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

h just what he says, in its best and fu
J, lest sense. 1 don't care" she added
!; with littls defiant toss of the head
!, "lt Mira does slur him just becaus
D he's man enough to treat his wife a
a his equal. guess she'd be gla
t enough. poor thing, if her husban,
r would treat her with little more re
r spect than he does his hostler."
This was the nearest the warm
: hearted little woman ever came t
blaming her elder, somewhat uncon
t genial sister, who, as the landlady q
s the only public house at the Corner
was, in her own as we'll as her friend
estimation, person of wide exper
ence, and as such, capable of ez
7 pressing an opinion on any subjec
that might be introduced, of religious
social, or political interest"
"There's your sister, Mrs. Wat
son, now," remarked Mrs. Blunkett
who had been setting forth the merits
of the new churn to her interested
visitor, shed be glad to have on,
of these, as / heard her tell Cross
pen the other day but Watson say
its all nonsense-this idea that tn,
old fashioned churn is not as goot
now as it was in his grandmoth er'l
day. But I tell Blunkett that ther,
is just as much sense in labor saving
machines for women as there is fo
men, and if he buys horserakes and
hoes for himself, he needn't begrudg,
me churn or washing machine tha
don't cost half as much, and is just al
much needed, as far as l can see.,'
"And that's where you're right,
laughed Mrs. Mason, with an ap
proving glance at the article under
discussion. "That's a woman's right
that l believe in, and"
"Just as told Colonel Absalom
this very afternoon" interrupted
the other, too much engrossed with
her subject to notice her guests sud.
den start and change of color, at the
mention of that name; 81 said to
him, said "There's my son, Lial has
invented new kind of clothes wiring.
er, first-rate thing, that would make
the work of washing twice as easy
as it is now, and he has been trying
to get patent on it, and amt made
out yet, just for nothing IN the world
but because it amt man labor sa.
wing machine. But guess now,'
and her worn face frightened won
derfully, as she lowered her voice
to confidential tone, she'll make
out now, tor the. Colonel just the
same as promised if he was elected
to see it through"
"No doubt he will then," was the
heartily sympathetic response. "The
Colonel is man of his word, SO
everybody says, and there isn't mnch
danger of his not being elected, l
guess. And So" with an evident
relish for the subject, "you had call
from him, too. He took dinner at
our house."
"Did he ?' and Mrs. Blunkett
looked ber elation as she asked alb.
ruptly, "Perhaps he made you a
present, too ?'
ga present %
Mrs. Mason looked bewildered,
and not a little curious. "No, he
did't give me anything. What was
your PRESENT."
"Well, the present wasn't any
great thing efitself, but it showed
his good will just the same it was
a bag of seed beans of a new kind
that has never been seen in this
country before. The Secretary Of
War had some sent to him from
China, and lie sent few to Colone
for old acquaintance sake, and be
was good enough to divide them
and bring us half. You see he anG
my husbands brother were officers II
the same regiment, out to Mexico
and that's why he came to remem
Der us, | s'pose.'
There was curious and not par.
ticularly pleasant look in Mrs. Ma
sons eye, as she asked very quietly
"Will you let me see them ?
have curiosity to know how a Chi
nese bean looks"
'To be sure-in one moment and
fastening from the room she came
back after a moments absence smile
frightening her homely face, and in
her hand
Martha Mason looked, then rub
bed her eyes and looked again with
bewildered stare.
There, carefully, almost tenderly
balanced upon the broad palm o
Mrs. Blunkett's hand,-that identi
cal "calico bag" that she hersel
had bestowed upon her part
ing guest, only few hours be
fore.
They are rather peculiar looking
bean, remarked Mrs. Blunkett, limo
Gently unconscious of her friend
agitation and carefully producing
few from the bottom of the bag, sh,
held them out for inspection, will
such an air of satisfaction, that tn
comicality of the whole affair over
came for the moment all the other
chagrin, and laughing outright sh
said bluntly, in answer to Mrs
Blunkett's look of half angry inqui
ry:
"Those beans never saw China
they are some that grew in our gal
den, and gave them to Colonel AT
SALON. myself, this very day, becaus
he wanted them to raise himself"
Mrs. Blunkett first looked incredr
, lous, then angry.
"Tue old humbug % she exclaim
, ed wrathfully ; then with naturs
, grasping at "straws ;" "But are yo
sure these are the ones ?''
"Certainly" and Mrs. Mason
, tones softened as she passed be
hand with a caress over the littl
satchel.
"This bag was," she paused for
moment, it was not easy to spea
, that name then and there, and sh
, went on hastily, "it was made of
piece of one of grandmother Mason
gowns. l should know it
Guinea"
, Mrs. Blunkett gave a grim smil
: of acknowledgment.
, "The rascal won't make much b
this caper, / tell you, if he will Ii
about pint of beans, he will lie abo,
, bigger matters, and know two me
{ in this very house, that won't vot
for liar no how"
Mrs. Mason nodded her appr,
3 val.
, "If the man had had a grain