Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1868-05-14
A Count in The Rural Districts
BY GUY s. QTUS.


at or about sunset, that witching hour of
eve when Natures sweet restOrer draws
down the lids of chicklings' eyes, so that
they perchward go. The distant cow
bells tinkle sweeIly, as their wearer's S
hear the CHEEKY call of milk maid wind
ing round the hill; and responsive to the
summons, the patient kIne slowly plod
toward home. the katydids expand their
wings, and make queer music in the
locust tops.
The place is the piazza of the Qtus
mansion. Seated thereon are four per-
sons, two of whom are OH senior; the
other couple, Percy and l. Mrs. Gus
my ma-is occupied in knitting on a
stocking. which never seems any nearer
the final round. The old gentleman
pa-is tilted back in his chair against
the wall, which chair is fastened securely
in the wall by leathern strap passed
around the topmost slat of its back, and
thence to a hook driven in the window.
sill. This was a contrivance of the old
gentleman, who is exceedingly handy
with tools, to obviate The disagreeabIe
necessity of coming down on all fours to
expectorate his tobacco juice, and then
litiDg back Oh two. But this was not
the only instance of his ingenuity; fol-
just beyond the edge of his chair was
knot-hole, on account of which he had
chosen his seat there, and through which
he spai with such precision as never &c
stain the sides. As specimen Of Pas
handiwork, ma used TO have a wooden
chain, with swivel links. hanging in a
graceful curve over the manlelpieCe il
The front room; but from some cause OF
olher, it was taken down, and Pa res
cued it from unmerited oblivion, and now
Ills pendent from a nail in his private
Carpenlery shop
Percy and l occupy seats on the TOP
step 10 the piazza, and are watching the
golden reflection of the setting sun on
the trees in The distance.
Pa breaks the mystic silence, and re-
calls US younger two to fact.
"Pears 10 me, Patsy, like as if young
weemen aiDt now as they was in oul
young days. Don't you think so Show
me gall these times who'll be up long
before day light in the morning, and ou
a milking. then come in and eat hearty
breakfast, and go out in the field and
work like a man, eh, Pats )" and the ole
gentleman was so pleased with the re
memberance that he chuckled, thereby
swallowing an quanty of saliva, thor
oughIy impregnated with tobacco, which
brought on a fit of coughing that LASTED
for some time. Ma waited for him L
get through. the while scratching be
head with knitting needle, and then an
swered:
Yes. and the men amt grain bet
ter. l havnI saw a bit of change il
'em from that day till this. They re al
as conceited and full of projects now a
they was them times. Percy, if eve
you get married. take a DutChman
These other ones amt worth ShuCks."
Pa was used 10 her contrarity. so b
only chewed more fercely until she mad
an end of speaking, and then addresse
me:
Guy, do you pick out stout Dutc
gal-one that can pIow and such, an
not be allus stuck up in the house, bang
ing on the p'anny and punching holes i
cloth just to sew 'em up agin, and a
such gimcracks-yes them's your sOr
mind l tell you"
The old gentleman was evidently eX
cited, so | remarked, in a soothing tone
well, | have chosen a scion of the Ger
man stock, to whom | pay my deUOirS
wheather she can do those things yo
think necessary or not, can't say, ne
having informed myself on that poin
Rest assured, however, that she sha
learn those accomplishments if l have I
teach her myself"
"Never mind, old fellow" said PerC
10 me-of course she would nj call her P
thus; " never mind, I'll tell Maggl
about this. See if don't"
By this time ma had recovered he
equanimIty, and she put in wore
There's the incest kind of yonng ma
Just moved on the Van Slke place, an
he's German. Besides. he's got tw
thousand dollars, and that's a right sma
sum I'll let you know. You need'r
turn up your lip Mr.. Guy Simon, he
good as any of your dandyfed fellows.
At this moment the larCh of the frol
gate clicked. and we all looked Enle
ing was a slim youth with saffron hal
clad in a suit of yellow linen. much TO
large for hlm, and whose neither jaw W;
fringed with a thin growth of sIraw-CO
ored beard.
Ma said" That's him )" and Perc
with her usual accuracy at quOtaliO
dove. tailed the opposite ends of the va
gar and the polite broverb, "Speak
the Old Gent, and you'll hear the rust
of his wings"
While the visitor in yellow was a
preaching, the departing orb threw la
ray athwart his form, which caused hi
, to present quite luminous appearance
| kept my seat until he had arrived
tn bottom step, when ma introduced T
and me TO the stranger. She and Per-
had met the gentleman before-as
had come over to get instructions In q
. art of making bread.
He spoke with . strong Germ
5 " twang as ma calls it. but / found no {
4 ficully in understanding him. Pa talk
to him of bis native country, and NJ
Tunoc amused Us with his conVersaIiC