The Van Buren press., 1873-07-01
VAN BUREN, ARK, JULY 1. 1878.

was rather hard on it-and as he toek
the shining pals from their shelf in the
pantry, with an unconscious glance o'
pleasure at the spotless shelves with theii
rows OF glittering pans, each crowned
with its wealth Of sweet, rick cream, I'VE
must get some more milk pans, sesldos
having u look at that new churn tua'
Crosspen brags SO much about. IT hi
what he says, wouldn't besrudgs-
oh, III find out about that, and
Mrs. Mason ratified her dishes energetic
ally, while a smile of pleasant ant'cipa'
ton everspread her face, you may
leave me at Mrs. Blunketts on your way
to the store. She has one of them, and
can find out by her how it works.
"All right "
And as tn. bithe, CHEEKY sound died
away, Martha Mason's face grew radiant
with q smile OF proud tenderness, while
her voice was sweet with glad content a.
she whispered softly to herself
How love to hear him speak those
two little words in his happy, satisfied
way, for know he means just what he
saws, in its best and fullest sense.
don't care, she added, with 8 little de
/ fant toss of her head. " II Mira does slui
| him lust because he's man enough to
treat his wife as his equal. l guess
she'd be glad enough, poor thing, II her
husband would treat her with a little
more respect than he does his hostlar. y
This was the nearest that the warm
hearted little woman ever came to blsm-
! ING her elder and somewhat unoongeh1al
sister, who, as the landlady of tho enly
public house at the Corner, was, in her
own as we'll as her friends estimation, q
person OF wide experience, and, as Slch
capable Of expressing an opinion Tpoa
any subject that might be introduced, OF
religious, social or political interest
There's your sister, Mrs. Watson,
now, " remarked Mrs Blunkett, who had
been enthusiastically setting forth the
merits Of the new churn to her interested
visitor, "she'd be glad enough to have
one o. these, as heard her tell Crosspen
the other day but Watson says it's all
nsnsenss-this idea that the old-fashien-
ed churn amt as good now as it was in
grandmother day. But tell Blunkett
that there as much sense in laborsavin
machines for women ~ there is for men,
an if he buys horserakes and hoes Tor
himself, he needn't begrudge me churn
or washing machine, that don't begin to
cost as much, all is just as much needed,
fars | can see.
"And that's where you're right, y
h,s ~;th an annrAyiA "
Glance st the article under discussion.
" That's 'woman's right that | believe
in. and"
just as | tsld Col Absalom this very
afternoon" Interrupted tue ether too
much engrossed with ber subject to no
tice her guests sudden start and Change
of color at tho mention of that name
" said to him, says |. there's my son
'Liah has invented new kind o clothes
wringer, first rate thing, thst'd make
the work o washing twice as easy As It's
now, an he's been trying to get n patent
on it, an amt made out yet, jest tor
nothing in the world but because 'tant a
man labsr saving machine But guess
nOw," aud her worn face Frightened
hopefully, as she lowered her voice to a
confidential tone, hell make out now,
for the colonel just the same as promised
if he was elected to sec ii through
"No doubt he will then, was the
heartily sympathetic response. " The
Colonel is a man OF his werd, so every
body says, and there isn't much danger
Of his not being elected, l guess. And
so, ~ with an evident relish for the sub.
jest, "you had a call from him, too. He
took dinner at our house. "
did he 2" and Mrs. Blunkett looked
her elation as she asked, abruptly,
=" P'raps he made you a present, too |"
"A present
Mrs Mason looked bewildorsd, and
not a little curious "No, he didn't give
me anything. What was your present p
"Well, the present want no great
thing of itself, but it showed his coed
will Jest the same; twas a bag o seed
beans Of q new kind that amt never been
seen in this ceuntry before. The Seore-
tary Of War had some sent him from
Chiny, and he sent few to the Colonel
for old acquaintance sake, and he was
good enough TO divide EN- and bring us
half You see he and my husbands
brother, jason, was officers in the sane
regiment ost to Mexico, and that's why
he come to remainder us ! spose,
There was = curious and not particu.
larly pleasant look in Mrs Massn's eye.
as she asked very quietly:
"Will you let me see them ? have .
curiosity to know how Chinese bean
looks.
Z" To be sure--in jest o minute and
Fastening from tho room she came back
after moments absence, smile
Frightening her sonply face, and in her
hand
Martha Mason licked, then rubbed
her eyes and looked again with a Devil
derod stare.
There, carefully, almost tenderly, bal.
aaced upon Mrs, BlHnketts broad palm
and the visitor caught her breath with
an odd mixture Of indignation and
amusement-thati identical " calico bag
that she had herself bestowed upon her
parting guest, only few hours before
They 70 rather an odd locking bean, !"
remarked Mrs Blunkstt, innoceatly un-
conscious of her friends agitation; and
carefully producing a few from ne depths
Of the bag, she held them out for In
specton, with such sn air OF proud sat
isfaction, that the comiGality OF the whole
affair oyercame for the moment all the