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

conscious author OF the mishap wa.
already ambling peacefully through the
Selchow garden, bright with phlox and
peoples, with . rear-guard Of melon.
and cucumbers.
Hezekiah Lazierr' said his mother
. few hours later, 81 do declars for't
if you amt a-growin' deef! I've blowed
the horn e'ena'most times enough b,
bring down the walls o. Jericho, and
here ye lie out behind the house all the
while!''
"Sho, now" protested her son; "]
concluded you forgot to blow the horn.
I was a-calculatin' whether or no twas
best to buy another cow" he added, n
an explanatory tone.
~ don't see but we shall have to, i
you keep on at this rate; here ye be =
helpin' yourself to butter again when
you've got three pieces on your plate
Already" remarked the old lady.
"rve greet mindful 60 and see
her this afternoon-the COW, NEAR" "
hastily added Hezekiah, putting salt in
his tea.
Its right ON the road to Jones, -
unused the same individual, after din
ner, as he leaned pensively over the
pig-pen chewing straw. ut wouldn't
bender much, as l know OF, and jest
now I may ketch her unaware.
Wa'al, anyhow l can call, and If I
don't conclude to take her, I'll 20 on
and see Jones' COW, SO 'twon't be vast
ing time"
Half an hour later Farmer Lazisr and
his green cotton umbrella might have
been seen vending their way along the
road.
"rm e'ena'most q mind not to stop
to-day" murmured Mr.. Laziep, rs he
caught sight of the white cottage with
its porch covered by morning glories.
81 don't know as I'm afraid to 20 in
I don't know as I be-" he pursued,
wiping his face with the Prodigal Son.
While he was deciding this question,
burst of song floated out through the
hymn; the words were homely, the
tune was commonplace; but the soul
of the woman who sang seemed to fill
and overflow both song and words. I'm
consciously the listener drew nearer;
before he knew it he had passed up the
little walk bordered by verbenas and
clove-pinks, and reached the dazzling
row of milk-pans set to dry upon the
porch.
"pn ketch her unaware" repeated
the bachelor, with triumphant
chuckle. But alas for his precautions!
his green cotton umbrella slid out of
his hand, and, with a crash worthy of
one of Jove's thunderbolts, knocked
down the whole row of pans.
"Why, Mr.. Lazier, how do you dor'
said Miss Riddle, coming to the door
to send away Mr.. Jones dog, as she
supposed. and looking somewhat sur
prised to find the intruder of q different
order.
Eyes, it is an uncommon dry SPELL"
remarked the visitor, absently.
The kitchen had not q suspicion of
dirt anywhere, the dinner dishes APP
peared to have been washed ages ago,
the stove shone like q star of the first
magnitude, and Miss Riddle herself
wore the most immaculate of calicoes
and white collars. She was plain, but
her face was full of character and good
ness, which even Mr.. Lazier could not
help feeling, and his small soul seemed
to shrink, as he looked at her, till it
almost ratified within him.
"What charming weather we are
having!' said the hostess.
"Yes-good for punkins," admitted
our unitarian friend.
"How is your mother now?'' asked
Miss Keturah, trying to keep the con-
versational ball rolling.
"She means business, sure enough"
thought the bachelor, with internal
CONSERVATION.
"She amt so young as she once
were," he answered aloud: after which
remarkable announcement he relapsed
into silence. He was surmising what
Mr.. Riddle was worth when he died,
and calculating how much, at an inter-
est of seven per cent. it would amount
to by this time.
Miss Keturah attempted to insert an
other conversational wedge. "Mr.
Lazier," she began, care you calcula-
ting''-Mr. Lazier gave guilty start
"are you calculating to raise many
melons this year?''
"No," said the farmer, looking much
relieved. "Melons are going to be q
rather slim crop this year, SO far as l
know"
II have a few vines, but they haven't
done much" pursued Miss Riddle. 81
find it troublesome to get q man to do
my planting when it ought to be done,
they are all so driven right in planting
time"
"Therer' thought Mr.. Lazier, feeling
in hispocket for the Prodigal Son; '.she
means that for hint-women are 50
suspicious"
"rve let my land out at shares this
year." went on the unconscious Ket-
urah. "Mr. Jones has taken the gar
den, and have all the vegetables 1 can
use."
Our wary friend felt that it was high
time for an explanation.
II was just a-going by to look at
Jones' COW, and I thought I'd stop in
q spell and see you too, and I guess
must be getting along now"
It's lucky none Of the neighbors
happen to be going BY" he thought as
he walked out of Miss Keturah's door
yard, ignorant that at that very in
slant Cornelius Jones, Jr., was sweep
ing the horizon with spy-glass from
his fathers barn window. Well.
it's plain to be seen she's all ready to
jump at the chance" soliloquized Mr..
Lazier. 81 believe she would have
made me a proposal herself if I'd
staid there five minutes longer. It's
lucky l got away when I did, for 1
should hate to tell her it was on &C
count of her looks. But it won't do:
she's too plain-favored. It's hard on
her, though; it's evident her mind is
sot on me. Howsomever, don't
know as I'm beholden to make such q
sacrifice of my feelings"
He reached this conclusion and Mr..
Jones' barn-yard simultaneously. The
only visible occupant was q bantam
rooster, which crowed valiantly at
Mr.: Lsai:r's approach, to whose over
saying, " Ke-tu-u rah!' The farmer
threw stick at the fowl, but, adroitly
lodging it, he reiterated. Ke-ta-u-