River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-30
i PECULIAR WOMAN.


knew YOU would get it too full "
Il didn spill more than ten drops,
Cousin Silence How you worry over
the loss Of a little grease"
It's one Of my principles to save,
rs YOU might o learned long ago.
II believe in prudence, but what's a
few drops of lard more or less with this
farm. and nobody knows how much in
bank2 You skimp and screw as if YOU
think there were danger of your get
ting on the town.
swell, YOU are the frankest Young
man | ever saw. and Silence Withers
put her arms akimbo and gazed at her
young cousin, Tom Lowey, rs if lie
was 4 curiosity escaped from some
museum.
'sYes; | was always noted for my
frankness," said Tom, cooliy. and |
never hesitate to speak my mind when
duty urges However, | don't want to
hurt your feelings. Cousin Silence"
NO danger" said Miss Silence, with
laugh of derision. I'm no spring
chicken. and my feclins have grown
tough But the idea Of your duty
urgin you to speak your mind to me.
Perhaps YOU don't recollect the whip
pen. | used to give You.
II haven't forgotten, laughed Tom
You used to make me do my duty in
those days But | wish / could con
vince you that it would only be a
Christian act for YOU to send little
help to Mrs. Baldwin. You wouldn't
feel the sending Of $50 out Of your
$4,000
"Massa Sakes, 1t seems as if other
folks know more about my business
than | do myself Fifty thousand,
Law? Who said was worth that much?'
ooh, its common talk, replied
Tom.
.Wcll, it won % you any good to
talk. You'll never see the ,olor of my
money after I'm dead and gone I've
made my Will. and since plain speakin
pleascS YOU, I'll make free to say you
amt mentioned in it, So thcre.
4 calculate to take care of myself,
said Tom, fitting his chair against the
wall Leave you money wherever
You wish; don't want it.
The dav may come when you will
want it, Tom Lowey, and then you'll
be sorry for sayin' them words. I'll
remember them, and 50 will you when
your pride has its fall There's plenty
o things | can leave my money to; it
won't 90 begging.
Il guess not.
You'd more'n guess if you We're to
live here spell and see the stream Of
visitors | have There amt day but
| get ragged about my money by some
body Deacon Bonny thinks its his
bouden duty to advise me to leave it
to found m orphans home. Old Mr..
Craig wants it left to Wolfboro Acade-
my; Squire Darby has his mind on it
for public library. and the minister
thinks | ought to remember what Il
debts on the church TO hear 'em
talk you'd think had one foot i'll the
grave | don't give none o them any
satisfaction, and then they say I'm pc
culiar Ven, perhaps am, but don't
see no prospect Of any change in my
nature"
Tom laughed He was spending
couple of hours ut the farm, which had
been his only home, until he began to
scratch for himself" to use his gaunt
cousins expression. Now he never let
more than day or two pass without
looking in on the lone spiuister to see
if he could give her any help, and to-
dav he was making himself useful i'll
lifting Jars and boilers of hot grease on
and off the stove, for Miss Silence was
trying out lard
Toms law prac ice, a~ vet, was not
very cxacting, mUan to his regret, and
he had more time on his hands than
pleased him
But now do promise YOU Il send Mrs.
Baldwin something for Christmas, Cous-
in Silence, said Tom, returning to the
attack.
Il never promise what don't mean
TO perform was the characteristic an
swer he received to his pleadings.
Martha Baldwin and | amt been ON
speakin' terms for those five years, and
I'd be maxim myself pretty small to
send her Christmas presents. d soon
lie on the town if | began to help all
the poor folks | know. 1t pears to me
YOU take a mighty deep interest in
them Baldwins Tom. Melissa Bonney
let out a hint that YOU was Sparkin that
Prissv Carroll
Il wish Melissa Bonncy would mind
her own business.
Don't get rilcd, dare say its true.
Twouu hc like YOU to court a gal
without "a penny, because you've not
Il penny yourself Prissy CAROLS
been raised out Of charity by her
aunt
THAT don't make her less loyahlc,
Cousin silence,
Now. Tom Lowcy. said Miss 81
lence. brandishing the big iron spoon
with which She Stirred the lard, don't
make Il fool of yourself over Il pretty
face. Butter Your bread before you
eat it. There's Melissa Bonnev. whose
fathers worth
That's enough interrupted Tom;
and. before Miss Silence could stop
him. he was out of the kitchen door
and walking briskly down the path to
the gate.
Law sakcs What peculiar creatures
men are. Talk Of me bcin peculiar:
why. I amt circumstance to that
Tom Lnwev. He'll marry that Prissy
Carroll. now, if its only To show me
that he don care for my money. and.
with Il sigh. Miss Silence went back To
he laid
christina, gift. indeed" she NUT
tered, after standing for some time in
deep thought. Il think | see myself
eating humble pie to Martha Baldwin
But. somehow or other, her conscience
did not feel quite SO easy rs 1t had felt
before Toms call.
An hour later Tom was sitting IN the
window Of Mrs. Baldwins small parlor,
with his arm around Il very tiny waist,
and a very lovely golden head resting
on his shoulder Ii was very evident
Il