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

voices to their ears.
"Father, probably" replied Bell
da. ~ have heard no one come in
Lucy put her last loaf of bread do,
to rise, washed her binds, took off b
big apron, and appeared. in the sittil
room, much to Mr.. Nays relief, iu
after grandma had pledged herself
secrecy. She started in surprise VIII,
i she saw the guest.
why! Mr.. May! you here. Cor
into the parlor," and Lucy led the wa
leaving grandma alone. "You mu
have had an interesting visit wi
grandma"
"Ithink I did," replied the gentl
man, wiping the perspiration from h
brow. "She's very hard of hearin
isn't she2"
":very,'"' said Lucy; ''but she doesu
realize IT,"
II see it is 90. couldn't make b,
understand word: yet from the q,
swers she gave me I saw she thouel
she understood it oil. I guess She
Conclude I've told her some stran1
y stories."
e "Never mind" said Lucy; .sshe
@ always making blunders, of course"
i Meanwhile grandma had recovere
t from her speeohless Indignation {
|. seeing Lucy carry off BeIinda's beau {
? a private conference, and waddied on
!. into the kitchen.
; "Belindy," she squealed, taking th
( scrubcloath from her hand" go ngll
t into the parlor. MI. Mays in tier
, with Lucy"
: mo matter, grandma" laughe,
, Belinda. wondering much at her eviden
frame of mind. -. 81
, "rl finish up here, tell you. Yo,
go right along" and grandma went t,
scruobing at the shelves, while Belinda
J to please her, went into the parlor.
Later in the afternoon, as the girl
were in the kitchen getting supper, fo
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.
oh In, yes, our we'll and spring
both held out wonderfully, though
some of the neighbors was plagued for
water most all winter How's your
folks 2"
"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 7 Well.
she's pretty steady and industrious,
and ain't alters gaddin' like some. Vir
tue is its own reward, the writing books
used to say, and Lucy will have to dance
in the plg's trough, for she's two years
the oldest you know, and Belindy's
goin' to he married first"
"She! :" said the deacon, looking
surprised. ~.,,-x,
Eyes, Belindy's goin'to >be married
in meetin' next Sunday mornin' to
young Mr.. May, that's reatlin' law with
Esquire Willard. A drefful nice young
man he is, pooty as pink. Now he
come in here this afternoon when the
gals was to work in the kitchen, and
Just s0t down and visited with me as
polite, and attentive, talked over all his
affairs just as open hearted. He's got
q house all engaged and they're goin'
right to housekeeping"
The deaeOn'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 follCwed, the
deacon would not seem inquisitive, and
SO received no more information.
|, "Tve heard some news" he said to
the family when he got home, "Belin-
sdy Freeman's going to be married."
/ ".When e" who to =" The questions
rained down. ....,.
"Next Sunday morning in church, to
that May fellow. He's got a house al
ready engaged. I didn't ask what one,
bdt presume it's the Cox house, right
,nezt soztAe INV aofBos-thatb empty
- Hss called on the girls; and wait.
ed On them too," SAID his daughter,
Nancy Jane, "but i didn't suppose
there was anything serious as yet.
Well, it appears it's settled. The
old lady Ga e me fnll particulars. She
seemedSas paeased4as aschild, 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,
the dress ss-maker, her daily pint of milk,
she told the news
IT guess it must be q 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 Iguess
they thought pearl gray was more suit
able for the BRIDE"
"Sure enough" said Miss Speed
vel. II fitted those DRESSES less than
q month ago, but I never thought q
thing" Miss Speedwell told her next
customer that Belinda was to be mar
ried 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 a huge band
box, large enough to contain a score of
bonnets in these degenerated days.
Opening it, she took carefully out a
huge old straw bonnet, dated a half
century back, and trimmed with faded
green gauze ribbon. Mr.. and Mrs.
Freeman looked on in quiet surprise as
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 a
little soiled, but I can wash 'eln out,
and then it will be all ready to wear to
meetin' next Sunday"
Grandma hadn't been to church for
years, 30 this announcement excited
no little surprise.
"You shall have q new bonnet if you
want to go to meetin'," her son shouted
in her ear.
"A new one to make fun dare say;
but I don't care for that. This IS a
good sensible bonnet, worth dozen
of the little tiddlin' things they tuck on
behind their ears nowadays. should
catch my death of cold with one of
'em; I'd great deal rather tie hand
kerchief on my head than wear one"
You could nave u new one made
large, you KNOW" shouted Mrs. Free
man.
''Too far to 60! La sakes ! amt