CHAPTER XVI.
THE MINSTREL.
J. D. Matthews spread his supper upon a log. He had delicacies which
created a very cheerful feeling in the party, such as always rises
around the thanksgiving board.
Zene sat at one side of the log by J. D. Matthews. Opposite them the
grandmother and her children, camped on chunks covered with shawls
and horse-blankets Seeing what an accomplished cook this singular
pedler was, how much at home he appeared in the woods, and what a
museum he could make of his cart, Zene respectfully kept from
laughing at him, except in an indulgent way as the children did.
"I guess we'll stay just where we are until morning," said Grandma
Padgett. "The night's pleasant and warm, and there are just as few
mosquitoes here as in the tavern. I didn't sleep last night." She
felt stimulated by the tea, and sufficiently recovered from the
languor which follows extreme anxiety, to linger up watching the
fire, allowing the children to linger also, while J. D. Matthews put
his cupboard to rights after supper.
It was funny to see his fat hands dabbling in dishwater; he laughed
as much about--it as aunt Corinne did.
Grandma Padgett removed the sleeping child from his cart, and after
trying vainly to make her eat or arouse herself, put her in the bed
in the tent, attired in one of aunt Corinne's gowns.
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