The Road to Providence

Lightness is expected of riz biscuits and had oughter be d

Doctor Mayberry's voice from the barn door, "Sp

arden fence and over to the gray barn where the Doctor stood holding the door half open, but ready for a quick cl

's getting the whole convention agit

ickens at setting time as a presiding elder is at a sewing circle; can't use a needle, too stiff to jine the talk and only good when it comes to t

" she said in a commanding voice, as she walked bold

ong the dark and sequestered side of the feed-room floor, upon which was established what had a few minutes before been a placid row of setting hens. Now over the rim of each nest was stretched a black, white, yellow or gray head, pop-eyed with alarm and re

if he were in a way to be blamed for the whole excitement. "I was across the barn at the corn-crib when

ered the poor young thing 'most to death. Old Dominick have took in the case and is trying her chicken-sister best to comfort her. These here pullet spasms over the hatching of the first brood ain't in no way unusual. The way you have forgot chicken habits since you have

education in chicken lore seemed to have been in vain he was none the l

that come with less mistrust." And suiting her actions to her words Mother Mayberry slipped the two forlorn little mites under a warm old wing that stretched itself out with gentleness to receive and com

er to teach her hovering a little at a time. Course all women things has got mothering borned into 'em, b

ers. "It's this woman's rights and wrongs question. I've been so busy doctoring Providence Road pains and trying to make a good, proper husband outen you for some nice girl, what some other woman have been putting licks on to get ready for you, that I've been too pushed to think about the wrongs being did to me. But not knowing any more about it than I do, I think t

color rising under his clear, tanned skin up to his very forelock.

cheese with her head outen the window for the birds to clean up the crumbs. Stop by and ask after Mis' Bostick and the Deacon. And if you bring me a little candy from the st

lawn tie as a sort of challenge to a young cherry tree, that was trying to snow out under the influence of the warm sun. Her son smiled as he saw her stoop to lift a feeble, over-early hop toad back under the safety of the jonquil leaves, out of sight of a possible savage rooster. He knew what exp

said to himself musingly as he slippe

rywhere you look they is some young thing a-peeping up or a-reaching out or a-running over or wobb

ul voice with a queer, husky note. "It's all sticking to m

nd most beautiful dough. Don't be discouraged, for riz biscuits is most the top test of cooking. Keep remembering back to those cup custards

feel how-how-grateful I am-for the hope he's given me. I was so hopeless and unhappy-and desperate when I came. But I believe my voice is coming back! Every day it's stronger a

oth him and me, for I knew things was kinder simple with us here and I was afraid I couldn't make you happy and comfortable. But then I remembered Doctor Stein had stayed 'most two weeks when he came South with Tom for a visit and said he had tacked ten years on to the end of his life by just them few days of Providence junketings and company feedings, so I made up my mind not to be proud none and to say for you to come on. I've got faith in my boy's doctoring same as them Ne

the corner of the house, and Squire Tutt hove in sight. He was panting for brea

g him a chair into whic

usly, "have anything happened? Is M

ly really sick folks in Providence, though I don't git no re

ave got sympathy for your tisic, and ju

sulted me about not a hour ago. Me a-writhing in tormint with nothing less'n a cancer-insulted me!" As the Squir

at Miss Wingate, who still stood at the biscuit block cuttin

d lie down a hour-me in tormint!" The Squi

y, I've been a-curing them for years for you myself with nothing more'n a little drop of spiri

man with a sanctified wife can't TAKE no spirits; they must be GAVE to him by somebody no

ss. She added a dash of red pepper and a few drops of peppermint. This treatment of the Squire's dram in Mother's estimation turned a sinful beverage into a useful medicine and served to soothe her conscie

ow all the neighbors feel as how Tom is young and have just hung out his shingle here, and I ain't expectin' of 'em to have no confi

ll him to stop fooling with these here Providence people. Stopped Ezra Pike's wife feeding

l-jest as peart as can be," Mother

outen Sam Mosbey's side-called it a new fa

and alive," said Mother Mayberry with a good-humored smile, while Miss Winga

alf and shanghai rooster! So old he'd oughter die-and he'll do it! Hot water and me in torm

but under His guidance. He have gained ten pounds and walks everywhere. It were low typhus, six weeks running, too! I'm

