 
 When you get tired of that pencil," 
 called Bess, " I hope you will follow in 
 our path and I ll show you where some 
 luscious blackberries grow." 
 
 "Thanks," said Molly, "when I get 
 tired sketching I m going to sleep. 
 
 * This mossy bank my couch shall be, 
 This knarled old oak my canopy, 
 
 added Molly, misquoting the pretty lines. 
 
 " Me is goin shee Molly make picshas," 
 declared Ham, looking back at the artist. 
 
 " Oh, no, Ham," said Bess, " we ll have 
 ever so much better fun, come with me. 
 We ll find lovely ripe blackberries." 
 
 " Me is goin shee Molly make picshas," 
 repeated Ham, stubbornly, and thrusting 
 a forlorn little thumb into his mouth Ham 
 
ALMOST A TRAGEDY 297 
 
 stood still and refused to move forward 
 another step. 
 
 " Let him stay," laughed Molly, when 
 Bess all in vain had tried to lure Ham 
 into the delights of blackberrying. 
 " He ll be safe here," Molly went on, " I ll 
 give him something to amuse him. Let 
 Egg stay too if he wants to." 
 
 Egg did not choose to leave Bess then, 
 so Ham wandered to the artist s side and 
 was soon hanging over pencil and paper 
 utterly oblivious of everything. Molly 
 Burt sat with her back to the child, but 
 in such a position that she could see his 
 little brown legs. And every now and 
 then in the midst of her sketching she 
 made sure that those little brown legs 
 were still there The minutes flew past 
 and Molly sketched away. Indeed she 
 became so interested in her work that she 
 never saw the little berrying party re 
 turning until a sudden warhoop from 
 Jimmy made her glance in that direction. 
 At the same time she saw that the little 
 brown legs were still in evidence. 
 
298 MINT JULEP 
 
 " If you had stayed away just five min 
 utes longer I would have finished my 
 sketch," laughed Molly, as they sur 
 rounded her. 
 
 " Oh, isn t it pretty," exclaimed Bess, 
 looking over the artist s shoulder, " and 
 here is Egg behind you fast asleep. 
 Where s Ham? " 
 
 Molly jumped to her feet. " Ham," 
 she cried, looking down on the sleeping 
 child in a puzzled way, " Why I thought 
 Ham was there asleep. How did Egg 
 get here? " 
 
 " Why he changed his mind about com 
 ing with us," said Bess, " and he ran back 
 to you. I saw him myself reach Ham s 
 side and sit beside him." 
 
 " But where is Ham? " cried Molly, 
 looking around helplessly. " I never saw 
 Egg till this moment. Where is Ham? 
 How could he have gone from under my 
 very eyes? " 
 
 A sudden fear clutched Molly s heart 
 strings. " Jimmy look around the woods 
 and see if he s lost his way. Bess, you 
 
mind Egg and the others, while I run to 
 the float." 
 
 Molly s pulses quickened and a name 
 less fear possessed her as she ran breath 
 lessly toward the old float. In and out 
 among the lumber and boats hastened the 
 frightened girl but not a trace of the 
 child could be seen. " Suppose he had 
 climbed onto the float and fallen into 
 the water," thought Molly. Oh, it was 
 too horrible. 
 
 With wildly beating heart she ran up 
 the steps and reached the very end of the 
 float. 
 
 Shading her eyes with her hand Molly 
 scanned the broad expanse of shadowy 
 water but not a speck disturbed its placid 
 surface. She looked back toward the 
 land and swept anxious eyes over the old 
 rafts, hoping for a glimpse of some hu 
 man being that might have seen the child 
 but the place was strangely deserted for 
 that time of the day and not a soul was 
 in sight. She could have cried out in her 
 helplessness. Molly looked again over 
 
300 MINT JULEP 
 
 the sea. A stiff wind had come up sud 
 denly and stirred the placid water into 
 little choppy waves. She ran back to the 
 land. Perhaps Jimmy had found the 
 child in the woods. It was more than 
 probable that Ham had attempted to fol 
 low the berry-pickers. A sudden hope 
 filled her heart and she ran swiftly 
 over the float and in a short time gained 
 the edge of the wood. But Bess with 
 streaming eyes met her and told her that 
 Jimmy could not find a trace of Ham in 
 the wood and had gone over the road to 
 look for him. Molly turned like a flash 
 and retraced her steps over the rafts and 
 onto the float. The water! The water! 
 That must have been the magnet that had 
 drawn the little brown legs from her side. 
 Once again Molly s anxious eyes looked 
 over every inch of that pitiless deep. All 
 at once, far below the float, drifting be 
 tween the mainland and a strip of barren 
 island she discerned a boat. At first 
 glance there was no sign of life in it, but 
 after awhile Molly thought she saw some- 
 

 Her whole soul \VHN bent on reaching that drifting l>.-ii 
 
 Pa*e 801 
 
ALMOST A TRAGEDY 301 
 
 thing white stir in the wind. The girl 
 felt rather than saw that something was 
 in that drifting boat. Unconsciously she 
 clasped her hands together and prayed to 
 heaven to guide her to it. 
 
 With a heart beating like a trip-ham 
 mer she ran back a little way, then jumped 
 lightly from the float and waded to the 
 nearest raft, untied the row-boat attached 
 to it and put off as fast as willing hands 
 could ply an oar. The tide was coming 
 in and she made fair progress. A fisher 
 man suddenly appeared on the raft and 
 called to her but Molly never saw him. 
 Her whole soul was bent on reaching that 
 drifting boat and every stroke of her 
 strong young arms brought her a stretch 
 nearer. How she thanked Heaven that 
 she could row so well and was perfectly at 
 ease in that small row-boat. She had de 
 spised the fashionable boarding-schools to 
 which Aunt Lida had condemned her all 
 her school life, and yet it was to one of 
 these very schools that she owed her pro 
 ficiency in handling the oars. Stately 
 
302 MINT JULEP 
 
 Southbridge Hall with its countless, shin 
 ing windows and ivy-covered walls, its 
 wide lawns and spacious dormitories, but 
 best of all " Laughing Water " the blue 
 lake nestling in its woods, that to Molly 
 always seemed a thing apart from the 
 gloomy school. What happy hours she 
 had spent on its rippling surface and had 
 learned there to row, to skate, to swim, 
 and to handle a boat. 
 
