Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-05-20
OUR BEGINNINGS.

OUR BEGINNINGS.
DIR. Jerome Chilcote and bear to
each other the by no means unusual re-
lationship of husband and wife. Consid-
ering, however, that we live in State
where certain portion of the married
couples are, so to speak, born divorced,
and of the remainder many achieve di-
vorcement, and some have enforcement
thrust upon them, the fact that we are
very much one in heart and life, after
seven years of marriage, might be con-
sidered somewhat singular and exeep-
tional.
Do not understand me to say that we
never disagree, for we do, upon one sub
feet. DR.. Jerome has theory about
wood, and persists in the practice OF
buying load of dry wood and at the
same time one of green, requiring me to
mix it as l burn it. Generally speaking
Idon't mix it; and 1 will submit the ques-
ton to any jury OF women and house
keepers whether it comes within the pale
of feminine possibilities to put a green
stick in the kitchen stove when dry
one lies Just beside it. This matter of
the fuel is the ulcer through which all
the unpleasant humors of our domestic
system is discharged, leaving everything
pure an lovely after each eruption and
its attendant dressing of mutual conces-
sions and endearments.
1t was on the second anniversary OF
our marriage. balmy day in April,
that Jerome said:
"Rose dear, let us leave this place and
go Vest
I had been looking for proposition
of some kind and was ready to acceed
to anything. told him so, and we set
about our preparations for removal at
once and at the end of a month from
the time the subject was first preached
between us we found ourselves here in
this lively young Western town of Crum-
melsville.
Just eighteen months from the date of
our arrival in Crummelsville the ground
was broken for our new house. To be
sure, the lot was not quite paid for and
the house could not be finished that year;
but we longed so for a home OF our own,
and Jerry said we needed something in
which to deposit our surplus cash %, to
prevent extravaganza. How Jerome
worked those days, and what a talent he
developed for collecting debts! Where
there was no money, he would take pigs,
fowls, grain, wood-anythin that his
debtor could be induced to spare. 1t was
our only salvation. So much labor for
nothing anyhow! So many poor who
could not pay, and so many better OIL
who didn't care!
One day | accompanied the doctor on
q long drive through the hoop-pole
country AS certain timbered district
was called. On our way we encountered
q heavily-bearded man wearing fox
skin capand carryinga long rifle. While
he was yet at some distance Jerome said:
s.There comes Tim Frost He owes me
seven dollars and half and am going
to make him pay it now"
II don't believe he has cent in the
world,'' l remarked.
..No matter; I'll take dicker.''
80, please don't!' l exclaimed, thiuk-
ing of an old watch and shotgun at
home that he had taken as g dicker'' on
accounts. II wouldn't take the poor
fellows gun. 1t is all he has to make a
living with
just then the man came up, and salu-
tations were exchanged.
chow are you, limp
'sHow are you, doctor?'
..Let's see, Tim; it is now about six
months that you We owed me that little
bill. How would you like topay it today?'
Tim swore he would like to pay it ex-
ceedingly well, but he was "dead
broke.S mot a darned bit of use to
talk about payin' to-day, doctor; but jes
you wait till my corn and taters come
off, with an encouraging nod and wink.
You'll need all the corn and pota-
toes you'll have said Jerome, dryly.
He had seen the place where they ought
to be growing. Il want to get you out
of debt to-day. Are both OF those dogs
yours that hear barking off there?'
s.Sartin.'' said Tim.
'Couldn't you spare me one OF
themp''
..Well, maybe mought, but eff you re
wantin' dog, now, rale smart chicken
dog, there Jake Morrison, down on the
bottom"
.Never mind Jake Morrison and his
chicken dog interrupted Jerry; 81
want that pup that's barking now-no;
the other one. Listen! There, now,
that's the yelp. TN give you seven dol
lars and a half for that dog, and take
him on his bark
..Why, that's Chunk" said Tim dep
recatingIy. I'D rather not part with
Chunk
But Jerome was hunting under the
seat for piece of rope, and Tim Frost
:whistled up his dogs. Chunk was selected
and secured to the tail-board of our wag-
on. Then jerome wrote out on leaf OF
his prescription-book receipt in full for
Frost,s Indebtedness and passed it to the
.woodman, who deposited it in the fox
skin cap and expressed himself very
well satisfied with the transaction.
10. jerry, how could you?'' said, as
IRE drove on. ITO think of taking into
the family q dog raised as that dog has
.beenr'