Beadle's Dime Novels, No. 11 — page 109: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FARMER'S SUPPER TABLE. 107 CHAPTER XIX. _ ‘TROUBLE AT THE FARM-HOUSE. Tne rays of the declining sun made faint show in one cor- ner of the farm-house kitchen. The farmer’s wife had not long been awake from her nap; the cook was busy frying griddle-cakes; the gardener stood outside, mending a damaged hoe; the gardener’s wife, who was fond of the good things of this life, had taken a cruller from the well-heaped pile upon — the supper-table, and was devouring it with much zest. The whitest of white linen cloths graced the board. It was spread with taste; and*honey and grapes, and golden butter and rich cream abounded. The kitchen, with its venerable furniture, never looked more charming; content seemed lurking and smiling in every corner, and the old fashioned high-shouldered silver tea-set, glistened with the very broadest benevolence, as it stood ready to do duty. “ Come, ain't supper most ready?” asked the gardener, who had somewhat improved his appearancé by a clean shirt and a whiter face, while his hair was scrupulously combed and es “ Quite, I guess,” replied his wife, seizing the bell that stood “near, and ringing it with some vehemence. Mrs. Goreham came into the room, looking at the little, old fashioned gold watch she always wore of afternoons, and walked quite primly up to the table, to survey its appoint- ments,—her daily custom. “How pleasant it will be to see the dear faces again,” she said, quietly preparing to seat herself’ “Why doesn’t Miss Minerva come, I wonder; do you think she heard the bell 2” “Ta, yes, she must,” replied the gardener’s wife. “Come to think on’t, I haven’t seen her come home. ‘Spose she got asleep in them woods? No harm though, if she did,-with Bruno to watch her.” | comilclbooks.com