 Molly glanced over her shoulder now 
 and then to see how near was the quarry. 
 The drifting boat had now taken a side 
 course. Oh, if she could only look down 
 into it. Suppose after all that the boat 
 were empty. Suppose the child had 
 climbed into a boat from one of the rafts 
 and in some way it had drifted off. Per 
 haps he had fallen from that very boat 
 into the cruel pitiless water. Perhaps 
 even now his little body was floating out 
 to sea. The thought blanched her face 
 to an ashen hue and made her heart sick 
 with fear. Her friend had trusted her 
 with those children and she had betrayed 
 
ALMOST A TRAGEDY 303 
 
 that trust. How could she ever look in 
 Mrs. Julep s honest, generous, mother s 
 face and tell her that she had allowed her 
 baby to wander to the water and drown. 
 
 Molly s lips trembled and the hot tears 
 blinded her as she bent over the oars. She 
 was so near now that she half rose in her 
 seat and tried to look down into the boat, 
 only to bend again to her work with re 
 doubled energy. 
 
 One, two, three good stretches went the 
 rowboat and then Molly looked up 
 quickly to see something white stir in the 
 drifting boat. For a moment the sight 
 almost held her spellbound. Then she 
 saw a little head, crowned with a mass of 
 yellow hair. It was Ham. The lost 
 child was in that boat alive. Apparently 
 unhurt. 
 
 For one brief moment Molly s heart 
 bounded with joy at the sight, then a new 
 danger confronted her. He might even 
 yet fall out of the drifting boat before 
 she could reach him. And now he was 
 rubbing his eyes; as if he had just wa- 
 
304 MINT JULEP 
 
 kened from a sound sleep. Molly prayed 
 that his baby eyes might not see her 
 yet. But alas, Ham was now wide awake. 
 He attempted to stand, only to fall flat 
 in the moving boat. He pulled himself 
 up by one of the seats and held on un 
 steadily, while the boat rocked so badly 
 that every minute the girl expected to see 
 it turn over. A few more yards and she 
 could reach the side of the boat when the 
 child saw her. With a glad cry he raised 
 his little arms and leaned toward her, 
 while the boat seemed to stand on its side. 
 The heart of the girl in the rowboat al 
 most ceased to beat. Then, like a flash, 
 something swift came between her and the 
 child. It was large and had white sails 
 and Molly realized in a dazed way that 
 there was a man on it reaching far out. 
 She felt an oar slip away from her hand. 
 Then all grew dark. 
 
CHAPTER XXXV 
 
 LOVERS REUNITED 
 
 WHEN Molly opened her eyes 
 again she found herself sitting 
 very comfortably in a little sloop 
 that seemed to be cutting its way through 
 the water at a tremendous rate of speed. 
 A man was standing opposite holding 
 Ham in his arms. There was something 
 familiar about the breadth of the man s 
 shoulders and the way his head was set on 
 them but Molly could not see his face. 
 She gazed at the child now happy and 
 contented while the man called his childish 
 attention to the " big waves." 
 
 Ham was alive and well. Suddenly all 
 the pent up misery and uncertainty of 
 those terrible moments when she thought 
 he had been swept into the water found 
 vent in a burst of passionate weeping. 
 305 
 
306 MINT JULEP. 
 
 Molly covered her face with her hand 
 kerchief and cried pitifully. The man 
 never turned. Apparently he was uncon 
 scious of her presence there and Molly 
 felt very grateful to him that this was 
 so. But the little sloop was even now 
 trying to make a landing at the float. 
 Molly ashamed of her display of emotion 
 tried to dry the tears that almost blinded 
 her. She saw a little knot of people on 
 the shore. They were shouting and wav 
 ing handkerchiefs and then the man still 
 holding the child in his arms turned to 
 help her onto the raft. It was not until 
 that moment that Molly knew that her de 
 liverer was Jeremiah Storey. 
 
 Take my arm, Molly," he said in an 
 undertone, as she stepped weak and 
 trembling on the raft. The girl heard 
 him and obeyed. The group of people 
 w r ho had witnessed the rescue pressed for 
 ward, but Mr. Storey ignoring all ques 
 tions found his way through the crowd 
 to Bess and the children on the side of the 
 road waiting patiently. 
 
LOVERS REUNITED 307 
 
 In an incredibly short time, thanks to 
 Mr. Storey, the little party still saddened 
 and subdued was on its way homeward. 
 Ham insisted on having his former po 
 sition in the young man s arms, and car 
 ried his point triumphantly. Egg and 
 Tommy were put in the carriage. Bud 
 and Mamie rode in the two wheeled truck. 
 No one spoke. Mr. Storey tried in vain 
 to draw Jimmie and Bess into conversa 
 tion with him. 
 
 The shadow of what might have hap 
 pened still hovered over these two chil 
 dren who were quite old enough to com 
 prehend its awful significance. At last 
 the little cottage was reached, and a look 
 of relief passed over the faces of all. It 
 was changed to one of surprise however 
 when the door opened and Mint Julep ap 
 peared on the threshold, extending both 
 arms in welcome. Yes, I m back. Saw 
 yer coming," said Mint. " How do Mr. 
 Storey, come right in. I m reel pleased 
 to see yer, found the door locked, but 
 there s more n one way to git into a 
 
308 MINT JULEP 
 
 house. Mis McPeak told me all about 
 the picnic. I m reel glad you ve had a 
 good time. What s the matter with " 
 Mint stopped suddenly and looked from 
 one to another. 
 
 "Mrs. Julep," said Molly, bravely, 
 though the tears were still very near her 
 eyes, " I did a dreadful thing to-day. 
 You will never trust me again with the 
 children, I know. Through my careless 
 ness Ham might have been " 
 
 " Look here," interrupted Mint, " one 
 an all of yer, there s Ham an Egg, an 
 Jimmy an Tommy, an Mamie an Bud 
 an Bess, all present an accounted for. I 
 sha n t hear one word of what might have 
 happened. Don t want to hear it now nor 
 never. I sha n t listen to it an I shall be 
 dreadful put out if any one mentions it 
 again. I m glad to git back, happy to see 
 you all an that s an end of it. Git into 
 the house, ev ry last one o you childern, 
 I ve got supper all ready. Won t you 
 step in a minute, Mr. Storey, and have 
 
LOVERS REUNITED 309 
 
 a cup of tea with us? " asked Mint, as the 
 children bounded past her into the house. 
 
