The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-09-04
TOBIAS JONES' MATCHMAKlNG


And sang her lullaby.
TOBIAS JONES' MATCHMAKING
BY S. A. NJ. MOSS.
IL say said Tobias Jones, bringing
down his fist on the dinncr-tablc with an
emphasis which caused the bottles in Mrs. |
Tobias new castor to rattle together ON
inousIy, II say, wife, have it now
"IIavc what?" asked Mrs. Tobias.
why an idea, a splendid idea that
is to say, plan. You will surely get an
Invitation to wedding, Belinda, before
the winter is ended, or my name is not
Tobias Jones'
"WhatY who: where" asked Mrs. Jones.
II am thankful something is going to
happen; I've stayed at home until l am
tired, and my clothes arc getting out of
fashion,
"1f wearing good clothes keeps them
in fashion, you might wear them here at
home" suggested her husband.
"That's just the way with you men,
said Mrs. Jones you expect US to wear
our best clothes ut all times and i'll all
places, and yet always have them look
new and fashionable But who is going
to he married."
"Wcll, YOU sec it amt Il set
tied fact yet, but il might as we'll
be, for if Squire Chase and Widow Hook
.r should happen to meet, it's my opiniof
they would make a match Of It; and" he
added, as nc noticed his wifc's heightened
face, II think you had better send for
them both to come here to tea tomorrow
night. We have no children, you know,
and you ought to have things in apple
pic order all the time
"Childrcnv' exclaimed Mrs. Tobias.
"You talk Us if folks who havn't children
don't have anything to do. For my part,
think work full as hard and have full
as much trouble as any OF my ncighbors
who have children. However, 1 don't
care how many you invite to tea; I'll have
enough for them to cat; but don't think
you'll make match for Squire Chase,
for know you WON'T"
''Wcll,"' said Tobias. 'you take Dobbin
and drive over and get the widow, and
will take care that the squire is here all
right; and, mind you, Belinda, it they are
not married before the winter is over,
will give you a new dress and if they are,
you shall buy me pound Of tobacco
agreed" said Mrs. Jones, ''providcd
you bring about the match
Just at sunset Squire Chase was reap
ing in the field near the road, when, hap
pcning to look up, he saw his friend Jones
leaning over the fence
Good evening Jones'
GOOD evening, squire. LUST called
over to say that my wife is going to have
company to tea tomorrow night, and she
wants you to come over and make ono of
u.s."
"Much obliged, neigbor, but l don't
know about it. I've got to reap all this
field tomorrow. If get done in season,
perhaps I'll come, but don't look for me.
who arc you going to havc--any strang-
ers?"
"Wcll, yes, Widow Hooker is Il stranger
TO you, l suppose, though my wife has
known her tor years, and sets Il sight by
her. She lives over to the north part Of
the town. I presume you have heard of
her often enough"
eyes have heard Of her, sure" said the
Squire: II suppose she's the woman that
owns the big meadow farm called the
Ox-bow, and manages it all by herself"
"Right," said Jones; and, thinking to
make things better. he added, II know.
you would like her, Squire, for most
every body does.''
II don't much admire women folks
who try to take the places that belong by
right to men, said the Squire, positively.
"Here, Silas,' he called to the youngest
son, who had just returned from the pas
turc With the cows, ''did you SEQ the
brindlcd OK to-night?'
mo, father; hunted and hunted for
him, but he is gone, surc.''
Hang the luck! That's Just the way
with that brindle; he never jumps unless
the feed begins to get short, and then he's
otf for better quarters. l calculated to
turn him into fall feed tomorrow.
When Mr.. Jones arrived home, he found
that MIR. Ellis had been to hire hun
,trcd dollars of him for short time, and
as he had some money on hand. and MIR.
Ellis was considered good for thousand
Or two, he concluded to let him have the
money. Harvesting his horse, he started
for the house of Mr.. Ellis.
Now this house was not far from Mrs.
Hookcr's, and rs Tobias was driving leis-
urcly along about two miles from home,
what should he sec grazing by the road
side but Squire Chasc's brindlc OK. There
was 10 mistaking the animal, for there
wasn't better nor handsomer one to be
found anywhere for miles around.
"lts a shame to leave that OK to run
Of, said Mr.. Jones to himself, ''and if
was going right home l ID drive him along !;
but I'm not, and by the time get back,
he Will be gone. Ihavc i'll" he cxclaim-
ed, as new idea seemed to enter his
brain. "l'll just let down the bars and
let HIM into Mrs. Hooker's west field.
The field has been cleared these ten DAYS.
and she'll never know but he jumped in.
and it may save the Squire heap of
trouble So he drove the OK along for
about threc.quarters Of u mile, and
turned him into the field; then. after
leaving the money ut Ellis's, he went
home, we'll pleased with himself and the
world generally. wiz
Squire Chase was not at the tea partv.
for nc was fully determined not to be
the victim Of a made match, and he rath-
er suspected that one was in progress in
the Jones family.
The next morning Mr.. Jones raped Of
the squire's back door just as the family
were at breakfast.
II thought I'd run over and let you
know where your brindle OK is. Mrs,
Hooker says there was one got into he1
west farm yesterday, and she prcsumes
it's yous."
"Much obliged, ncighbor Jones. I'll
20 night over after breakfast, Or send Ned
But Ned, like most boys of sixteen, was
shy Of old maids and strange widows.
and steadily refused to 60; 50 the squire
himself went.
widow Hooker was making cheese. Il
was late tor cheese. making, but she al
ways makes ono or two fall cheeses. The
door was vide open, but she did not see