, and it was you a-nussing of him that did it-muster slipped him calimile-but I ain't a-disputing! Play actor, ain't you, gi

iscuit into the pan. If her culinary manoeuvers were slow th

ase at all, much less a second blessing. Now I must turn to and make a dish of baked chicken hash for supper to be et with them feather biscuits of your'n. I want to compliment them by the company of a extra nice dish. If they come out the oven in time I want to ask Sam Mosbey

rovidence young-with Providence people

Peavey, who'd like to eat Pattie up same as a cannibal, I'm thinking, and don't mind who knows it. Now the supper is all on the simmer and can be got ready in no time. Let's me and you walk down to the front gate

d sniffling made itself heard and caused her to concentrate her attention on the house opposite across the Road. And a sympathy stirring scene met her eyes. Perched along the fence were all five of the little Pikes clinging to the top board in forlorn despondency. On the edge of the porc

mpathetic face, Eliza, the first Pike, slipped to the ground and buried her head in her new but valued friend's dainty muslin skirt. Bud, the next rung of the stair steps licked out his tongue to dispose of a mortifying tear and little S

to stand the ruckus, but I ain't a-going to let my own children perish for a few cherry seeds with a bottle of oil in the house and Doctor Tom Mayberry's prescription to give 'em a spoonful all around." Mrs. Pike was short and stout, but with a mart

hurriedly, "are you sure they have et ch

in a perfect chorus of wails

ars of cherry preserves that Prissy put up and clean forgot to seed 'fore she biled 'em

sob from Miss Wingate's skirt. Bud managed to echo her statement, while Susie and

ar to argue the question. Her hand rested sustainingly on one

voice tinged with the deepest melancholy for the fallen estate of her family. "They'll h

its they must be where they throwed 'em and they can go find 'em to prove they character. They ain't nothing fairer than that. Where di

t out one stone they did the balance. But Doctor Tom was so kind to tell me about the oil a

ant husband as he shouldered Teether and strode i

try to make him take this spoonful I've poured out. It won't hurt him none and it's a

rry with a laugh, when the reprieved criminals raced back around the house,

and I'm a-going to punish you by making you every one wash your feet in cold water and go to bed. Now mind me and all stand to once in the

lesser and accustomed penalty, so they retired with cheerfulness and spirits

ike entered her front door and Mother and the

s prescriptions to-day. But you couldn't expect a man to untangle a children quirk like that; and oil woulder been the thing for the cherr

face with positive awe, "I think you are wonderful with everybod

r of the other two? I can't remember the time when I didn't project with the healing of ailments. When I married Doctor Mayberry and come down over the Ridge from Warren County with him, he had his joke with me about my herb-basket and a-setting up

ate with a delightful laugh, "And no wonder Doctor Mayberry is so gifted that he gets National commissi

t Rock, on the other side of Providence Nob, to study out about that curious corn disease they calls Pellagra, what I don't think is a thing in the world but itch and can be cured by a little sulphur and hog lard. But I'm blessing the chanct that brought him back to me, even if I know it are just for a spell. And, too, he oughter be happy to

around me I feel as if I had awakened in a beautiful world with no more dirty, smoky cities that hurt my throat

f Providence Nob, at whose foot clustered the little settlement of Providence and around whose side ran the old wilderness trail called Providence Road. And her face was soft with a light of utter contentment, for under that low-gabled roof she was finding strength to hope for the recovery of her lost treasure, without which life would seem a void. Then for a moment she looke

e sigh. When she spoke softly there was not a trace of t

somehow the good Lord guided my hand amongst his medicines, and with what I had learned from him and Pa I fought a good fight and saved the little thing's life, though it took the night to do it. And in one of them dark hours a sister-to-woman sense was born in me what I ain't never lost. A neighbor took Tom and they brought my baby to me and I stayed by Mis' Petway until they weren't no more danger. Next day it were Squire Tutt's first wife tooken down with the fever and not the week passed before that very Sam Mosbey were borned. We was too poor to have a doctor come and live here and they was a doctor over to Springfield took up my husband's county practice, so I jest naturally had to do the healing myself, onl

id the lovely lady as she drew nearer and caught Mot

ting for the Doctor's horse to appear, "looks like often hands a-reaching out for help gives strength before they takes any, and a li