Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-10-10

quart more Tor milk OF clty iolhS
than she does of the neighbors, and
she weighs her chickens afore she
draws EN-. which don't? She may
obleege folks, but she gets well paid
fort. If you want chickens as favor,
or eggs either, III as soon give EN- to
you as TO sell EN- most; but L do
hate to be looked down on by grand
folks"
BY this time Mrs. Lamson had over
taken me. and laid her hand kindly on
my shoulder.
/ turned and looked at her in sur
prise. All the hard lines were gone
from her sallow face. her dull eyes
were alight with kindness, and her
cheeks all aglow with excitement.
"You come back, Mrs. Willard, she
said, gently, "and you shall have what
ever you want that belongs to me y
wanted the chickens and eggs, and
dreaded a walk in the sun too much
to show resentment, or to despise this
relenting mood. So turned back,
went into the house, as she very much
wished me to do, and became her
guest for half an hour.
The chicken and egg question being
settled, I til ught l would settle Mrs.
Lamson.
/ had been told by the storekeeper
that she had SO much dignity that
she was perfect porcupine, - you
couldn't git near her for the quilts
that she acted like termagant
When had been informed that he !"
had only gone to mill, and would be
back soon, and would pick the chick
ems and bring them to me, and had
drunk glass Of rich milk, and accepted
basket of pears, said, playfully.
Nov tell me, Mrs. Lamson, what 1
or any ore belonging to me has done,
that you treated me as you did when
I came? In the city we should call
that rude reception even for beggar."
"Ah, SO it would be for a beggar !;
no one ever saw me sit still when q
beggar came in. But beggars come
for favors. and body can afford to be
polite to them. But to folks that set
themselves up above Newell, the
fact is, I've got sight of dignity, and
I just have to keep it up; it's nat'ral,
and ] can't help dom it I see I was
mistaken in you-that you don't despise
me, and I ask your pardon, and hope
you'll come here whenever you want a
favor, that you don't give money for,
l mean"
Well, that is frank apology, and
we will now be good neighbors," I said.
IF you need any favor you will always
find me ready to grant it,
The greatest concession person of
Mrs. Lamson's dignity" can make is
to ask favor; and this she now did
most gracefully.
There is small favor I would like
to ask of you," she said hesitatingly.
Well, it shall be granted. What is
it,"
81 have thought for q good while,
ever since you first came to your cot
tage, that should like to read book |!
I don't mean to say that we haint any
books, for we hev. He had The young
Mans Guide to Success and The Lives
of the Presidents that belonged to his
folks-when he was married; and we've
took three books in numbers, mostly
for the pictures; and then our represen-
tative has presented my husband with
five elegant great volumes Of Congress
reports-but l don't take to none of
these myself. When I've read the
Dairy and Garden part of our agri-
cultural paper, haint no more readin'.
l would like to borrow book, if you
amt afeared O. my spilin' the gilt on
'em. I'll cover it afore read it,"
" You shall have dozen of my best,
which have no gilt, l said.
Mercy shan't live long enough
to read dozen books, she cried, laugh
ing at the idea, " but since so many
larned folks has begun to come to our
town i'll summer, l felt as if I should
like to read book, 80 if 1 should hap.
pen to meet any of 'em to picnic or
anywhere, I'd have something to con-
verse about. Now, if you will lend me
a book, l will give you pot of my but
ter for your company tomorrow |"
"You shall have all the books you
want without butter" said.
No, my dignity couldn't give in to
that. must give as we'll as take. Your
husband and daughter must taste my
butter! / do wish Ihad time to read
dozen books and be like you" she
said, with glance of admiration in her
eye. II always thought afore to-day
that larned folks was sort of race by
themselves, that didn't do nothin' but
read-that never make bread nor take
care of their families; that they have
green Paddles to do all their domestic
duties for EN-"
Well, I assure you, you are mis-
taken there. The hest wives and moth
ers are those who try to improve their
own minds" said.
Where do they get the time
don't see spare minute from five in
the mornin' till dark; and then I'm too
tired to read"
How long will it take you to make
this quilt?" asked.
She took the question as a compliment
to the quilt, and replied, "Well, by
using every spare minute, I can make
such one, have it quilted and bound
and put away in six months. I've made
over twenty-some of them of pieces
not bigger than silver quarter-since
I've been married !" she exclaimed,
triumphantly.
"You could have bought that num-
her Of he'd. spraadc for {ba r,oro~, 81, o,o