Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-25
A COLD SNAP.

Aunt Lakeland lived away out in the
country in those days-in the backwoods,
Nell and | called it, though, to be sure,
our own place wasn't so very populous,
considering that there were seventy odd
miles between the two; but then we
were on the river-banks, and a steamer
ran between us and Boston once a week
and we had shabby little newspaper
and shabbier lecture course, and an &C.
casional concert, and sleighing parties,
and assemblies among ourselves, while
out at Lakeland people dwelt SO far
apart that it was days work to make q
call.
Aunt Lakeland was widow with no
children, and we had often urged her to
come to Wateredge and live with US, but
she had steadily refused, and thought
she shouldn't live out half her days if she
were to torsake the familiar fields where
her good man had plowed and reaped.
She had an old servant, who had lived
with her since her marriage; and kind
OF cousin of her husbands
Andrews-had come to manage the farm
for her at uncle's death, who was execu-
tor of the will, residuary legatee, and
goodness knows what not, and by whom
she set the world. 1t used to be, "Eben
thinks So" and "Eben doesn't like this"
till got worn to shoe-strings the first
time l went to see her, for, you sec,
mother, plying her forlorn condition,
living SO out of the world, and no blood
relation within call, used to send Nell
and me to make alternate visits there TO
make sure she wasn't imposed upon by
her husbs nd's relatives.
"Who cares what Eben thinks and
likesf" said l, for, / suppose, was a
little jealous that she should regard the
opinions of this raw farmer as OF greater
Importance than mine.
~ dare say you'll care more'n you'll
like to own before you're much Older"
said she, laughing, land you won't be
the first girl, neither"
"I'n go right home if you talk So" l
cried. 81 don't think l shall lose my
young affections to Eben Andrews in a
hurry. Anybody'd think ! had never
seen a young man before"
"You never did see one like Eben," she
persisted.
"And never want to see another"
"That's just the way girls talk when
they're in love-" put in Tidy Bruce, who
had come down to do up the sewing for
Aunt Lakeland, whose eyes began to fail
her.
Tidy was something of a companion
for me in that lonely place, though had
no great fancy for her. She lived SIX
miles away through the woods, and Eben
used to 60 for her, and carry her home
when her work was done.
"There's our Esther" she went on
"what fun she used to make of Tom
Adams red head! But, sakes alive, now
-. ~~~o..;ad IN him avprv narticula ar
hair is gold.
aVery likely" retorted; 1T runs in
the family. | heard you say yourself
that Eben had the biggest hands you ever
saw. | suppose they'll shrink as soon as
he offers them to YOU"
aHe's got q heart to match EN-" added
Aunt Lakeland, while Tidy Uttered.
Eyes" said |, just to plague Aunt
Lakeland, for had really thought Tidy
impudent enough to joke about the size
of my aunt's husbands cousins hands
ives. and mouth to match the heart!
$50 much the better to kiss you, my
DEAR" sang out Eben himself; and there
he was, standing in the doorway. ldidn' :
know how much he had overheard, and
I didn't care; at least ] thought l didn't,
and / left the room in dudgeon ana
slammed the door. A great bear OF
backwoodsman to talk OF kissing me!
Well. suppose was contrary mink
for when Aunt Lakeland said that Eben
dotted on green / took great pains 10
wear blue ribbons; and when he declared
that blue became me nightly JUST
changed to cherry-col0r next time. Ii
Eben liked curls / combed my hair out
as straight as Digger Indians; ana
when he began to read aloud ] left the
room. or hummed tune as rudeiy as
YOU please Tidy Bruce used to g'gRle,
and say that l did it just to keep myseil
before his eyes; and she was always 80
ready to run and jump for him, ana nat
tered him so broadly, that | could nave
shaken her soundly many time. one
spared no pains to please him, wore tnf
colors discarded, and made beau-catch-
ers of her hair. She used to dare me 10
refuse his arm when he offered II, or ms
hand when he would have helped me INTO
carriage or over stile, and was just
fool enough. She induced me 10 senu
him Z saucy valentino, and to play an
manner of giddy tricks upon him, such
as putting salt in his tea, and vinegar 10
his milk. and sewing up the armhoies OF
his oyercoat, and lining his hat WIN
burst But he made joke of 1t all, ano
called me his jester.
aTRat means fool" said !, fiaring up
aOh. does it," said ne, quietiy
swell, sometimes the king was more
fool than the jester, you remember
nrncularlv