The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-07-31
THE CALICO BAG.

Like poor little motherless child
THE CALICO BAG.
1T was made of piece of one o
grandmother Mason's old calico
gowns, and that accounts for its be
ing such an old-fashioned pattern
"stiff and set, but kind O. nice look
ing," as Mrs. John Mason remarked
when, in compliance with little
Patty's demand for a dinner bag, she
had fashioned the convenient rem
nant into the requisite shape, finish
ing it off with a faded ribbon thai
had in its day formed part Of hel
own girlish finery, and hung it upon
the dimpled arm that now,-and a
quick, low sob broke from the mo-
ther's heart, while her fingers linger.
ed tremulously about the little
homemade satchel, hallowed by the
touch of her dead child's hands, and
for a moment she begrudged the
gift even to that genial, delighted
social gentleman sitting at the open
window at the opposite side of the
room, whose easy courtsy and grace
tul Difference to herself and her
opinions had fairly won her woman 8
heart to the belief that never,
since the ''son of God" designed to
make themselves agreeable to the
daughters OF men, had there been a
finer, nobler specimen of manhood
upon the face of the earth than this
same Col. Absalom, candidate for
Governor of the State Of, "the
workingman's FRIEND" as he never
omitted to mention in all his
speeches, proving ii by calling famil-
iarly on his constituents whenever
it came in his way in mis- "stumping
tours" IN that easy, unceremOn'ous
fashion that is such sure road to
the good graces of the honest, unsus-
piclous yeomanry of our sparsely
settled coun ry towns.
Little Jim was at school, and John
and his man being at work in the
"five acre lot," had taken their din.
ner with them, thus leaving the busy
housewife long, uninterrupted day
for her sewing, fact upon which
she was silently congratulating her.
self, when the sound of a horses
hoof at the gate attracted her atten-
ton, while the deferential bow and
smile of the rider, as he halted at the
doorstone, brought gratifed flush
to her matronly cheek, and little
iutter to her heart, as she hastily
tucked out Of sight her blue drilling
apron, bestowing a congratulatory
thought upon her clean dress and
collar, as she rose to raceive her
guest.
"Good morning, madam l pre-.
sumo that l have the honor of
addressing Mrs.-ahem ?"-'Mason,
supplemented that unsuspicious lady
with a smile.
"Ah, yes-I am right in my reck-
oning then, for 1 had planned to
reach my friend Mason's at or near
noon;" sthen, with an admiring
glance at the pleased but somewhat
puzzled face looking out from its
framework of scarlet runners and
hop vines that clambered over the
rustic porch "You have heard your
husband speak of Colonel Absalom,
| presume?"
"Colonel Absalom % and the little
woman's pink cheeks deepened into
crimson, while the words of welcome
that danced tripping measure up.
on her tongue were cut short by the
easy familiarity of the distinguished
guest, as having secured his horse,
he walked leisurely into the house
and seated himself composedly in
one of the splint-bottomed chairs be-
side the kitchen window.
"How delightfully."- cool and sweet
it seems in here, after six hours
ride in the heat and dust of the high.
way .s!' he remarked with a sigh OF
satisfaction then, as if waking up
to some forethought of possibility,
he added, with frankness that took
his listeners impressible heart by
storm:
4 hope Pm not intruding, Mrs.
Mason. But the truth is, l was
warm and tired, and the prospect OF
an hours rest in such q sweet, quiet
home nest, was too great a tempta.
ton TO be resisted
Mrs. Mason was only too delighted
with the privilege of entertaining SC
distinguished, and at the same time
SO agreeable guest, and she said
so, with an honest unaffectedness
that could not be misinterpreted, and
to which the colonel most gratefully
responded.
'Oh, no, pleasen in reply to al
invitation to exchange his homely
seat for the highbacked, cushioned
rocking. chair and more refined at
mosphere of the front room. Lee
me stay right where / am, so that
can talk without interrupting you
The truth is, I'm a so ;ial soul, and
detest this being made company o
and shut up by myself in peoples
best rooms, instead of being allo wed
to make myself comfortably at home
in my own free and easy fashion.
Of course there was nothing more
to be said on that point, and the
smiling hostess tripped lightly from
kitchen to pantry, Hospitality Intent
upon providing the best that hel
house afforded for the delectation O
their guest, and that gentleman fully
proved his assumption of sociability
to have been well founded. Crops
stock, the dairy, the orchard and th,
poultry.yard were all laid under con
tributlon to furnish material for tn,
food of pleasant, often compliment
ary small talk, with which the Col
beguiled tie hour of preparation fo
the coming meal.
"Let me see-what is your hus
bands given name, Mrs. Mason
l don't seem to recall it Just now
John? Oh, yes? l remember now
he was one Of the delegates to th,
county convention last Spring, yol
say A fine looking young man
shows in his face that he has a mint
OF his own. and knows it, o-ah
you laugh? l understand it +; and ,
| Iwh ila q m arriiv conf dant;ol IL