The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-10-23

"ho ohIhpeu ali my lie 10
make both ends meet, an you'd
; ruther spend your time an money at
the tavern than to pervide your fami-
ly with the necessaries of life. And
then come in and jaw if the meals
amt ready. I'll tell you what, Ell
dad Minkins, you'll jest go and git
something to cook before you git q
, moutbful to eat to day."
Thus relieved Mrs. Minkins sat
down and folded her dirty hands COM
} placently.
Eldad called his oldest boy and
sent him over to neighbor Stebbins'
to borrow some flour.
| Then Mrs. Minkins broke out with
l"And there's that old we'll behind
the barn. Some of the cattle will
fall in it yit, if it amt covered up.
When you took that cover of I Jest
knowed it would never be put on
agin."
| 81 don't care if it amt" snapped
Eldad. eff the critters don't know
enough to keep out let 'em fall in.
can't tend to everything"
| As Eldad sat considering he spied
the old SOW in the garden. Filled
with desire for vengeance he sailed
forth and armed with the mop he
"went for" her. She elevated her
nose, and as Eldad raised the mop
to strike she scooted for the corner
OF the garden. Eldad followed and
cornered her and essayed to wreak
his vengeance upon her. He ad-
vanced valiantly, like a General to
victory. With snort the old SOW
broke from the corner, taking one of
Eldad's legs in the way, elevated it
in the air, stood him on his head in
tho onion bed. By the time he gain
ed his equilibrium and his scattered
thoughts, she was quietly rsoting up
the beds. Eldad swore. He rub
bed his knees and locked with sor.
row upon the leg of his pants ripped
more than half way up. The mop
handle was broken in the fall, and
seizing fence stake he once more
advanced but with greater caution.
AS he approached she retreated
slowly, and when Eldad made q
break for her she ran around the old
shed. He followed at a rapid rate,
and raised the club for fearful blow.
He was under full headway, and
thought of nothing but revenge. He
was almost upon her, when, with an
unearthly yell, he sank from sight in
the old we'll.
| Bill, the oldest boy, returning with
the flour, saw the mishap from dis.
tance. Although Eldad was his
father, Bill rejoiced at the accident,
and secretly resolved to have some
fun out of it.
lie carried the flour to the house,
and running down to where the old
blind mare, Doll, was standing, he
unfastened the bell from her neck,
and approaches the we'll with slow
measured tingling.
Eldad was only stunned by the
fall, and the words of his wife came
forcibly to his mind. When he heard
the bell approaching he was filled
with the agony of fear lest the old
blind mare should tumble in upon
him. 1t approached nearer, and Ell.
dad began to shout. Bill was so
tickled that he grew black in the
face. Here was an opportunity to
pay his father for the many kicks
and cuffs he had received at his
hands. He drew still nearer, ringing
the bell as old Doll was wont to do
while feeding, and Eldad feared for
his life. He dropped on his knees
and began to pray.
"Whoa Doll oh! Lord, lay
me-whoa, Doll-down to sleep,
l pray the-darn her old pictur, she
haint got no more sense than to tum.
BILE in onto a feller, whoa, Doll -
and if l die before land if that
darned old mare tumbles down here
Pm sure l will, whoa, whoa ="
Bill came up to the edge of the we'll
and with his foot kicked over little
dirt on poor Eldad, who thought his
time had come. He dared not to
look up, but kneeling on the bottom
of the we'll he confessed his misdeeds
and promised if spared to reform en-
tirely-to quit drinking and swear
ing, and to go to work and support
his family as he should. Bill, who
was ready to split, saw an opportuni-
ty to accomplish good by this mishap
/ of his fathers. Passing the we'll with
his bell he returned slowly and then
replaced it on the old mares neck,
and ran TO tell the whole thing to
his mother.
| The dame entered into the plan
Immediately and they sat down to
their frugal meal, leaving Eldad at
the bottom of the well to think the
matter over on an empty stomach.
| Along in the afternoon she started
out in search of her missing husband.
She passed by the well calling, Gel.
dad" at the top of her voice. IS
He heard and answered her, but
feignlng she did not hear him, pass
ed the we'll, and as her voice grew
fainter in the distance, EIdad burst
into tears and sat down and wept
that he should die of starvation in
the old we'll that he thought even
the cattle would have sense enough
to evade.
After passing and repassing sever
al times Maria stopped and looked
in. Far down in its dark depths she
saw a form and Eldad broke forth in
fresh lamentations
"Oh, Mariar, do git a rope or
somethin' an help me out. Oh Pm
most dead. Do, Mariar, be quick.
, "Who are you, an what ye makin'
, sech a fuss about ?" said Maria.
"I'm your own dear husband, Ma
ria, Pm Eldad, do help me out"
"You can't play tina: on me, sir,,'
said Maria. "Eldad never would
have got in that place. No, sir.
, Even his cattle knew enough to keep
out of that WE'LL"
"Maria, do help me out / swear
I'll never go to the tavern agin new
f er. I'll fix up things and tend to
, the traps an slick up things, and -
! oh Mariar, I'll do anything if you'll
only help me out of this. I'll send
Bill and Jim to school, an you can
. have all the posies you want. Oh !
! Marian, do help me out"
} "1ll do it if you'll stick to your
+: bargain, but you won't"
L