 Thank you, Mrs. Julep, not to-night, 
 there s a friend in his sloop at Barr s 
 Float waiting supper for me." 
 
 Well, I declare, they re at it already," 
 said Mint, as a series of lusty yells issued 
 from the rear of the house. " I bet those 
 twins are tired to death, so I must run in. 
 Good-bye, Mr. Storey, if yer can t jine 
 us." 
 
 When the woman had gone Molly, filled 
 with conflicting emotions held out her 
 hand to the young man. " I can never, 
 never tell you how much I thank you for 
 all you have done to-day." 
 
 " Don t try," he answered, with a smile 
 that seemed to light up his whole coun 
 tenance. 
 
 The girl half turned to go but he 
 caught her hand and held it in both of his. 
 
 " Molly," he said, in a voice that sent 
 the warm color to her cheeks, " you are 
 the bravest girl in the world. You would 
 
310 MINT JULEP 
 
 have caught the little fellow, I am sure; 
 we happened along and reached him a 
 little sooner, that was all." 
 
 " How did you know? " asked the girl. 
 
 " Davis saw the thing first, through the 
 glasses. We were away over by the point 
 and headed for you at once, wind and tide 
 did the rest." 
 
 " I think the big sloop coming up so 
 suddenly frightened me a little," faltered 
 Molly. 
 
 " It was a terrible ordeal for you, dear. 
 You need rest and I must not keep you. 
 I am going now, Molly, but I want to 
 see you very soon, may I come? " 
 
 " I shall be here till the end of the 
 week," said the girl, strangely happy. 
 
 " Then let it be to-morrow," he pleaded. 
 
 " To-morrow, then," replied the girl, 
 while the color in her cheeks came and 
 went with every throb of her heart. 
 
 Raising her hand still imprisoned in 
 both his own to his lips the man kissed it 
 reverently. 
 
 " Good-bye, Molly, until to-morrow." 
 
LOVERS REUNITED 311 
 
 " Good-bye," said the girl bravely. 
 
 Suddenly a flash of humor appeared in 
 her eyes. 
 
 " Parting is such sweet sorrow," she 
 added archly. 
 
 "If you say that Molly, I cannot go 
 at all." 
 
 " Oh, but you must. You forget the 
 friend in the sloop waiting for you." 
 
 " I remember only that I love you, dear, 
 that I have always loved you, but you are 
 tired. I did not mean to say this now." 
 
 " It is better now, than to-morrow," 
 flashed the girl radiantly, " because don t 
 you see I am twenty-four hours happier 
 already." 
 
 They laughed joyously. 
 
 " Then you care a little, Molly? " 
 
 " Oh, very much, for the biggest man 
 on this little earth. He must be the big 
 gest because I can t see any other, but I 
 am going in now or Mrs. Julep will be out 
 here to see what is keeping me." 
 
 She turned to enter the house, but the 
 man still lingered. 
 
312 MINT JULEP 
 
 "If your friend in the sloop knew that 
 I was keeping his supper waiting," she 
 went on softly, " he would probably scold 
 all women in general and me in particular, 
 but I would not care if he did to-day. 
 
 " I feel that I could view the recording 
 angel without fear or favor and smile at 
 him, and now, I m going." 
 
 She stepped lightly into the small hall 
 but turned again and looked back at her 
 lover. 
 
 He was at her side in a moment. " Do 
 you really love me Jerry? Tell me all 
 over again, but no, not to-day, your friend 
 in the sloop may be hungry." 
 
 " I love you more than anything in the 
 wide world, Molly," and folding her close 
 in his arms he kissed her. 
 
 " I must go now," breathed the girl, and 
 releasing herself from his embrace, she 
 flew into Mint Julep s little sitting room, 
 but when the click of the gate told her he 
 was gone, she came back softly and 
 watched his retreating figure until a bend 
 in the road shut him from her sight. 
 
CHAPTER XXXVI 
 
 THE TROUBLES OF HIRAM 
 
 WHEN Molly entered the kitchen 
 she found the children just fin 
 ishing their supper. 
 " Now," said Mint, a moment later, 
 " you ve had a good supper, an I want 
 ev ry one of you to go out in the yard 
 an play. Molly it is time you had some 
 thing to eat. Set down." 
 
 " Oh, thank you," said Molly, " I did 
 not mean to keep you waiting for me. 
 I m real sorry." 
 
 Molly said that she was sorry but the 
 radiancy of the girl s face belied her re 
 pentance. 
 
 "Set right down, Molly, an Bess too, 
 
 an git a cup of tea ; I have so much to tell 
 
 you I don t know where to begin. I saw 
 
 Hiram of course an jest as I expected he 
 
 313 
 
314 MINT JULEP. 
 
 was in trouble, wuss nor that he was sick 
 abed an in trouble. It s surprising," went 
 on Mint, when having poured the tea for 
 the two girls, she too seated herself, " it 
 is surprising how Hiram Cuckoo backs 
 right up into trouble . ev ry time he loses 
 his temper. He loses it ev ry twenty-four 
 hours. Wust o it is he finds it agin; I 
 wish he d lose it some time fer good an 
 all an never find it, but as I was sayin 
 
 " Have another biscuit, Molly, thought 
 you d like hot biscuit fer tea, an I made 
 em soon as I got home." 
 
 " Thank you," said Molly, " I can make 
 hot biscuit too. Bess taught me." 
 
 "Well ain t that nice, but as I was 
 tellin you bout Hiram," continued Mint 
 who was bubbling over with the news. 
 
 " Oh, yes," interposed Molly, " you said 
 he was sick and in trouble." 
 
