The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-05-08
KETURAH RIDDLES COURTSHIP.

CLUMP! clump! went Farmer Lag
ier's boots along the brick walk leading
to Mrs. Selchow's dairy, and "Here
ye be p he said, in his sharp falsetto,
minute later.
Eyes," said Mrs. Selchow, looking
up from the milk she was skimming.
"Walk in, Brother Lazier."
Brother Lazier walked in. He was
small, dry man, so stiff in the joints
that he progressed by a series of Jerks
suggestive of Mrs. farley. He had a
dusty complexion, miniature Desert
of Sahara on the top of his head, sur
rounded by clumps of sandy hair, and
his very voice seemed to have dried up
and cracked.
He sat down upon pile of empty
butter tirkins, with a preoccupied air,
but Immediately rising, crossed the
room, alternately taking few steps
and then stopping short, like a robin.
At last he Remarked: Uncommon dry
spell we are having"
Mrs. Selchow assented cordially and
this subject being disposed of, silence
ensued, during which Mr.. Lazier and
his green cotton umbrella continued to
mount guard.
slows your motherg' inquired
Mr.. Selchow, making a skirmish to-
ward conversation.
"Marm's considerable poorly, I ex-
pect," replied her son; "and that
what called ter speak about; that is,
Imeant ter say" Here Brother Lazier
grasped his umbrella convulsively, and
paused. "She amt so young as she
once were," he resumed, !" and it's hard
on her to take the heft of the work"
Another pause, during which our
brother wiped his brow with pictorial
handkerchief illustrating scenes in the
life of the Prodigal Son.
EYES," said Mrs. Selchow, foreseeing
what was coming, and anxious to help
her visitor out" Yes, you need some
body there that can take right hold and
go ahead. Your mother is getting on
in years, as you say, and the place
needs a younger woman to see after
it,
That, now. was just what I was
coming to-" responded Mr.. Lazier,
much gratified. "I've been a-think-
ing, this some time, whether or no
Scripter want about right. and I've
come a-purpose to ask you if so be
you'd be so good as to pick out some
likely girl for me. You see, young
man like me feels kinder difiident
round amongst the girls" he added,
stroking his hay-colored goatee, which
was plentifully streaked with gray.
"Not but what there'd be a plenty of
'em that would jump at the chance"
he resumed, glibly-for the bars once
down, Mr.. Lazier felt perfectly at ease
-" but, you see, there are so many 1
can't make up my mind, and I want
you to sorter tell 'em over, so't I can
chalk 'em of. You see, Sister Sell
chow, want q master-hand to work.
She must be able to hetchel round ;
can't have no poor weakly Greater.
But then, you see, the smart kind are
apt to be topping. I can't have that.
She mustn't be a-trying to usurp au-
thority nor nothing; I'm particular
about that. She must be obliging-be
willing to help about the chores, and
that'll save my keeping boy. She
must be ekernomical, and know how
to live on plain vittle. and not be a.
wanting a new caliker every little while.
Iwant she should be able to make fust-
rate butter and cheese. Mother is fall
ing off little on butter; I didn't get
as much by ten cents as I'd orter for
that last box. And if she has a few
hundreds in the bank, it would come
handy, for, you know our place has a
mortgage. Now, you see," he added.
~ amt particular but these ERE few
things do insist upon"
Him." said Mrs. Selchow, watching
the milk as it dripped through the skim
mer. Perhaps Widow Voss would
suit you"
Number one," said the bachelor,
in business-like voice, producing q
lump of chalk, with which he proceed.
ed to make a mark on the dairy floor.
"Now let's see," he went on, assuming
judicial air, Wilder Voss is as spry
as cricket-good-temper too; but
then l never took much stock in Wild
ders, and I'm a little skittish of 'em.
They're always a-throwin' of it in your
face how that you amt a-doin' so well
by 'em as their first husband did.
guess we'll cross her outs" and he
stopped to draw line across the mark
which represented the unfortunate
widow.
miranda Brown" suggested the
mentor.
Mirandy is q good girl; she'd make
a fust-rate of q wife; but there's her
father, being took down with paralysis
50, he's liable to live for years. That
spiles herr" and another cross decided
the destiny of Miranda.
"Jane Tucker" prompted the indie.
fatigable Mrs. Selchow.
"Number three" asserted the pros.
pective lover. "Jane is almost toe
ready. mistrust she's been a-lookin'
out for this chance for some time; She,
asked after marm's rheumatism twic,
now within q week, and make M
doubt she's all prepared to step in.
won't have woman that don't wait Il
be asked" said Mr.. Lazier. decidedly
as he cancelled James hopes.
swell, now, there Keturah Riddle, ,
exclaimed Mrs. Selchow, running he
finger around the edge Of the pan h
loosen the cream. "She's good q
gold, and neat as pin. There amt
better housekeeper in town, and sh,
can sing like lark, and hasn't anv in
cumbrances either"
"And they do say she has prett,
little sum in the bank, too: but the;
she is uncommon humbly," obiecte1
Mr.. L., rubbing his nose reflectivel,
with the handle of his umbrella.
Handsome is that handsome does. ,
returned Mrs. Selchow. "Keturah In
great deal Of sound good sense, an,
her butter took the prize at cattle shov
last fall"
"Well, here she goes number four,
reluctantly admitted Mr.. Lazier. "Tr
great mind I'll 60 and see her-if j
want for her bein' 90 prodigious plain
featured. Well, Pm gretly Obliged 3
you, Sister Selchow, and I'll do 3