Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-01-03

rather suspected that one was in prog
ress in the Jones family.
The next morning Mr.. Jones raped at
the Squire's back door just as the family
were at breakfast.
IL thought I'd run over and let you
know where your brindled OK is. Mrs.
Hooker says there was one got into her
west farm yesterday and she presumes
it's yours"
Much Obliged, neighbor Jones. I'll
Ned"
But Ned, like most boys of Is, was shy
of old maids and strange widows, and
steadily refused to go; SO the squire him
self went. e@
Widow Hooker was making cheese. 1t
was late for cheese-making, but she
always made one or two fall cheeses.
The door was wide open, but she did not
see Squire Chase come up the flower
bOrdered walk; the first she knew of his
presence was the EXPLANATIONS: tE
"Why, Polly Virgins! This is the
greatest surprise 1 ever hadp' and there
was great Misunderstanding. $50, so, Polly,
you are the famous Widow Hooker, are
you? How do you like farming"
Very we'll, Jerry, and if you can stop
long enough, I'll show you how man
age"
OF course the Squire could stop, and
did stop, and was delighted with every
thing.
II never thoughts woman could man.
age so well" he said; "that is, in the
house and outdoors, too. / always
thought that when women undertook to
Uoar fho-thot io-whou-0
e"Oh, understand" said Polly; you
thought my house would suffer from
neglect, if my farm was properly cared
for"
Il see, / see, Polly. Thought my little
girl had kept house pretty well since her
mother died, but of course it's nothing
like yours. When girls of 20 can't man
age at all, it is not to be supposed that
girls of IA can be very good at it. Sup
pose we let by-gOnes be by-gOnes, Polly.
| have said never would marry again,
but if you will have me will break my
word for once, for when said it didn't
expect to meet you, and l believe we
have both grown wiser since our quarrel
nineteen years ago."
"DO you think the children would like
me, Jerry? You had better bring them
over first, and then will give you my
answer"
Il don't believe Ned will come; he is
rather bashful; but will bring over the
other two, Mary Ann and Silas, tO-mOr-
row afternoon. GOOd-day Polly" and
the Squire drove home with never so
much as thought of the brindled OK.
| Meanwhile Ned had fretted and fumed
because be had no work to do. and final
ly he and Silas had gone fishing.
II do wish father would get married"
said Silas, who, at the age of 10, had very
advanced views of life. 81 think Mary
Ann makes hOrrid biscuits, and l am
tired of eating hOminy and milk for dim
ner. If father did get married, and we
didn't like our step-mOther, we are all
big enough to run away"
EYES," said matter-Of-fact Ned; "but, if
you keep talking, you will scare all the
fish away, and we shall have to eat fat
pork for breakfast"
| Squire Chase could not give a very
good reason why he did not bring home
the brindled OK. He told Mary Ann that
he did not see the OK, then told Ned that
he forgot all about him, and finally he
told Silas that he thought he could not
drive him home alone, and would wait
until the next day, and take him and
Mary Ann over to help him.
The next day Mrs. Hooker had as
happy a party at tea as her house ever
held. Mary Ann quite fell in love with
everything, including the widow herself,
and Silas said he never did eat such
cookies; then Mrs. Hooker read some let.
tiers from her son, who was at college,
and Squire Chase said he never before
thought big boys out to 60 to school In
!, aging and harvesting, but he believed
he should send Ned next year, if Ned
wan, cd to 60.
"a aWi you come over, Polly?" asked the
souire a he was getting into the wagon
~ 81. Il will n con rs" was the answer.
a month lat. n there was grand we'd
ding at Ox-bov farm house, and Mrs.
Jones appeared in handsome new dress,
which She had won rom Tobias, because
she could not see why ne mad anytning
to do with the making OF ma d tna az
came about because of l. ne lnd1mg OF
Squire Chase's brindled o.. Ill WIDOW
HOOker's west field.