 The wust kind o trouble, but I de 
 clare he deserves it. You see he was havin 
 his barn shingled. Buck Wilson was doin 
 the job, one-eyed Buck, got his eye put 
 out when we was boys and gals at school 
 
HIRAM S TROUBLES 315 
 
 coasting down on a double runner at 
 Peak Hill; well, he s a orful smart man 
 is Buck, he can see as good with his one 
 eye as most people can with two, an ev iy 
 body knows it, but that great, big med- 
 dlin , cantankrus brother o mine, Hiram, 
 an wot does Hiram Cuckoo do but git up 
 on the barn to look over the work." 
 
 " Here s a little place here, said Hi 
 ram, that you left bare, Buck, must have 
 missed yer eye. Now, ev ry human bein 
 in Farnham knows that Buck is mighty 
 sensitive about his eyes an Buck says, 
 * you never mind about that, Hiram. 
 But hang it all, says Hiram, it can t be 
 left like that. Who s doin this job, you 
 or me, says Buck. * Yer don t call that 
 doin it, that s doin me, says Hiram, Yer 
 never see that spot till I called yer tention 
 to it jest now. Git off my work, says 
 Buck. What, says Hiram, you order 
 me off my own property. Git off my 
 work, or I ll throw yer off, says Buck, 
 madder n blazes. Well girls, I warn t 
 there but I know jest as well as if I was 
 
316 MINT JULEP 
 
 wot happened. By the time Buck Wil 
 son got them words outer his throt Hiram 
 Cuckoo was on the rampige. He raised 
 a leg when his impedalment got the best 
 of him an he warn t in a good position. 
 He was on the edge o that barn an he 
 backed up, yes, girls, I am sorry to say 
 Hiram Cuckoo backed off his own barn 
 an landed on the ground. Twarn t high 
 an he didn t break no bones, but he s sore, 
 he s so sore that he stands up ter rest. 
 
 " Well now that ain t all either. The 
 wust boy in Farnham is Billy Wilson 
 (one-eyed Buck s oldest boy). He ain t 
 sech a bad boy neither ony he s terr ble 
 mischievous, an allus gittin inter trubbel 
 an doin tricks on everybody. Well it 
 seems this is Billy s latest. 
 
 The day before I went to Farnham 
 that young raskill went over to Hiram s 
 poltry place with his partner in villainy, 
 Johnny Reeves, an he says to Hiram reel 
 innercent like, 
 
 Hiram, says he, Johnny an me has 
 
HIRAM S TROUBLES 317 
 
 jest stumbled right on to a discovery that 
 will revolutionize the poltry business, an* 
 make you a millionaire/ 
 
 " So? says Hiram, yer don t mean it. 
 " Yep, says Billy, it s wonderful, it s 
 one o them simple things that is right 
 under yer nose all the time but no one 
 has ever thot of applyin it, jest like elec 
 tricity an sewing machines, an all that, 
 says Billy, wich some folks has made a 
 fortune on. Now, says Billy, we know 
 it but we are not in the poltry raisin busi 
 ness, so it ain t much good to us, but it s 
 wuth a fortune to them that is in the busi 
 ness. Now Hiram we are willin to give 
 the information to anyone that makes it 
 wuth our while. 
 
 Don t take no stock in you, Billy, 
 says my brother Hiram, * guess I don t 
 want it. 
 
 "All right, says Billy, it don t 
 make no difference to us; we came here 
 fust cause it was nearest. Now we ll go 
 over to Sam Blake s. Bet he ll jump at it. 
 
318 MINT JULEP 
 
 " Now, girls, there is a little rivalry in 
 Farnham between Hiram an Sam an 
 folks know it. 
 
 " Well what s the natur of this thing? 
 says Hiram, gittin intrusted. 
 
 " It s ter hatch out chickens, says 
 Billy. Incubators cost a lot of money 
 but our scheme, wot we jest stumbled into, 
 don t cost a cent, can be picked up off the 
 street an used, so ter speak. 
 
 " How much do you want for the in 
 formation ? says Hiram, f allin right into 
 the trap. 
 
 " Well, says Billy, seein it s you, 
 we ll let you make us an offer ; we haven t 
 been to any of the other fellers yet. 
 
 But hang it all, says Hiram, how 
 can I make you an offer when I don t even 
 know wot it is or anything about it. 
 
 Well now, look a here, says Billy, 
 * Johnny an me ain t goin to give away 
 a secret like that for nothinV Says he, 
 to-morrow Johnny an me is goin camp- 
 in up in the woods an we want a good 
 chicken to broil. Give us a chicken an 
 
HIRAM S TROUBLES 319 
 
 we ll let you in on the secret. You can 
 pay the money later if yer want ter do it 
 thet way. 
 
 " Well Hiram thot awhile an long last 
 he goes an kills one o his best chickens 
 an all the while he was cleanin it Billy 
 was rhapsodeezin over his discovery an 
 there is no denyin that Hiram was terri 
 bly intrusted. Well at last he hands that 
 chicken, plucked an* cleaned, over to 
 Billy. 
 
 * Now, says he, * wot is it, out with 
 it. I m ready to hear, says he, * what 
 have you discovered to hatch out chick 
 ens. 
 
 " Yer won t breathe it? says Billy, 
 putting that fresh-killed chicken under his 
 coat. You ll promise, Hiram, that you 
 won t tell a livin soul? 
 
 No, says Hiram, you can trust me ; 
 if it s a good thing, why, I m willing to 
 do the squar thing by yer. 
 
 Remember, says Billy, it s one o 
 them simple things that is right under yer 
 nose. 
 
320 MINT JULEP 
 
 " * Yes, yes, says Hiram. 
 
 " An no one has ever thot of it but me, 
 remember that, says Billy. 
 
 " Well, go ahead, go ahead, says Hi 
 ram, gettin restless. 
 
 " Don t cost a cent ! cheaper than in 
 cubators ! picked up in the street ! went 
 on Billy. 
 
 Hang yer, w-w-wot is it ? cried Hi 
 ram. 
 
 " Cats, says Billy, nice warm fur, set 
 em on the eggs an let em do the busi 
 ness. 
 
