The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-12-06

ing n snappish little jerk To the mana
that held the bread knife"
"Wal, didn't mean I'd scare you,
Mrs. Fairman; but then it's always
best to be prepared for things as they
come along"
"I'm never unprepared," returned
the other dismally. "rve gone
through so much, that it seems as
though l was always expecting
trouble; and Obed, he don't seem to
sense things as | do. Roligion is n
great solemuizer, Miss Henslow; and
now when il looks rs II we all were
going to starve, and the COWS don't
average any day more than two quarts
apiece, il seems a SIN 10 be making
jokes"
Look there at Miss Dacres," said
the tailorcss. "Ain't she stiif.necked! :!
understand 10 comes here pretty of
ten after Lome.n
"IIe comes to see the boys" re-
turned Mrs. Fairman, with some as
perity.
Law, n young fellow can visit the
boys and squint toward girl Mt the
same time. But I'll tell you what,
the old lady won't like it ii Jo means
TO play that game. l feel it my duty
us friend TO let you know how the
land lays"
Mrs. Fairman had finished coring
her apples; and now she went TO the
sink aud began plying with the handle
of the pump with such sigor that her
neighbor's last words were fortunate.
ly lost. Mrs. Henslow remembered
her goose heating red-hot over home,
so she took herself and her voice
away; but not before she had got a
peep at the cauaille bread under the
crash towel; and that same afternoon
she thought it was her duty To so
over To Mrs. Seth Spenzcr's aud tell
that lady how Strengthened the Fair
mans were.
10 Dacres, q broad-shouldcred, lusty
young fellow, with great stride, aud
CHEEKY, loud voice, was just opening
the gate of the house. 1t was the
snuggest, best kept farm in the neigh.
borhood. Simon Dacrcs, the old
man, was forehanded, and had money
laid up in the bank; and il there is
anything country folks do respect and
bow before, it is money ih the bank.
Mrs. Dacres always regulated her
affairs by the almanac; and the first
of May The sitting room stove was
taken down, whether or no; aud now
the house was as chilly Us n cellar,
with clean smell about il of white.
wash and varnish.
Mrs. Dacres was waiting for the
men folks TO come TO dinner. She
had blown the horn twice out of the
back door, and the pork in the spider
wss curling itself up into little, hard
bilious looking scraps. With en-
forced patience she came in and sa,
down in the rocking chair, with its
puffy feather cushion, and united her
cap strings. She was large woman
with heavy tread, and double chin
and an immense talent for managing
In her own person, she represented
the rd-hearted ethics of Burnham
and perhaps was more honest if less
nice than some of her neighbors.
"Obed Fairman has been kicked by
horse, mother" said 10, betraying a
little hesitation in his tone. "The
hurt isn't dangerous, but think i,
wouid look friendly if you would
step in aud inquire how he is"
"If is isn't dangerous | shan't stir :
STEP" returned Mrs. Dacres, shutting
her mouth IN positive line. "You Dc
running enough over that way for tht
rest of the family; and l expect tha
you'll make tool OF yourself one 0
these days"
There might be two opinions abou
that" said 10, rather evasively.
"Wal, you know what think righ
out flat-footed? You're hangin.
around that girl, and / expect yol
will get weakly wife on your hands
who will be whining round witt
neuraligy or highpo half the time
Obed is shiftless. l don't mean tha
he is lazy; but he hain't got no kal
kerlation. His wits are wool-gather
ing, half the time, and Salome is Gu
out of the same piece of cloth. She
as easy as an old shoe, and woul,
sozzle round house and tend 10
of flowers, no matter whether ther
was any bread in the house or not
If you are ever going to get ahead il
the world, you must marry woman
that can help you push and pull, a
I've helped your father; a regula
staver, that can put her shoulder t.
the wheel, and not bundle of aches
and pains tied round the middle wit
string, who will eat you up wit
doctors bills"
Here was the Burnham valuation O
woman, and in the plainest words.
"She isn't sickly." said 10, in
gloomy tone. "She may not be quit
as strong as some girls, but 1 feel sur
she will turn out healthy woman
I've told you before, mother, that
don't mean co marry drudge or .
glare. / shan't look out for wife t.
do my cooking and washing ant
scrubbing, and nothing else. | wan
a human companion, and if I have
man to help me on the farm, my wifi
shall have a girl in the kitchen.
shan't go and look up wife as
would horse. A man gets his ey
on girl and he longs for her, he like
her--he can't tell why. She is differ
ent to him from any other woman il
the world, and he can't be happ,
without her. It isn't a thing for
fellow to be ashamed of, .ther, Z,
he's got one spark Of manliness il
him; and that's the way I feel to
wards Salome.n