Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-04-11

| away with Joyous llttle lauSn.
"'Inis will never do, now that
George has gone for six weeks, to
prepare for his return. And pray
Heaven it shall be such coming
as will delight his very soul"
"I'm sure don't know what to
saw. The land knows I need help
bad enough, but it pears to me
such slender little midget as you
couldn't earn your salt. What did
YOU say your name WASP"
"Mary Smith, and, indeed, if you
will try me for week, I'm sure you
will keep me till the season is
over"
Mrs. Clements looked ont Of the
window at the great clouds that
were piled gloomily up; and then
the wind gave great wailing shrek
around the corners OF the house.
"You can cook, can you? and
shake up great feather beds-good
big ones, forty pounders?"
A gleeful little smile came from
Mary's lips.
"Indeed can. I may not cook
to suit yon, but I can learn"
Mrs. Clements walked out to the
huge open fire place in the kitchen
where the deacon was shelling corn
"What Dye say, deacon; keep her
or not? j kinder like her looks, and
the dear knows it would be good
lift, while we'r KILN if she could
MT more'n set the table or make
mush for bread"
"'Take her Of course, Hannah
You are hard driv', I know. Let
her stop = week or so, anyhow"
So Mrs. Clements came slowly
back and sat down again.
"You can't get away tonight any
how; there's snow storm been
brewing these three days, and it's
on us now sure enough. See them
ere flakes. fine and thick, You may
az well take your things up stairs
to tho west garret, and then come
down and help me get supper"
And then followed directions to
the west garret. and when she was
gone Mrs. Clements turned to the
Deacon:
81 never saw 4 girl before I'd
trust mp stairs alone. But such as
her don't steal. can tell you that
if nothing more.'
Directly she came down in a pur-
pie print dress and white apron; her
hair brushed off from her face into
a net; narrow linen collar fastened
with a sailors loop of narrow black
ribbon. 1t seemed as if she had
lite, too, so handily she fitted in
and out of the big pantry and then
down cellar. Then after the meal. :.
she gathered the dishes in neat,
silent way, that was perfect music
to Mrs. Clements ears.
"She's determined to earn her
bread anyhow, and / like her turn,
too"
And the Deacon had taken a
shine to Mary Smith. One by one
the days wore on The hog-killing
time was done and over; long strings
of sausages hung in fantastic rings,
arranged by Mary's deft fingers;
sweet hams and shoulders were pill
ed away in true housewifely man.
ner, and now Mary and Mrs. Glenn
ents were seated in the sunny din
ing-room, darning, patching and
and mending.
81 don't know what Pm going to
do without you, Mary; dread to
see you pick up your clothes"
A blush of pleasure overspread
Mary's face.
81 am so glad that you have been
suited with my ork. Indeed I've
tried"
"It amt the work altogether,
though goodness knows You are the
smartcst gal I've seen in many a
day. AS say, it amt The work
i''s you, Mary. I've got to think
ing a heap of you-me and the Dea-
con-"
Mary's voice trcmbled at the kind
ness OF the old lady's tone, but she
sewcd rapidly on.
"It's so uncommon lonesome
since the boy lett the farm; but it's
worse since he got married. 1t
seems like dcserting us altogether"
"IIave you son? You have
never mentioned him."
"No, George, has gone his way
and we must 60 ours. Yes, he
married one of those crack-headed
boarding school people, who can't
tell the difference between a milk
pan and rolling-pin,"
But despite her scorn, Mrs. Glenn
ents dashed away the tears with
her brown fist.
"Is his wife pretty? l suppose
you love her dearly"
81 don't know anything about
her, and never want to know. He's
left us for her, and us old folks will
leave him for her, too. Mary, just
turn them cakes round, seems as if
they're burning"
When Mary had turned the cakes,
Mrs. Clements was leaning on the
arm of her chair.
"Mary, supposing you stop on
with us another month yet, any
how. The Deacon will make it all
right"