 " Well, Billy got out fore Hiram could 
 git at him, but Hiram is bilin with rage 
 an I found him with a terrible cold on 
 his chist an he alone in the house an stead 
 o nursing that cold he was nursin his 
 wrath. He told me he was goin to sue 
 Buck Wilson an a lot more. Well, if I 
 do say it me an Peggy Barnes was the 
 only two humans that knew how to cam 
 Hiram Cuckoo Backup. I coaxed him 
 inter bed. I got plasters an I fixed him 
 up an when I had him where he couldn t 
 
HIRAM S TROUBLES 321 
 
 move without hurting hisself I talked 
 commonsense at him, an I left him feelin 
 reel comfortable. Naow, girls, I want to 
 do jest one thing, to-morrer, I want to 
 go over to Chelsea an tell the hull story 
 to Bella Ball; me an her was girls to 
 gether, you know, orful romansin girl 
 was Bella, married reel well, Henery 
 Ball, in the soap greese business. 
 
 " I thot as how ye d jest like ter house 
 keep another day." 
 
 " Bess and I will do ev rything," cried 
 Molly. 
 
 Yes, I m in luck. I ll go over, an 
 see her fust thing. I m jest dyin ter tell 
 her the news o Farnham. Mary Bassett 
 has twins and John Bassett was so pleased 
 he s writ a letter to President Rooseveldt 
 to tell him that one is goin ter be called 
 Theodore and the other Theodora. Dea 
 con Wells, posin as a teetotaler fer forty 
 years, was found wond rin near Still 
 Creek with a jug o hard cider. Abe Bur 
 ton had a orful time to git him home. 
 Deacon said he was lookin fer a barrl o 
 
322 MINT JULEP 
 
 paint. Wot f er, says Abe, ter paint 
 yer house? * Ter paint the town, says 
 the Deacon, cuttin up an yellin for all 
 the world like them college chaps. Oh it 
 was orful, Farnham ain t got over it yit. 
 But wust of all is the Carys. Oh, I m jest 
 dyin ter tell Bella about them. Yer see, 
 girls, them Carys are a terrible shiftless 
 family livin on the edge o the town from 
 the Granther (that s the old man) down 
 to the very youngest a pair o shock headed 
 twins. There s eleven all told, an Mary 
 Gary is the oldest child, she s a big strong 
 gal bout thirty. 
 
 " Well, it seems my Aunt Lize was 
 short handed an she wanted Mary to come 
 over an help an Mary did. But one 
 afternoon, Mary went home jest fer a lit 
 tle visit an tho she promised Ant Liza 
 she d be back that very night, she never 
 showed up fer three days when Ant Liza s 
 steam power, an it was something tre- 
 mejus, hed most given out. 
 
 For goodness sake, says Ant Liza, 
 * where hev you been Mary? I hev been 
 
HIRAM S TROUBLES 323 
 
 waiting three days fer yer. Says Mary, 
 I couldn t come no sooner cause Grand- 
 ther died, that is/ says she, we thot he was 
 dead. Come in an go to work Mary, 
 says Ant Liza, I allus knew Grandther 
 Gary was slow but I never thot he d take 
 three days to die in hay in time. 
 
 " Well, it seems Grandther wasn t dead 
 at all. They called in a young medicin 
 doctor stayin at the hotel an he said it was 
 jest a commondose state; most oncommon 
 dose o sleep it sems ter me ter last three 
 days, an tenny rate Mary stayed on help- 
 in till the end o the week, when she went 
 home agin an never showed up at Ant 
 Liza s fer five days. 
 
 " It seems the Carys hed a party an cel 
 ebrated their golden weddin this time, tho 
 folks said the only golden thing about the 
 hul party was Hiram Gary s buck tooth 
 that he had plugged sideways with gold 
 onct an he allus wore a perpetshal grin 
 jest so folks would see it shine. Well, 
 it seems that after the golden weddin 
 Grandther went out an let a mule kick 
 
324 MINT JULEP 
 
 him an he really did die this time. Guess 
 that weddin finished him an tenny rate, 
 Mary came back to Ant Liza s the 
 day after the funeral. Ant Liza met her 
 at the door. Never a word said Mary 
 Gary bout their golden weddin an all the 
 celebratin . She jest stood at the door an 
 says she I couldn t come no sooner, says 
 she, cause yer know Grandther died. 
 
 He did ! says Ant Liza, who was or- 
 ful outspoken. I thot he was slow, says 
 she, * but after all I guess he was the most 
 commodatin corpse in the kaounty; come 
 in Mary an git to work. 
 
 " Then there s Bess Holliday; she s jest 
 came home from a female college. She 
 don t b lieve in marryin or buryin or 
 nothin . At fust the Hollidays felt jest 
 orful bout it an they went an told Mr. 
 Godwin. He s reel wise an sensibel, says 
 he ; them symtoms ain t dangerous/ says 
 he; * Bess l find herself all in good time, 
 says he; but Ant Liza says to me, Mint, 
 says she, in her outspoken way: *a little 
 learnin is a dangrous thing/ says she." 
 
CHAPTER XXXVII 
 
 MACHINE-OIL SALAD AND LOVE 
 
 O W, good-bye, girls, I shall be 
 back real early," said Mrs. 
 Julep the following day, as she 
 started for Chelsea to tell the latest Farn- 
 ham news to Bella Ball. " Look out for 
 yerselves an look out for the childern an 
 I think p r aps it would be jest as well to 
 day to keep em away from the water." 
 
 " The water," echoed Molly when the 
 door was shut and Mint had gone. " I 
 shall follow Ham and Egg to-day as if I 
 were their visible guardian angel." 
 
 " Oh, that won t be necessary," laughed 
 Bess, " they have a nice, long nap every 
 afternoon, and they are safe out of harm s 
 way then. Do you know what they like 
 very much, and what keeps them inter 
 ested," Bess went on, " a tent. If you 
 325 
 
326 MINT JULEP 
 
 make up any old kind of a tent in that 
 back yard they play lovely together." 
 
 " We ll do it," said Molly. " I ll take a 
 quilt and pin it across the lines and have 
 the sides made of sheets." 
 
 The idea worked beautifully. The im 
 provised tent was a " wigwam " the chil 
 dren " live injuns " and all sorts of de 
 lights were planned and executed, but 
 Molly Burt never let five minutes pass 
 the entire morning without making sure 
 that the twins were at play with the others. 
 It was not until Bess got them ready for 
 their nap after dinner that Molly s vigil 
 relaxed. Then she tripped up-stairs to 
 her room and looked over her wardrobe. 
 Some one very dear was coming and 
 Molly wanted to don her prettiest gown. 
 She had brought just as few clothes as 
 possible for the short week, but among 
 them was her sweet-brier muslin. 
 
