Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-09

use for that bit O. land, it seemed, and
had had his eye on it for along back.
Always was wanting what wasn't his, y
Mother Plumber said. She owed him
a grudge for being more beforehand
than Jess.
1t took a good deal of looking after,
lawyering, and surveying, and the
Lord knows what, to settle it; and l
used to see John Stringer's STOPPING
shoulders and broad felt hat, down just
beyond the rise of the meadow timeand
again. But he scarce ever came near
the door, till one day can't tell how
1t was-when the settlements were to be
made, 1 just took baby up stairs and
had a good cry; for that bit o land
had been Jesse's favorite piece,
and Mother Plumber had been hulrying
me all day about it.
1.-The ways of Providence are so
strangep said Mother Plumber, laying
her specs down atop O. the Bible, and
putting on that awfully patient air
which was wearing me to skin and bone
-''past finding out Now if Jess had
married Sophia Mills that was, and
you"
But did not wait to hear any more.
As l say, l just caught up baby and
went off to the garrett. And while l
sat by the cobwebbed window Mrs. Bar
rett-Sophie Mills that was-went rid
ing by in their new spring wagon, she
and her half dozen children, round and
rosy as barrel of apples. Sophie
nodded and smiled to some one coming
up the road; and looking along l saw
John Stringer walking, thoughtful like,
right up to our gate, just as he used to
come in counting days-for John never
had any foolish ways about him. l saw
Sophie look back at him as she and the
children, with their fluttering ribbons
and gay ginghams, disappeared at the
turn of the road. Then l smoothed
my hair and washed my face and went
down. The time of settlement had
come, knew.
MARY Ann, said John, gravely, ''the
lawyer Will be here presently; but [
reckon we can make it all clear in our
own minds without his help. And I've
I've settled it, in fact, there are GER
tain conditions ON which I'll take the
land-if you agree"
Then l flew into passion. you've
been long enough making up your
mind" says l, Il don't throw my land
at anybody's feet, and l havn't asked
any favors of you, leastways, John
Stringer."
Softly, there, softly!" says John,
putting out his hand, Don't be in a
hurry, little woman"
John Stringer," says l, all in a heat,
you're just the same man you was
years ago when you thought l was
always firing up every time you got out
o temper yourself.
"And weren't you, little woman?"
said John, quite gravely. Don't wo-
men folks always like their own way
better than any thing else?"
you don't know anything about wo-
men," [ cried, ANY more than you did
then. You thought l wanted silks and
furbelOws more than-than
THAN you did me-" said John;
"and right enough you was, too, if you
could ha' got 'em. 1 always said so,
Mary Ann
Amy man with half an eye would
have known BETTER says 1, hotly.
"How ?" said John. His great hulk
ing figure lifted itselfup, and he looked
at me with those sharp, brown eyes that
used to give me a start in the old time
How ?" he repeated, softly. DO you
mean to say was mistaken years ago."
His big, brown hand was all of trem-
BILE as he held it out to me. Little
woman, little woman" says he, lets
ha' done with it all now, and let it all
be as if it never was"
Presently Mother Plumber put her
head in the door. " Pears to me that
lawyers making a long spell of it, :"
says she. Bent you Almost tired o.
waitin' for him, Mr.. Stringer 90
4 guess we've settled it pretty much
without the lawyer" says John. rising;
land that is the condition had to pro-
pose, Mary Ann-to take you and the
meadow land together
And he did