The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-06-02
handed servant. At one time it was
StnrilY ynnnr fnrmer from tha hack country.

in spite Of her money and her thrift, for
the unmarried men in the ''meetin' were
all too young. Marthy scorned youthful
SWANS, and for some unaccountable rca-
son tho elderly men all died before their
wives, and a widower was a being unknown.
On this particular evening Marthy was all
alone in the kitchen, the hired man being
occupied with q sick horse in the stables,
and Phobe, her assistant, of whom she
contemptuously spoke rs that hired girl, "
had become the victim Of toothache, and
come home home for few days. Marthy
did not approve of 'hired girls"
"Oh, NIarthy, do tell us a story" I ex-
claimed, determined at least not to give up
this pleasure without first making an effort.
Cit out! l don't know no stories, II
don't you see I'm dretful busy on work
much more important than story tellin'?"
why, Marthy, you know heaps of them.
Tell us how your house was all covered up
with show once, and you liked to smoth-
cred"
"Children shouldn't never contradict.
I amt goin' to tell no stories. faint profit
able"
Here the sounds of heavy footsteps arrest
ed her speech, and a loud rap at tho back
door caused her to drop her work and hast
lily repair to the sitting room.
ernutf to 80 to the back door," she said to
my father. "Somebody knocked n I feel
kinder skittish ternight, I'm sure kent
tell why"
Its some tramp who has lost his way in
the storm, suppose said father, hasten-
ing to investigate.
The wind rushed in at the open door
piercing cold, and hurting great cloud of
hail and snow. Nothing was to be seen
but darkness through the binding drift,
1 but, on being invited to walk in, the dark
ness took shape of little man very much
tied up in mufflers, and wearing rustic
and rather shabby looking overcoat.
Beg your pardon for intruding, sir, but
you sec I've got lost in the storm. 1t does
storm considerable.
This We thought was stating the case
! very mildly.
1T stornaed when 1 left home," the
stranger continued. Il live in Whitney,
Vile, out back here, but my dartert lives
over here to the city, wrote me that her lit
tie girl was sick, n seem ez her husban'
was away, n I could as we'll rs not. I
thought Id 60 n spend the Sabbath with
her, n here be dependent on charity fur
a nights lodgin's. My old mare was lame,
you see, else should ha drive her n reach
ed my desperation afore now, but"
"Ies, think you might have" said
father, smiling. But sit up to the fire and
warm yourself, you must be very cold and
very much exhausted, too. III bring a
glass Of brandy and"
mo. sir, 'scuse me, but 10 sperit fur rae,
I'm dretful against strong drink, though
occasions may sometimes be prcssin.' I
would like cup er tea, though, secin' as
he'd 40 supper nor nothin'.'
Mo- tE bo ho1 I,
sigh and with sad resignation to her duty in
aiding the unfortunate, had procured cold
meat and a very dry piece Of dried apple
pie from the pantry, on hearing sentiments
against 'speret, which her soul approved,
hastily substituted whole mince pie for
the 1nfavorable piece Of driel apple, and q
cut a loaf Of fresh bread. But she did not
favor tramps of any kind, and prepared the
repast, even for this light of Temperance,
with the air of a MARTYR. Father went
back into the sitting room, and the little
man, who had bald head fringed by a row
Of light auburn curls streaked with gray,
and vel ) rosy cheeks, began to be conyen-
tional
Sorry to trouble you, I'm sure, marm,"
he said, rubbing his hands and speaking in
a soft, drawing tone, which he evidently
intended to be polite.
Marthy regarded him with Ok which
said plainly enough: "Well. you ought to
be-"
MY daughter, Mis- Jooly Stebbins. II
be dretful put out by not appearin' at her
house o-night. With her husban up river,
n her little giurl sick, she won't irjoy the
CONSIDERATIONS Of the Sabbath termorrer very
much, I'm afeald."
Sakes alive is Mis- Jooly Stebbins your
daughter? Why, she b'longs to my meet
in" exclaimed Marthy, with q countenance
changing to sudden graciousness.
And, Selling the teapot which she had
placed upon the stove, filled with the cold
~ disposed Of its contents by the way Of
the waste bucket, and proceeded to make
fresh draught; using the fragrant Tyson
generously.
"Sho! Glad to meet you, sister. The gos-
pill is a sacred tie that binds us all together
in love. When / meet q sister in the Cos
pill feel as if had been acquainted with
her always"
The Acquaintance was surely progress ng,
and Marthy looked deeply touched
(Which kind er preserves do You like
best, damson or strawberry, Brother-I
forgit the name?"
Brother Parker, marm. Perssrves are
immaterial, yet might say strawberry, if
was to be pressed. Lemme see, I've often
heerd Jooly speak of the friends she. has
made since she come to the city to live.
There's one, Miss Marthy Hopkins, that
she seems to be dretful fond of. Do YOU
know anything about her? They say she
is charitable lady, n imminently pious."
N1arthy blushed like girl.
I'm Marthy Hopkins, myself, n set
great store by Joo]y, too; as fur the rest,
Brother Parker, we hain't none Of us perfec'.
The human heart is deceitful n desperate
ly wicked" ::
Brother Parker expressed great deal of
delighted surprise
II feel ter home, now" said he, more
ter home than es if wa, in nv own house,
in fact, fur it's dretful lonesome there
since Abby died. Lemmo see, your hus-
BAN"
"Inever he'd no husban." said Marthy,
cheerfully, at the same time tying on
spotless white apron, with girlsh trim
ming OF pink, over the dark calico one
which she always wore Unless it were a
holiday, and stealing anxious chances in the
lookingglass -
Brother Parker looked astonished. AS
if the witty little man wasn't acquainted
with her whole history, as if he hadn't
planned to spend the Sabbath with Jooly
solely on her account. To be sure he had not
intended to make her acquaintance that
evening, but the fates had been propitious
and stranded him at her door.
Don't you never feel kinder lonesome?"
ne inquired with deeply tender tone and
glance Between two mouthfuls of cold
chicken. women haint fit to brave the
sorrers of life alone"
Marthy cast down her eyes with look of
prime propriety.
Maidens should be mild and meek,
Swift to hear and slow to speak,
We'll. yes, do sometimes she con-
fessed falteringly after little pause, But
then hold its sinful to repine, n I'm too
busy, generally speakin', to know whuther
I'm lonesome or not
L dare say, but then cts material for
woman to cling"
M"rthy looked little grim, and Brother
track. "- = -.
Now should enjoy this excellent meal
a good deal better eff had somebody SET
tin opposite to me to the table. Contrary
to scriptures, bread eat in secrit hain't
pleasant to me. Sposin you set down here