 " I m so glad I have it with me," 
 thought the girl, who loved pretty dainty 
 things. 
 
 Molly was very happy and she lingered 
 
SALAD AND LOVE 327 
 
 over her toilet as if she found it no un 
 pleasant task. The soft, brown masses 
 of her hair that had been severely braided 
 during the busy house-keeping hours 
 were twisted into a fanciful coil on the top 
 of her head. The pretty muslin was put 
 on with its ribbons and ruffles and laces. 
 Molly smiled at the radiant girl reflected 
 in the little mirror and went down stairs, 
 just as a click of the gate told her " he " 
 was coming, but Mr. Storey was not 
 alone. Mrs. Davis and little Freddie 
 Tobey, the picture of health and childish 
 grace, were with him. 
 
 "We want you to come for a sail, 
 Molly," said the man when greetings had 
 been exchanged. " Mr. Davis is waiting 
 for us." 
 
 There s a stiff wind," observed the 
 woman, " it will be fine, I think, this af 
 ternoon, and Freddie is going to have his 
 first sail," she added, beaming down on 
 the child. 
 
 " Oh, I m so sorry, I cannot go with 
 you," said Molly. " Mrs. Julep has gone 
 
328 MINT JULEP 
 
 to Chelsea this afternoon, and I couldn t 
 leave the children, you know." 
 
 Mr. Storey s face fell. The glory of 
 the sail was gone if Molly could not share 
 it with him. " Couldn t Bess manage all 
 right till you get back," he ventured. 
 
 " Oh, I wouldn t want her to. It would 
 be too much to leave them all to her," said 
 Molly, " she is only a child herself. But 
 never mind about me," she went on, " you 
 go along and have your sail, while the 
 wind is so good." 
 
 " Perhaps Miss Burt could go to-mor 
 row, and if so, Freddie may have another 
 sail," said Mrs. Davis. 
 
 " But to-morrow I ll be in New York 
 on business," said Jeremiah Storey, look 
 ing the disappointment he felt. 
 
 " Well, some other day, then," laughed 
 the woman softly. "I ll have Hugh 
 keep track of you and the weather and 
 Miss Burt shall have her sail, I promise." 
 
 " Thank you," said Molly, " I shall look 
 forward to it. Now you ought to start 
 before there is a change, and this brisk 
 
SALAD AND LOVE 329 
 
 sailing wind goes down. How well Fred 
 die looks," added the girl, pinching the 
 child s cheek. 
 
 Yes, he has been very well, indeed, 
 I m happy to say." 
 
 The woman arose and Mr. Storey re 
 luctantly followed. 
 
 " I m coming back early," he whis 
 pered, as they reached the door. " I m 
 awfully sorry you are not coming." 
 
 " I m sorry too," whispered Molly. 
 
 When they were gone the girl bounded 
 into the kitchen. There was a little pang 
 of disappointment to be sure, but still he 
 was coming back. She found Bess shin 
 ing up the faucets. " I m going to make 
 them so bright that Mrs. Julep can t help 
 seeing them the minute she opens the 
 door," declared Bess, rubbing vigorously. 
 " I m going to make them gold." 
 
 " Listen here a minute," said Molly, 
 as she watched the frantic gestures of 
 Bess trying to make the old faucets 
 "gold." 
 
 " Yes, I m listening." 
 
330 MINT JULEP 
 
 " Bess, do er men like to eat 
 things?" 
 
 "Eat things. What things?" cried 
 Bess, pausing in sheer astonishment. 
 
 " Oh, do they like biscuits, and things." 
 
 "Of course they do, they like biscuits, 
 an meat, an cake, an corned beef, an 
 cabbage, an everything." 
 
 " Well, we could not have corned beef 
 and cabbage, you know, but couldn t we 
 have some nice hot biscuit for him?" 
 "For whom ?" asked Bess, in amazement. 
 
 " For Mr. Storey. He said he was 
 coming back early, and I m quite sure 
 he ll be here to supper, and don t you think 
 we ought to make some biscuit?" 
 
 " Just hot biscuit and tea won t be 
 enough for him," said Bess. 
 
 " Of course it wouldn t be enough," re 
 peated Molly, radiantly, " but we ll have 
 a green salad, and quince preserves, Mrs. 
 Julep s preserves are delicious, and cake, 
 how does that suit you ? " 
 
 " That would be very nice," said Bess, 
 " there s no cake in the house, you know." 
 
SALAD AND LOVE 331 
 
 " But you can make some, Bess, can t 
 you?" 
 
 " Oh, yes, I would just love to." 
 
 " And I ll make the biscuit, and the 
 salad," declared Molly. 
 
 " Well let me make the cake first," said 
 Bess, putting the finishing touches to the 
 shining faucets, " the biscuit can be made 
 the last thing." 
 
 This arrangement was agreed upon. 
 Bess put away the scouring utensils, and 
 having washed her hands started in to 
 make the cake. 
 
 While you are doing that I m going 
 out on the front porch for a breath of 
 air, before I put on my apron," said 
 Molly, and suiting the action to the word 
 she went out leaving Bess singing mer 
 rily over her task. Molly took a book to 
 read behind the honey-suckle vine and so 
 interesting it was that twice Bess came to 
 the door to tell her it was time to start 
 on the biscuit, but each time Molly was 
 so engrossed in her story that the child 
 did not like to disturb her and at last went 
 
332 MINT JULEP 
 
 back to the kitchen and made them her 
 self. Molly read on until someone 
 touched her on the shoulder and looking 
 up she beheld Bess very fresh and sweet 
 in a white dress with her best blue ribbons 
 in her hair. 
 
 "Now listen, mother/ and I ll tell 
 you all I have done, while you have been 
 reading. I have made the cake and the 
 biscuit, the children have been washed and 
 brushed up and are waiting for their sup 
 per. Now everything is ready except the 
 salad." 
 
 " Oh, I ll make that at once," said 
 Molly, rising, but just at that moment 
 there was a step. Mr. Storey appeared 
 at the little gate, and Bess hurried away to 
 wait on the children. 
 
