Sharp County record., 1878-06-21


moor Barbara makes a fuss about 1t;
and this contrivance you have for dip
ping water is dreadful, Cousin Josiah;
that is. dreadful for a woman. A tough
man wouldn't be affected by it, | sup
pose; but | should think Barbara would
get disease of the spine from STOPPING
over here to draw up quart OF water
at a time, to say nothing OF the wear and
tear on her nerves and temper" "
"Oh, Barby's none Of your pale
faced, do-nothing critters, who are
afraid of 2 little work." said the old
man, loftily--not, however, without a
secret pang, as he remembered how
often his daughter had complained Of
this very thing.
"I'm glad to hear it, Cousin Josiah,
and YOU must see to it that she never
gets to be pale, sickly creature. You
farmers, as a general thing, are too in
different about having things
to make work easy in your houses. l
used to hear it said that thrifty farmer
would always have good barns, and
tiyht, warm stables for his stock, no
matter what accommodations he had for
himself. That will do well enough if
he's a bachelor, but | contend that he
has no right to treat his wife and daugh-
ters as if they were inferior to his cat
tie. It's these mistaken ideas of parents
regarding conveniences and comforts
that make Young people dislike farm
I life. We are constantly hearing of the
tendency of farmers children to try
town and city life, and it is principally
because their own homes are so COM
fortress"
Billy's appearance at this juncture
was most opportune, putting an end to
the conversation, which was growing
rather distasteful to the old gentleman.
"Did you attend to the stock, Billy" "
he demanded, "and pump plenty Of
fresh water for them?"
$50 he has a pump at his horse
trough, it seems, f." muttered the old lady,
as she went back into the house. "But
he lets poor Barby draw water on her
knees for all her housework. No Won
der his wife died. An iron woman
would give up the ghost with few
years of such drudgery."
Following Farmer Heath's directions
to set the table, Billy flew franticaly
around the kitchen, humping against
the old man while in the act Of turning
the ham, at the imminent risk of upset
ting that part OF the evening meal into
the ashes, and getting in the way so
constantly as fairly to drive the old
man wild.
ga pretty assistance you are in a
kitchen, to be sure!" he growled, as ne
tripped over Billy's foot, and barely es-
capped falling. "You're for all the
world like a cat-forever in the way,
and getting twisted up between per-
sons feet. Now, young man, if you've
got every thing on that table that we
need for supper, you can clear out to
the barn or somewhere till we get
through eating. don't want any more
of your kind efSaelp."
Billy did not require second telling,
but skipped out of the door with a
pleased face, and was soon out OF hear
ING down among the willows. The ham
was safely landed on the table, the cof-
fee-pot received a final shake, to "see
whether it had boiled away much" the
chairs were drawn up, the lamp lighted,
and every thing ready at last.
"This isn't quite as good supper as
Barby would have cooked for u.s." ap-
{ pologized Farmer Heath when his
| guests were seated. 81 know some
thing about cooking, though; can make
frst-rate coffee when l try, but some
Row haven't hit it exactly this time.
Perhaps it will look better when the
cream is put in"
The cream was not on the table.
"That rascal of boy" had neglected
to bring it from the cellar, and the old
gentleman went to fetch it himself. He
got safely down, CROPPED around in the
dark, secured the pitcherful OF sweet,
rich cream that Barbara had skinned,
and started back-but, alas " the best
laid schemes o. mice and men gang aft
aglee, " for the treacherous step that had
been a source of irritation to his daugh-
ter, suddenly tilted up, and Farmer
Heath, the pitcher, cream ard loose
boards, all went down together in one
ignominious heap at the foot OF the Gel
lar stairs.
" Are you hurt, Cousin Josiah? Do
tell US what has happened. Shall we
come DOWN." inquired his guests, both
at once, from the top of the steps, with
er they had hurried at the first crash.
"Dear me! he must have tainted, "
added the lady anxiously. "Wait, Ill
bring the lamp"
81 haven't tainted at all, but I might
have been killed by that fool STEP" was
the answer in a snappish tone that
came from the midst of the debris. And
with that the owner of the voice began
picking himself I'D, and slowly mounted