Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-08-01

\. n; seemed to him all tue ncighbors nu
= hear.
;. "Of course you want home to l
:. happy, anybody does, and always Iii
believe in young folks goin' to hous,
keepin' as soon as they was married.
YOU'RE altogether mistaken," Il
screamed in her ear, :he perspiratio
starting from every pore.
1.-THE house already taken2 Now
never! And to think they was tryin
to keep it from me, and you've told m
all about it! shan't tell 'enu, though
nor anybody else, so you needn't be
grain afraid. can keep secret if
am an old woman"
~ wonder who gramma is talkin
with " said Lucy, as a lnli in the clat
ter of dishes brought the sound G
voices to their ears.
"Father, probably" replied Be]in
da. Il have heard no one come in.
Lucy put her last loaf of bread dow
to rise, washed her binds, took off he
big apron, and appeared in the sittin
room, much to Mr.. Mays relief, Jus
after grandma had pledged herself t
secrecy. She started in surprise whe
she saw the guest.
"Why! Mr.. May! You here. Com
into the parlor," and Lucy led the way
leaving grandma alone. "You mus
have had an interesting visit wit
grandma.
II think did," replied the gentle
man, wiping the perspiration from hi
brow. "She's very hard of hearing
isn't she2'
'"very," said Lucy; ''but she doesn'
realize It,"
" 1 see it il so. 1 couldn't make he
understand word: yet from the an
swers she gave me I saw she though
she understood it oil. I guess shell
conclude I've told her some strang
, Stories"
> "Never mind,' said Lucy; "she'
, always making blunders, of course"
| Meanwhile grandma had recovere,
from her speechless Indignation a
seeing Lucy carry off Belinda beau t,
, private conference, and waddled ou
into the kitchen.
"Belindy," she squealed, taking til.
scrubcloath from her hand" go nigh
into the parlor. Mr.. Mays in there
with Lucy"
mo matter, grandma" laughed
Belinda. wondering much at her evident
frame of mind.
I" ri finish up here, I tell you. You
go right along" and grandma went t.
: scrubbing at the shelves, while Belinda,
to please her, went into the parlor.
/ Later in the afternoon, as tine girls
were in the kitchen getting supper, TO,
they always worked together, Deacon
Stiltsworth called to see Mr.. Freeman
on business.
walk right into the sitting-room,
deacon" said Lucy. Father will be
in directly;". so in the deacon went.
Are you pretty we'll, this spring 2''
he shouted to grandma.
ooh ! Ia, yes, our we'll and spring
both held out wonderfully, though
some of the neighbors was plagued for
folks p
"Well as usual" nodded the dea-
con. You haven't got out to meet
ing much through the winter, have
you2"
"Don't see much of Belindy 2 Well,
she's pretty steady and industrious,
and amt alters gaddin' like some. Vir
tue is its own reward, the writing books
used to say, and Lucy will have to dance
in the pigs trough, for she's two years
the Oldest You know, and Bclindy's
goin' to be married first
"She!" said the deacon, looking
surprised:
eyes, Belindys goin' to be married
in meetin' next Sunday mornin' to
young Mr.. May, that's readin' law with
Squire Willard. A dretful nice young
man he il, pooty as pink. Now he
come in here this afternoon when the
gals was to work in the kitchen, and
just sot down md visited with me as
polite and attentive, talked over all his
affairs just as open.hearted. He's got
house all engaged and they're goin'
right to housekeeping"
The deaeou's ears were all agape to
hear further particulars, but Mr.. Free
mans entrance just then cut short the
garrulons old lady, and as her son
made no allusion to the coming event
in the conversation which f3llLwed, the
deacon would not seem ilquisitive, and
so received no more information.
i've heard some news" he said to
the family when he got home, "Belin-
dy Freeman's going to be married.
"When {" who to 2" The questions
rained down.
"Next Sunday morning in church, to
that May fellow. He's got house al
ready engaged. didn't ask what one,
but presume its the Cox house, right
next % tho INV zof13oe-that's empty
- Hes called on the girls, and wait.
ed on them too" said his daughter,
Nancy Jane, "but 1 didn't suppose
there was anything serious as yet
Well, it appears its settled. The
old lady 60 e me full particulars. She
seemedSas pleased as a<child, and told
how sociable Mr.. May was with her.
Old folks like to be noticed, you know"
When Nancy Jane went over that
evening to carry Jerusha Speedwell,
tue dress-maker, her daily pint of milk,
she told the news
II guess it must be mistake" said
Jerusha doubtfully.
"Oh, no, it isn't" persisted Nancy
Jane, " for we had it right from the
family. And that explains those Irish
poplin dresses the girls had this spring.
Belinda's was pearl gray and Lucv's
gold mixed, and I thought it queer
they didn't have them alike; but guess
they thought pearl gray was more suit
able for the BRIDE"
"Sure enough" said Miss Speed
we'll. II fitted those dresses less than
a month ago, hut 1 never Thought a
thing" Miss Speedwell told her next
customer that Belinda was to be mar
RED in pearl gray poplin. probableewith
bonnet and gloves to match.
That evening while the Freeman
girls were ut prayer meeting, and only
their parents at home with grandma,
the latter went into her bedroom and
soon came out bringing huge band
box, large enough to contain Il score of
b0nnets in these degenerated days.
Opening it, she took carefully out a
huge old straw bonnet, dated half
century back, and trimmed with faded
green gauze ribbon. Mr.. and Mrs.
Freeman looked on in quiet surprise rs
she turned the ancient article around
and looked it carefully over.
"There said she, "I've had that
bonnet forty years, and it's just as
| goods new to-day. The strings are n
little soiled, but l can wash 'cln ont,
and then it will be all ready to wear to
meetin' next Sunday"
Grandma hadn't been to church for
years, SO this announcement excited
! no little surprise.
"You shall have new bonnet if you
want to 60 to meetin'," her son shouted
! in her ear.
"A new one to make fun dare say !;