 " Sit right down here. I must go in 
 and make a salad for tea," said Molly, 
 suddenly filled with the cares of house 
 keeping. 
 
 " Never mind the salad, Molly, I want 
 to talk with you," said the man, dropping 
 
SALAD AND LOVE 333 
 
 into the seat and drawing the girl gently 
 down beside him. 
 
 " But there is not a thing in the house 
 unless I make up a salad." 
 
 " Who is it said something about * a 
 crust of bread, and thou, beside me in the 
 wilderness. O wilderness were Paradise. 
 I ve forgotten." 
 
 " I didn t think you could forget 
 Omar," said the girl, a queer little smile 
 at the corners of her mouth. 
 
 He was silent a moment, then a sud 
 den flush of comprehension swept over 
 him. 
 
 Why it was Omar, sure enough, who 
 made us formally acquainted." 
 
 " Informally I am afraid it would be 
 called," laughed the girl. 
 
 "Ah! Molly, you thought I had for 
 gotten, but indeed I have not. I remem 
 ber it all as if it happened yesterday. 
 Davis and I had been hunting in the 
 wood at South Bridge and were hurrying 
 to catch a train when I picked up a pair 
 
334 MINT JULEP 
 
 of gloves," " and a little book," added the 
 girl softly; " and a little book," he went 
 on with a laugh, "and Davis hurried on at 
 a tremendous pace to get that train for 
 he and his wife were dining out that night, 
 but I lingered because I caught a glimpse 
 of the girl, who lost the gloves." 
 
 " And the little book," she said again, 
 reminding him. 
 
 " And the little book which proved to 
 be a well-worn copy of the Rubiyat." 
 
 " And we met right at a giant oak that 
 had been struck by lightning the year be 
 fore and lay across our path," said the 
 girl, taking up the thread of his narra 
 tive. 
 
 " And you asked me if I found any 
 thing, Molly?" 
 
 Yes, yes," she laughed joyously, 
 " and you were so long a time fishing in 
 your pockets that at last you said, you d 
 better sit down if you want to hear what 
 I ve found. 
 
 " I was secretly pleased at that, 
 Jerry." 
 
SALAD AND LOVE 335 
 
 " And we did sit, and how we did talk, 
 Molly! I remember every word, you 
 said." 
 
 She threw out her hands with a laugh 
 ing gesture of denial. 
 
 " I didn t know Omar very well in those 
 days," he went on, " but before we parted, 
 the best thing in his book was mine for 
 ever." 
 
 What was that?" she asked quickly. 
 
 When time lets slip a little perfect 
 
 hour, 
 
 Oh, take it, for it will not come 
 again/ 3 
 
 The girl smiled at him appreciatively, 
 but Bess was at the door urging them to 
 come in, and Molly remembering the 
 salad flew into the little kitchen to pre 
 pare it. The color rose high in Molly s 
 cheeks as she finished her task and called 
 them in to tea. All went well until Mr. 
 Storey took some of the salad. Molly, 
 who at that moment had been studying 
 
336 MINT JULEB 
 
 the face of her guest saw a look of min 
 gled surprise and amusement as he 
 tasted it. He did not eat any more of 
 it, but Bess, with a growing girl s appe 
 tite had taken a generous mouthful and 
 made a little moue with her red lips. 
 
 " Oh, Molly, what is the matter with 
 that salad, it s awful, isn t it, Mr. Storey," 
 blurted Bess. 
 
 Molly blushed furiously and took the 
 merest taste. 
 
 " There is something wrong with it," 
 said Molly. 
 
 " It s the oil," declared Bess, " where 
 did you get the oil for it, Molly? " 
 
 " Right there in the closet," said Molly. 
 " Oh, dear, I wonder if I took the wrong 
 bottle." 
 
 " You certainly did," said Bess, go 
 ing to the closet, and holding up the 
 half -used bottle labelled " machine oil." 
 
 The man laughed joyously and during 
 the rest of the meal Bess carried on an 
 endless amount of significant bantering 
 
SALAD AND LOVE 337 
 
 over Molly s efforts in the house-keeping 
 line. 
 
 Shortly after tea Mrs. Julep arrived 
 home from her trip to Chelsea. She was 
 brimming over with the chatter of her 
 visit, and in the evening they all sat on 
 the little vine-covered porch until Mr. 
 Storey took his leave. 
 
 " I wish she had stayed at Bella s a few 
 hours longer," said the man in an under 
 tone when the girl he loved had walked 
 with him to the gate. " Thank the fates, 
 Mollie, that Mint Julep isn t a lawyer." 
 
 "Why?" asked the girl with a ripple 
 of laughter. 
 
 " Because no case she had anything to 
 do with would ever be finished. She 
 would never get through talking." 
 
 " She is the dearest soul in the world," 
 said the girl, " and I won t hear one word 
 against her." 
 
 " Molly," said the man suddenly, his 
 voice earnest with a deep purpose, "I m 
 going away to-morrow and shall be gone 
 
338 MINT JULEP, 
 
 the rest of the week. I wanted to say 
 so much to you to-day," he went on. 
 " Mollie, we love each other. We were 
 made for each other and I want you 
 dear, every day that I live. " 
 
 " I need your love, your faith, your 
 helpfulness. When will you come Mollie ? 
 Can you not marry me at once?" 
 
 " Oh, not at once. Aunt Lida would 
 never consent to that I know." 
 
 " I will see her just as soon as I come 
 back Mollie. In, the meantime I shall 
 write." 
 
 " Mollie you need a wrap out there," 
 called Mint Julep from the porch. 
 
 " Thank you, Mrs. Julep, I m coming 
 in at once." 
 
 " I think I had better go now," said 
 the girl. " It is growing late." 
 
 " I must not keep you, dear," he whis 
 pered, and raising her little hand that 
 rested lightly on the gate, pressed it to 
 his lips and was gone. 
 
CHAPTER XXXVIII 
 
 " AUTUMN NODDING o EE THE YELLOW 
 PLAIN " 
 
 4 6fT^HE summer is over at last, 
 Bess," said Mint one morning 
 many weeks after the events of 
 the last chapter. 
 
