Smyrna times., 1873-10-08

didn't prosper, and jess didn't prosper; and
Mrs. Plumber came to live with us, to look
after things, she said; and she got to pitying
him every now and then for marrying poor
wife, and-Oh, WE'LL what's the use O'talking?
sometimes | couldn't help wishing John
Stringcrs strong shoulders were at the Wheel
when was working myself to death morning
and night for nothing.
Then when baby grew bigger took to teach
| ing an A Is Z class, as | used to before L was
married but what little knew had run wild
since then, and | couldn't keep the boys
straight somehow; and the girls didn't care
| about samplers, for the sewing machine had
ridden right over everything. Then Jesse fell
| i'll O the fever, and with all the fuming and
fretting and nursing Of his mother and with
all my watching day and night somehow he
slipped off between us. And found myself
widow, with the illfared, wasted farm on my
hands, and Mother Plumber drizzling and
maundering after jess in a way to break my
heart.
But | kept my spirits up yet, and adver-
tised half the place for sale at the court house; !;
for if | could sell it we should skin through
somehow on an acre or two, | thought
| Well, who do you suppose came over one
sunny afternoon as | was sanding the kitchen? :?
Who, to be sure, but John Strnger, large as
life-a little gray mayhap, and little more
angular, but keen and strong as ever. He'd u
use for that bit O'land, it seemed, and had had
! his eye on it along back. always was want
ing what wasn't his" Mother Plumber said
She owed him grudge for being more fore
handed than Jess.
1t took deal of looking after and law
yering and surveying and the Lord knows what
to settle it and | used to see John Stringer S
STOPPING shoulders and broad felt hat down
Just beyond the rise of the meadow time and
| Rnt hn no
till one day cant tell how it was-when the
settlements were to be made, just took baby
up stairs and had a good cry; for that bit
GLAND had been JeSse's favorite piece, and
Mother Plumber had been marrying me all
day about it.
The ways O. Providence are so strange P'
said Mother Plumber, laying her specs down
atop O the big Bible, and putting on that aw
fully patient air which was wearing me to skin
and bone" past finding out Now if j ess had
married Sophie Mills that was, and you"
But did not wait to hear any more. AS
say, just caught up baby and went off to the
garret. And while | sat by the cobwebbeC
window Mrs. Barret-Sophie Mills that was
went riding by in their new spring wagon, sht
and her half dozen children, round and rosy a.
barrel of apples. Sophie nodded and smiled
to some one coming up the road; and looking
along, | saw John Stringer walking, thought
, full like, right up to our gate, just as he useC
I to come in courting days--tor John never haC
any foolish ways about him. saw Sophi,
look back at him as she and the children, will
their futtering ribbons and gay ginghams, dis
appeared at the turn O the road. Then
! smoothed my hair and washed my face AM
! went down. The time Of settlement had come
knew.
Mary Ann," said John gravey, "the law
9 yer will be here presently; but reckon we cal
. make it all clear in our own minds without hi
help. And Ive-Ive settled it, in fact, tha
. there are certain conditions on which I'll tax
: the land-if you agree"
a Then few into passion. you've beel
long enough making up your mind, says
e . don't throw my land at any bOdy's feet
o aud | haven't asked any favors of you, least
9 ways John Stringer."
5 Softly there softly - says John, puttin
( out his hand. Don't be in a furry, littl
woman"
o John Stringer," says 1, all in a heat
q you re just the same man you was years ag
n when you thought was always firing up ever
h time you got out O temper yourself"
e And weren't you little woman ?" said Joh
quite gravey. Don't women folks alway
IS like their own way better than anything else :?
!. You don't know anything about women,
q | cried, "any more than you did then. Yo
n thought wanted silks and furbelows NOR
than-than-"
/ Than you did me, said John; "and righ
|, enough you was, too, if you could ha got EN-
n l always said so, Mary Ann"
Ie Any man with half an eye would hav
d known better" says /, hotly:
ST How p said John. His great hulkin
m figure lifted itself up, and he looked at IN
N with those sharp brown eyes that used to Civ
" me start in the old times. HowY' h
I repeated, softly. "Do you mean to say VIZ
r mistaken years ago?" His big brown han
" was all of tremble as he held it out to M
: Little woman" little woman, says he, ht
se ha' done with it all now, and let it all be as
M it never was.
n. Presently Mother Plumber put her head
W the door, "Pears to me that lawyers makir
n long spell Of it, says she. Bent yC
Almost tired O. waitin' for him, Mr.. Stringer
I'd 81 guess we've settled it pretty much wit
e. out the lawyer" says John, rising; !" and tn
| is the condition l had to propose, Mary Ann
nc to take you and the meadow land together
n And he did.