Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-10-12

The rope aroung his neck. He says that
he could not stop talking"
"Carrie, what did you mean when you
said that Uncle Davy was small but
mighty %
"I meant just what I said, and I will
give you proof of his courage. You
the cow-pasture, do you not,
girls? Well, last summer Mr.. jenkins
kept his COW in pasture near Uncle
Drvy's, and the two old gentlemen used
to start out in company to drive their
COWS to and from the pasture. They do
not agree on many subjects, being bit
terly opposed in politics. Mr.. Jenkins
is tall and dignifed-a Brahma. Uncle
Davy is little and nervous-A Bantam.
While Mr.. jenkins walked along the
middle of the road, gravely disputing
contested points, Uncle Davy skipped
about from side to side, impatiently
waiting his turn to speak, looking for all
the world like ten-year-old boy driving
two refractory COWS. One evening they
reached the end of the argument, and
she time came for decision of the case.
Uncle Davy offered to fight it out, and
they really were on the point Of coming
to blows, when some of the neighbors
interfered. Uncle Davy, in recounting
the affair, always wound up by saying,
Il have the rheumatic so bad I can't
make fist; but [ could have just
slapped him over But, girls, I am 60
ing to find out why Mrs. Rodgers
changed her mind, if have to ask her
myself; see If DON'T" said Carrie.
81 WONDER" said Mrs. Smith, eff it
could be the same woman that used to
know. She lived out there where Uncle
Davy's folks live. When / knew her,
her husband was sick with the consump-
ton, but he must have died long ago. I
shall be very glad if it is the same one,
for [ know Ter to be a good woman.
Carrie, you must stay until tomorrow,
and go with us to see the fandango."
Gail right" said Carrie.
The next morning, at the appointed
time, they were all at the scene of the
days excitement. They mingled with
the crowd who were awaiting the arrival
of the party from Jake Henderson's
They had not long to wait.
"Here they come Look Look p
Don't Uncle Davy look proud, with
his new suit of clothes and new set of
teeth p were heard in every direction.
ooh, girls, girls look at his wife :!
she's bigger than the other one was, >
whispered Carrie.
Sure enough, she was large, with a
round, good-natured face, which was a
warrant to all the observers that Uncle
Davy had chosen wisely.
cit is the same Martha Rodgers [
used to know" said Mrs. Smith, as she
hurried forward to greet her old friend
Uncle Davy strutted around among his
friends, introducing his wife and show
ing off his house and grounds.
Carrie called to him
How do you do, Uncle Davy? |
hear you have been getting married"
He left his wife standing little way
off, talking to some friends, to shake
hands with the girls.
eyes," said he, "there's my woman. ="
And he trotted off again to take his
woman in to dinner
The dinner was excellent. Some
speeches were made, jokes cracked, the
band played, and all left for their homes
except few special friends, among
whom were the Smiths.
Mrs. Henderson took Mrs. Smith, her
daughters and Carrie into room where
they might enjoy themselves quietly.
The two old ladies talked over old times
The girls were growing tired of this,
but their interest was renewed when Mrs.
Smith asked
''My dear Martha, how did you come
to marry again, and Uncle Davy of all
men?"
"Well, Mary" said she, 81 always
said after Jacob died that would not
marry again; and when Mr. Henderson
asked me to marry him said, No, Mr..
Henderson, said l, you can't take
Jacobs place, said I; and I meant it,
too, when 1 said it. Poor man he
seemed disappointed. He said, said he,
Il have plenty to live on, said he, 'and
could keep wife in style. I wouldn't
feel so bad about it, said he, but I
have no home any place. Said he,
My children are always quarreling, and
[ have no peace with them But [
wouldn't listen to him, not even when
he mentioned the home and the COW
pasture, for [ had enough to live on, so
[ need not care for that. no. said I,
you uOF HOOOuy else call Jake y aeon
place, said L Then he came home, and
[ never heard word more from him;
but / couldn't forget him and how
forlorn and fOrsaken he was, and such o
fine man as he is, too. After while
things began to go away. My COW cook
to coming home at all hours of the night
to be MIXED. Why, some nights I had
to get up at twelve o'clock to milk her.
Then my chickens tookt to running in my
neighbours wheat field, and he threaten
ed to kill all of them if I did not keep
them out. Thieves came and carried
away my wood and my chickens and my
smoked meat, until / just came to be so
worried that 1 thought what pity a
hadn't man about the house to help me
contend with these things. Then I got
Mr.. Hendersons letter, and / answered
it right off, and said Yes And when I
got that letter from his children saying
that he was crazy I thought it would be
good for us to live together and help to
bear each others burdens. So here [
~ 81, l.