The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-01-08

ly with much greasy. besprinkling in
the titful gusts of wind that blew freely
through the rudely built tenement and
moaned drearily through the room, he
placed it in the centre of small round
table, while he set to work to stir into a
blaze the well.nigh burnt out square
Jumps Of turf that still smoldered On
the hearth. At this time no symptom
or sign of a woman's presence was any,
where visible. Everything felt strange,
weird and "uncanny," and I did not
half relish the quarters that chance mad
thus fortunately imposed.
An odd humping sound, succeeded
by noise of heavy weight being
dragged across the floor could be dis
tlnctly heard overhead.
"What is happening up stairs?" I ask
ed, eying my landlord pro tenn suspi-
ciously.
law lima knaw, so aw Gamma say"
he repli, Il. Maybe it's tina mither ar
ranging the room for tina Teddy. Yer
maun sleep ere yersel, for we haze but
jeest ane apartment wi bed in it,
an the droivers maun haze to litter
dune wi the beasties j. the BARN. Aw
Gamma 'elp it; we be vera puir folk" he
added apolog eticaliy.
Hardly had he finished speaking when
an old woman entered the kitchen. Big,
raw-boned, and masculine in appearance
she was nevertheless scrupulously clean,
and wore white apron and large
white bordered cap tied neatly under
the chin with huge black bow. Court
esying humbly, she came up to where
my wife was sitting.
Twill ma We tax off yer hat, my leedy?"
she said prof1ering to assist Amanda to
disencumber herself Of some of her
many wraps. Then, turning toward the
man who, from the likeness, we quick
ly discovered was her con. Ca, Jamie,
laddie, an cut ane or twa raishers o.
bacon fra aft the side by tna washhoose
door, and yer'll foind some eggs O. tina
mornin's layin' in tina soup crock in tina
cellar"
Busting about the dame soon estab.
lished a sort Of feeling of comfort
around as only a woman can.
A cloth was spread, and knives and
forks and crockery were PRODUCED; a
kettle boiled on the fire, second can
die was lit, and in another ten minutes
smoking dish of fried eggs and bacon
faxed by a loaf of homemade bread,
was placed before us, together with a
bottle Of good whiskey, which the hot
water, with sugar, and a slice of lemon,
speedily con- "erted into excellent toddy
than which there is nothing better for
warming and cheering the spirits: re-
storing equanimity, or composing the
nerves.
From the tiny wash-hopse at the back
we could hear the postboy's ''guffawing''
loudly over some of ia mics jokes which
seemed entirely to his liking and his
own. Pushing aside the table and light.
ing my pipe, I settled myself comforta-
bly, for the evening on side of the blaz
ing hearth, while Amanda having fetch
ed her reticule, faced me on the other,
and proceeded to tat with nimb]eness
th at was pleasing to behold. We were
just feeling placid]y content, and I was
just noddlng off into q delicious doze,
after picturing many quaint fantasies,
and imaging gnomes and giant and Cas-
ties and armies in the red fire-glow, and
little dreaming of the gruesome night
that was in store for us.
"The bed upstairs is quite clane an
straight, whenever tina Teddy ma wish
to retire." said our hostess, coming into
the room. "I'm afeerd yell ma be vera
weel off tina night" she continued, "but
it's tina maist aw can do for ye."
Thank you," said Amanda, sweetly,
Il am sure we shall be very comfort
able."
"Aweel, an indeed I hope that We
will. Dinnah fash yersel' vi tidying
up; anvil cum an do it a. for We, if ye're
so moinded; an dinna gaze speerlng into
tina corner closet-it be jeest fule a.
things a. my ain, that put there when
Jamie tauld me ye're war cummin."
And wishing us both "gude night" she
vanished into the back regions, where
Jamie was with "tha droving bairns,"
as she called them.
"What very kind, civil, obliging
person she u.s." remarked my wife, after
the old woman had left us. "How for
tunate we were in discovering this nice
COTTAGE" Poor soul, she was so easily
pleased in those days.) "Hark! how
the wind bowls! What night to be
sure!"
Amanda, my pet, I think you had
better 60 to bed" said ], interrupting her
interesting soliloquy. ''We haYe to
start early tomorrow morning, and I
am sure you must be tired. I shall
follow you in few minutes; so don't
dawdle, that's DEAR"
Lighting candle handed it to my
wife, who received it blushingly and
tripped coyly away with it upstairs.
1 remained yet while Illuminating
and bordering over many things, while
the light waxed low and at length sput-
tered out altogether. How long I sat