Daily Republican., 1882-08-31
WHY PEGaY MARRIEO sILAs.


WHY Peggy MARRIEO SILAS.
used to be called an old maid,
think old Nancy Vincent was Jealous,
or she never would have started out ali
over the neighborhood on purpose TO tell
the folks that was Gu ! out for an old
maid. But thanks to my knowledge of
human nature, have at last got good
man, and Nancy may storm and wills
tie till her mouth ls all out of shape, for
what | care. l married Silas Harris
one year ago. and l Am going to tell you
all about 1t.
You see old Mrs. Harris got took
down sick, aD' they had no one to do
the house work, such as bakin,' wash
in irouin, an Sweepin,'; so 1, feelin'
kinder tender heartfelt always was q
tender hearted creeter-I went up there
and told Mr.. Harris, which was Mrs.
Harris son, that l would stay an help
Gun, If they couldn't git anybody that
would suit EN- better.
"Nancy Vincent has been here and
offered her services" said the old
lady.
"Then she has been here, has she?"
l was afr aid after had spoken that
they would notice how mad l was, but
they didn't; an l told en- plainly that
all Nancy Vincent was after was hus-
band-told em about her cookin,' what
miserable bread she made, what figger
she cut at the meotIn' house, with a-a-
her bustle clean up to her shoulders
an told all about her tryin' to catch
Parson Smiths son, who was then only
about twenty an she t1fty-one, an
didn't know but she might be seventy.
well If she IL such creature, we
d. a't want her here, said Mrs. Harris,
You'd better believe that was glad
to hear it, Mr.. Harris had good farm,
q nice house an barn, and had no no.
tion of lettin' old Nance come in ahead
Of me, though 1 never did care about the
men sex, never, still l didn't intend to
have the wool pulled down over my
eyes, always knew her to be pesky
old gossip. don't tell stories about
my neighbors, and I don't CAD all over
town-unless there Is something to CAD
about.
"She ia all l told you, and more TO-"
said l, aud then Mr.. Harris, which is
now my husband, told me to come and
stay with his mother and he would pay
me,
IL don't ask no pay" said 1. "She Is
my neighbor, and neighbors should
help each other in sickness"
"Well come in II you car, and I will
see that you don't lose anything by it"
Of course l went right up there; what
else could do? Mrs. Harris make me
bake some ri2' bread the fust thing, then
l baked seine pies and then, as it was
near etpper time, l cooked some Mica
slap jacks. Then 1 put clean white
spread on the table, placed some Of my
riz' bread on, to aether with some of my
best ounce sauce, that brought from
home; fixed the slap-jacks, butter and
in their places, then blowed the horn
to call Silas to supper
Pretty soon he came in, and who do
you think was with him?
Why, nobody but old Nancy Vincent
1 was mad. She went right up to Mrs
Harris, and, taking paper parcel from
under her OLD yaller shawl, said:
81 thought you'd need some cookiD'
done, bein' 80 unwell like an not bein'
able to wo-k, an 1 took the liberty TO
bring you some chicken an cheeS ,e;"
then she laid the vittals on the table
and looked at Silas, while her old mum.
my face wrinkled up into what she
meant to be a sweet smile, but 1t looked
more like dried bacon, sixty years old.
"rhank you very much, but we've
cot good cook, said Mrs. Harris.
"Is she the one?" and Nance pointed
at my face, while her squirting green
ewes fairly snapped sparks.
81 came with the iCltention of help
ing our sick neighbor until she was able
to help herself, II answered.
"You did, did You?
Idon't seo what you are meddlin'
around in--"
"She is not to blame. ] told her to
come" suddenly broke in Silas.
"Then .s'pose its all right, If you
told her to come, but there's folks in
the world that knows more about sick
ness an nussin', can tell you," and
Nance hounced toward the door.
"Stay and take supper with US, won't
you?" asked Silas,
II don't know but l will, seein' as
how your mother is so unwell."
"That's right, Nancy, sit down and
be neighborly once in your life" anu
placed chair for her at the table.
l could see that Nancy felt drea dtul
uneasy though, L felt all right, except
that | was kinder mad. Silas praised
my sauce, and he said my slap'Jacks
were the best he ever ate. And Mrs.
Harris said my bread couldn't be beat.
Nance never said a word, but she
was the spitefulest lookin' critter ever
did see. l determined that | wouldn't
touch her old chicken and cheese, and
so she thought she'd pass itaround her
self.
"Try some of my chicken, Mrs. Har.
ris, you'll like it, know you will"
Mrs. Harris took small piece, but
she only tasted it.
I"Have some cheese" and she passed
the plate; but the sick lady only took Q
small piece; she gave glance at 1t
and laid it on the table, with the re-
mark that she dare not eat cheese.
"You'll take o piece, Silas?"
"I don't care If do," said he.
She again passed her plate, and Silas
reached out his hand and took q piece
but lust as he was going to bite of
chunk, a little shower Of white shippers
ratified off into his tea.
You'd better believe he didn't eat
much of that cheese. He got up, sud.
den like, and said his head ached. l
didn't see him again very soon. Mrs.
Harris said she felt sick at the stomach
and left the room. Nance didn't know
what to make of it all but she bustled
an to me and said I'd been tellin' sto-
ries about her so that could catch Silas
myself. N
Vincent |" didn't care II did talk
plain, bein' as how silas and Mrs. Har'
ris was out of the room.
"You lie yourself, you old cap-settin