Project Gutenberg's The Road to Providence, by Maria Thompson Daviess

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Title: The Road to Providence

Author: Maria Thompson Daviess

Posting Date: May 13, 2009 [EBook #3745]
Release Date: February, 2003
First Posted: August 15, 2001

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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The Road To Providence

by

Maria Thompson Daviess

CONTENTS

I THE DOCTORS MAYBERRY, MOTHER AND SON
II THE SINGER LADY AND THE BREAD-BOWL
III THE PEONY GIRL AND THE BUMPKIN
IV LOVE, THE CURE-ALL
V THE LITTLE RAVEN AND HER COVERED DISH
VI THE PROVIDENCE TAG-GANG
VII PRETTY BETTIE'S WEDDING DAY
VIII THE NEST ON PROVIDENCE NOB
IX THE LITTLE HARPETH WOMAN OF MANY SORROWS
X THE SONG OF THE MASTER'S GRAIL

CHAPTER I

THE DOCTORS MAYBERRY, MOTHER AND SON

"Now, child, be sure and don't mix 'em with a heavy hand! Lightness is
expected of riz biscuits and had oughter be dealt out to 'em by the
mixer from the start. Just this way--"

"Mother, oh, Mother," came a perturbed hail in Doctor Mayberry's voice
from the barn door, "Spangles is off the nest again--better come quick!"

"Can't you persuade her some, Tom?" Mother called back from the kitchen
door as she peered anxiously across the garden fence and over to the
gray barn where the Doctor stood holding the door half open, but ready
for a quick close-up in case of an unexpected sally. "My hands is in
the biscuits and I don't want to come now. Just try, Tom!"

"I have tried and I can't do it! She's getting the whole convention
agitated. You'd better come on, Mother!"

"Dearie me," said Mrs. Mayberry, as she rinsed her hands in the
wash-pan on the shelf under tin cedar bucket, "Tom is just as helpless
with the chickens 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 the eating, from broilers to frying size. Just go on
and mix the biscuits with faith, honey-bird, for I mistrust