 The children were just leaving the lit 
 tle cottage for school and Mint stood at 
 the door watching them. Yes," said 
 Bess. " the honeysuckle vine looks thin 
 and this very morning there was a thin 
 coating of ice in a pan of water that was 
 left in the yard over night." 
 
 : Well we can t expect summer all the 
 time. We had a good time out doors and 
 now it s time to do a little more indoors," 
 said Mint ; " run along now for school so 
 as to be nice and early, keep an eye on 
 339 
 
340 MINT JULEP 
 
 Mamie, and Jimmie you look out for 
 Bud." 
 
 When the little gate had shut behind 
 them, Mint turned and entered the house 
 and went into her sitting room. 
 
 She walked to the mantelpiece where a 
 large white envelope rested against the 
 black onyx clock, opened it and read for 
 the third time since she had received it 
 that morning the invitation engraved on 
 its pages. 
 
 Mint Julep s face beamed as she put 
 it back in the envelope. " So Molly Burt 
 and Jeremiah Storey are going to be mar 
 ried and me and William are invited to 
 the ceremony. Well I declare," said 
 Mint. " I ll write this very day and tell 
 William the good news and find out for 
 sure if he s going to be home in time to 
 go, for I wouldn t miss seeing Molly mar 
 ried for all th world; and here I ve been 
 allus dyin for a chanst to wear my purple 
 silk and now it s come at last." And prac 
 tical though she was, Mint Julep dropped 
 into a chair while visions began to arise be- 
 
AUTUMN NODDING 341 
 
 fore her mind s eye of the splendor and 
 glory of attending Molly Burt s wedding 
 in a purple silk. 
 
 But alas Mint s day-dreaming was sud 
 denly interrupted by a lusty shout from 
 the twins and jumping to her feet Mint 
 ran into the kitchen to find Ham and Egg 
 on top of the kitchen table. 
 
 Ham had succeeded in reaching a bottle 
 of glue on a little shelf, hence the shout of 
 triumph. "I ish goin shick tings wid 
 dis," declared Ham. 
 
 " You air goin to stick in the back yard 
 and play or I ll stick things," replied 
 Mint, and taking one under each arm she 
 carried them out doors. 
 
m 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX 
 
 WEDDING-DAY FINERY 
 
 4 4 T M afraid we ll be a little late Wil 
 liam, but I don t know as I m feel- 
 in bad ter cavort up the aisle at a 
 weddin in a purple silk an a good lookin 
 man, though I think you got too much cas 
 tor ile on your hair William; it s tricklin 
 down your ears wipe it off an when I 
 take your arm jest let the other swing 
 kinder graceful like, don t lay it crost your 
 stummick, cause it looks then as if you hed 
 a pain, an you never did in your life, did 
 yer? " 
 
 Araminta stopped long enough to look 
 at her husband and screw her face into a 
 smile. 
 
 " No I guess you don t know what a 
 
 good pain is, men don t anyway and the 
 
 Juleps are a healthy lot. I m glad it s 
 
 sech a lovely day, happy is the bride that 
 
 342 
 
WEDDING-DAY FINERY 343 
 
 the sun shines on, though I don t take too 
 much stock in that. There was Maria 
 Stebins with a married life to her credit 
 that ud make any * grand sweet song 
 seem like shoo fly sides a chorus of ten 
 children, twins twict, an all livin*. 
 
 ; Well the day she married Jake Good- 
 enough of Farnham, twas raining as if 
 the flood gates of Heaven had opened and 
 wuss than all, Jake slipped in a mud pud 
 dle goin inter church and spiled his new 
 lavender pants. The croakers was all 
 shakin their heads, but Jake jest stud up 
 and shook his pants. 
 
 " No William the rain won t spile any 
 body s life less their willin . Still I m 
 glad it s a bright day, there s no denyin , 
 umbrellas at a weddin ain t real inspirin ." 
 
 " Eh? Was yer goin to speak, Wil 
 liam?" 
 
 William who had been standing, hat in 
 hand like a wooden image, on the thres 
 hold of his wife s boudoir trying to fol 
 low her varied movements, shook his head 
 and rested on the other foot. 
 
344 MINT JULEP 
 
 " I ll git my hat William and then I ll 
 be ready now jest wait till yer see a 
 work of art." 
 
 Mint got on her knees and drew from 
 under the bed a great bundle, opened it 
 and held up for William s inspection, the 
 largest hat in creation; it was completely 
 covered with roses of various hues, while 
 over all, rested two white doves, wings 
 spread as if ready for flight. 
 
 The sight of this head-gear restored 
 William s speech. 
 
 " Ain t it some heavy, Araminta? " 
 
 " Now if thet ain t jest like a man, 
 not how it looks, but if it feels comfort 
 able. William Julep you ll never learn 
 younger that style was made fust fer 
 looks, if a speck of comfort was consid 
 ered you re lucky; course it s heavy, but 
 if twas a hod of coal I d hev to stand it 
 today. You an me has been invited to a 
 weddin at the church. When thet sweet 
 miss Molly sent me that invitation I 
 vowed I d go an go in style an I guess 
 I ve got a whole rose-bush on my hat, 
 
WEDDING-DAY FINERY 345 
 
 though I will say I never see purple roses 
 nor yet green ones but style can turn a 
 rose any color. I wrote to Bella Ball to 
 git me a hat ; I told her I was willin to pay 
 a good price fer something real stylish. I 
 said as how I d go as high as three-ninety- 
 eight, but do you know she wrote ter me 
 that the price was appallin Appallin is 
 the word says Bella, fer they wanted twen 
 ty-five dollars fer a weddin hat in one of 
 them stores thet had nothin on it but a few 
 roses an one little turtle dove. 
 
 I could trim it myself as good says 
 Bella, go ahead says I, fill it with 
 roses an put on two little turtle doves, an 
 she did, an sent it an I do think it looks 
 beautiful, though you d be surprised Wil 
 liam one little turtle dove costs a lot of 
 money. But I admit I hev a weakness 
 fer some of the frivols of my sex. I like 
 flounces an julery, an I don t care who 
 knows thet my favorite perfume is 
 musk. 
 
 " Come along, William." 
 

A 000129539 3