258 A COMPOSITE FAMILY 



that usu'lly picked 'em up over twenty miles o' 

 country even got out o' limed ones. 



"Come about Christmas time folks got nervous, 

 expectin' company and no eggs for makin' cakes and 

 squash pies. Eph, he was down to the store for 

 oil and heard the talk. 'Pshaw !' said he, an' the 

 minister stood right by him when he said it, 'We 

 folks has got plenty o' eggs, and ma 's a-limin' of 

 'em down. She 's got a trick o' mixin' sassage 

 meat into their meal ter make 'em lay, and keepin' 

 their nesthouse hot with the old wood stove.' 



"Of course this sounded likely enough to shet 

 off any suspicions. That night it snowed heavy, 

 and next morning we saw two sleighs with a plow 

 in front breakin' the way up hill. 'What's mis- 

 chanced?' quoth she; 'there 's the doctor's cutter, 

 and the Jedge and the minister a-ridin' together 

 behind it.' 



"'I dunno,' I allowed, bein' more startled than 

 I showed, mistrustin' somethin' inwardly. 'Jedging 

 from those that 's comin' it might be for a weddin', 

 a bornin', or a bury in', only there 's no folks ripe 

 for either up this cross road.' 



"Eph came out from behind the stove where 

 he was readin' a tale of Injins that they give away 

 that fall with cans o' gunpowder down ter the 



