Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-03-30

but didn't take any notice of it. We
talked over about work and one thing
and another. She laughed at most
everything, but gave me some kind OF
an answer, until asked her, Marthy,
SAYS |, whats your opinion about rals- |
ing large family? Dent you think,
if it's the Lords will, it is better to
have good many children to grow up |
together, than to have just two or
three, like your family and mine Z"
She jumped SO that we almost upset
the churn, and then she snapped out,
"Eph. Hawkins, what do you mean,
talking like that to me . Don't you ever
dare to speak to me again as long as
you live I tried to explain, but she
wouldn't listen to a word, SO | had to
leave and L felt glad twas ordered just
as twas, for a woman with such tenn
per would make an uncomfortable
wife
The widow groaned, but Ephraim
told her "not to be discouraged, for
he did not give it up So" ~ went
from there over to Mr.. Wheelers, and
thought / wouldn't waste time in
compliments; so when Sarah Jane came
to the door I asked her at once if she'd
be kind enough to answer a few ques-
tons, and L told her good deal de-
/ pended on her answers, SO l hoped she
would tell the truth At that she got
mad and called to her mother, Gre is
Eph Hawkins, come to take the cepcus,
and he's afraid I'll tell him lies; you
had better come and answer him. and
what should she do but leave. Sister
Wheeler came, and said think will
call when Brother Wheeler is at home
and then l left"
Again the widow groaned, and ac-
cused her son of being more "trying"
than ever before. Solomon kept quiet,
for fear of being excluded from the con-
fidence of the family. "Mother," said
Ephraim, "don't find fault with me,
for never worked so hard to please
you in my life as / have done to-day,
and l have gone according to the light l
had"
81 know, my son, but you'll never
marry now. Oh dear, l am so tired"
eyes 1 shall; l did not lose cour-
age a bit, but went from there to Eben
| Howe's.n
"Don't you tell me Betty Howe is
coming here to live on"
"No, she wasn't at home, and when
asked her mother as to Betsy's
views, she owned that Betsy hadn't
any, so that was settled, of course, and
| left word with her about some town
business for Eben, and came away"
cat John Reads | found quite
company. You know by the time l got
! 90 T
felt so thankful, for there was Ann
Simpson, Abbey Cole and Nancy Fish
er, beside the Read girls. Somehow I
didn't feel quite rs clear in my mind as
to the questions when they were ali
! laughing round me-"
"Oh, interrupted Solomon, "if I'd
only been there"
| was bound to be serious with them,
so asked them at once if they didn't
think woman ought to be willing to
do the milking if her husband was a
farmer and was called away on town
| business.
"Of course, said two or three of
them. "Do you want to hire hand,
/ Eph? Take me, oh, take me- and
they all huddled up around me until
| was almost crazy. I don't know how
/ should ever have got away from them,
but was tipping back in my chair,
and somehow it went over and [ went
my full length on the floor. They all
commenced screaming, and l suppose
they thought 1 was hurt, for they
called to their father, and he came
running in Says he, "Brother Haw-
kins, what is the matter what have
you done to brighten these girls sos'
Says I, "They can't be more fright
ened than 1 am, and if you will get
the chair mended will settle the bill.
| wanted to talk with you about the
school in our district, but | guess |
will see you down to the corner some
day - and was coming away, but my
hat had been mislaid somehow, and
after long search Brother Read lent
me his best one; and though it was
pretty large, | managed to wear
it by Wrapping my handkerchief
around my head. Becky Read
was in the yard, and she
said off she found my hat she'd bring
it over, and if I weren't at home she'd
stay and do the milking | was going
to have little more talk with her, but
| heard the other girls snickering, and
it upset me completely.
"Oh, Ephraim the whole town will
be laughing about you, l know"
"Oh, no, mother, there's no occa-
sion, for in all these places | never said
a word to any one about marrying, and
then you know l passed it off as though
l really did have business with the men
folks
$. R11t VIII ut nnsSnssel Won To ask sunh