The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-07-19
Ezekiel's Calculations.

~ calklate il means something y said
Ezekiel; "and when 1 calk'late there's
ginerally a foundation for calk'lating." D"
Ezekiel touched up his grays as he
spoke, and sat erect. The landscape
spread out before him was one of re-
markable beauty, but he seemed un-
conscious Of its charms. Ezekiel Pratt,
owner of the finest farm, the best
horses, and the biggest barns i'm all the
country round, was calculating. This
favorite mental exercise absorbed him.
Ezekiel was short in stature and thick
act. His small, keen eyes glanced
shrewdly from beneath shaggy brows
and his small ears were Over-shadOwed
by bushy locks Of black abundant hair
EZekiels features were harmonious
He was accounted a gOod-looking man.
He owed no man a penny. BY his
neighbOrs he was considered rich.
Ezekiel had been twice married. His
mother was at present keeping house
for him, and taking care of his children.
They were expecting company al
Ezekiels house Ezekiel was hurrying
10 meet the train this bright, still morn
ing in early summer. Ezekiel
thoughts We're busy.
'She never would have quit teaching
and come up here if she hadn't partic-
ular idee, l calk'la She amt the girl
10 act without a motive" and he refined
the grays around a curve Of the river
road, and at the light touch of the whip
they sped on towards the Ossegatchee
depot
Ezekiel was on his way to meet his
pretty young sister-in-law, Priscilla,
who had written and asked his mother
if it would be convenient to them to
have her come and stay with them a
while. She had closed her school, and
If they did not write her to the con-
trary, she would come and spend little
time among the hills. She wanted to
see the children and the old place To-
day was the time appointed for her COM
ing. Ezekiel had done a great deal OF
calculating within a few days. He
made mental abstract of these calcu-
lations as he drove along the rivers
winding course.
Just eleven months next week it will
be since Ellen died. Priscilla came and
LOOK care Of her then. Prissy showed
heTseil a powerful worker at that time,
considering the genteel way she has
she never shirked particle. She didn't
expect TO ma Ellen so sick, she said
Likely enough she wouldn't have come
II she had known there was SO much tC
w. sun Ai4ool was always willing
Prissy is one of the willing kind
"Whoa! there, whoal Silas. Frisky
creature, amt you? Want tight rein
Guess Ezekiel Pratt can give you that
Guess there amt much he has control o
that he can't rein i'm.
''NOw, Ellen was just about as frisk,
as that 'ere colt, when l got acquainte,
with her. She was pretty girl; Away
smiling and saying a smart word; al
ways ready TO go or TO come, to laugh o.
To cry. Ny sakes, what spirit sh'
hadi She had power Of working, too
/ calk'late on that. We had not beer
married two years before she sObereC
right down wonderful. There wasn't Z
better working woman anywhere in ths
country, If / do say il. She had sicB
apeiiS, but she worked right on, summer
ana winter. She was the best wife in
t1 e.''se parts anywhere around. Steady
,ali;.l - business day and night, cooking, and
IL. t''ltS' ahd dairying, and tending ba-
III, anu everything looked as neat and
now" and Ezekiel sighed ~
Mother, she's come 10 sta,.. t,,,. IL
getting pretty old, and t6ings 90 5'' -
waste considerable. Prissv's comino
means something, Pm CALCULATING Sbs
sets heap by the children Sba lit ,'lie
there amt such farm anywhere H. abo,,, :
rs ours is, if it is of the main ,~oI rood
Sheisa thorOugh-going, industrious gi,. q; II
She wouldn't be stopping teaching now
if il didn't mean something"
The grays here struck the old planl
road, and Ezekiel, whose stifiened Joint
rebelled at the jolts, braeed himself am,
drew in the grays.
"NOw, Prissy, she's a stirring girl,
he resumed, when he struck the ella,
road again. "Uncommon good teacher
80 they say. The children need teach
ing. believe she'd make every bit a