Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-10-27


something called publishing the bans"
that was connected with matrimony;
and that Mrs. Volney spoke of the
farmer" as cit" soothed Der maidenly
modesty, for as said farmer" was only
supposable case, she could not yet
bring herself to the familiarity of the
"he" and "him" the assured wife of sew
eral years gives to the husband of her
youth, as if there were but one mascu-
line in the world.
Mrs. Volney was delighted that after
all her invectives and declarations,
Polly had become reconciled to the
idea of even having a paper in the
house, and in trying to steer clear of
any discussion, she led poor Polly fur
thtr astray by saying:
"Oh, yes, the Farmer would be so
much help to you about giving the
prevailing prices all over the state; in
that way you know when corn, butter,
stock and poultry are advancing, and
the best time to sell. Otherwise, we
women, tied to the house, not able to
be out and learn about things as men
do, are at the mercy of spectators,
who come round, and taking advantage
of our ignorance, buy our things and
take all the profits themselves"
"That's So" said Polly, sadly. 81
sold some of my corn last week cents
on bushel too low"
eff you had had the Farmer you
would have known corn was fast ad-
vsncing and held on. l knew it, and
SO was saved"
"Do you s'pose if get the premium
I'll have the farmer in time for fall
plowing?
Mrs. Volney did not see the connec-
ton, and was greatly puzzled to under
stand Polley's agitation, but attributed
it to her embarrassment for this sudden
conversion and confession OF fai n in
newspapers, and answered:
"Oh, yes, you will get the money
and Farmer as soon as the fair is over"
There were only two weeks till the
far, and they were very busy ones to
Polly, who cleaned house from garrett
to cellar and made many changes to
suit the tastes of the possible coming
farmer; her old loves were forgotten in
the fervor of the new hope, and so
many times was her pet cat driven off
the newly-covercd cushion in the big
rocking chair that she grew anxious,
gray and thin.
She also bought fifteen yards ofgreen
alpaca at bargain, and, going over to
Mrs. Volneys' with unwonted bashful-
ness, asked for polonaise and overskirt
patterns.
II shall want one suit just right if !
should git a farmerl" she explained to
the uncomprehending Mrs. Volney,
"and | thought I'd 60 to the whole
figure for this onct."
"The very idea of having newspa-
per Is an educator; this premium Of
fered may be the entering wedge that
shall break up Polly's ignorance, and
let flood of light on her SOUL" Mrs.
Volney said to her daughter, after
Polly had gone with the patterns and
full instructions how to use them, to
which size had listened as attentively
as any devotee OF fashion.
She "set" four "sponges" for her
prize loaf, and made two loves from
each "settin'," AID at the appointed
day, arrayed in her most extraordinary
dress, polonaise, overskirt and trimmed
skirt, with three carefully-selected
loaves she FASTENED to the fair. While
tlckeung them she anxiously asked
the polite official:
"Will git the farmer and IS to onct
if draw the first premium?'
without the slightest doubt, madam !;
| nave the premiums here on hand to
be given as soon as called for"
Polly gazed earnestly at the men who
were in the office, feeling that if her
farmer" was as anxious to his fate as
she was in regard to him, his looks
would betray him. But she might as
well have studied the Sphinx as their
faces, so she followed her loaves, and
when once in place, lowering round
them as hen near her brood, listening
to every word said, as if from the gem
eral public opinion she might get n
elew to her fate.
She passed a sleepless night, and next
day, with carefully-curried horse and
newl y-washed buggy, and herself in her
best array, she drove in.
At noon the committee came,
smelled, tasted and discussed, while
she suffered agonies, as if running the
gauntlet, but at last the blue ribbon
was put on one of her loaves and the
red on another.
Regardless of the latter, she seized
the blue ribbon loaf, and hurrying to
the office, she accosted the same suave
official, who wondered at her breath
less excitement as she held the loaf up
and said:
care both your prizes here?'
eyes, madam"
"Do you see that blue ribbon? | want
my IS and my farmer"
"Here they are" and he extended a
bill and a copy of the Farmer. "When
would you like to begin with the Far
mcr, madam
Pm ready; for | come prepared to
take him home. Which one is it?".and
she looked inquiringly at group of
gentleman who, noticing her excited
manner as she came in, had stopped
their conversation and We're observing
her.
This is it," said the Superintendent,
putting it in her hand; date of Sep
TENDER 6, IS"
"Why, this is a newspaper want
my farmer"
well, see, the Kansa, Farmer" and
he displayed the title page.
"Was that what you meant by the
farmer you was goin' to give for the
best loaf o yeast-light bread?"
eyes madam. Oh, not one copy,
ce rtainly, but years subscription"
he added hastily, thinking he had dis
covered the cause of her trouble.
THAT paper!' she answered with the
utmost scorn, rs she smiled with her
upturned, freckled nose. SIS this the
underhand way you have to deceive
lone woman like myself | wish had
words to speak out my mind to you
and tell you just what I thiuk about
1t.
"What did you expect? 1t was SO an
nounced on the premium list"
why, farmer-a man, of coursew
The unfortunate official tried to ex.
plain, and the other gentleman assisted
him, each assuring her that doubtless
somebody might be found to fill the
bill, but as no one offered himself for